Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
Ella of Frell wants nothing more than to free of a fairy’s gift bestowed upon her at birth: obedience. Ella must obey anything anyone says, from hopping on one foot to betraying her kingdom! How can she truly belong to herself if at any moment someone may order her about and she’ll have to obey? Against a bold tapestry of princes, ogres, giants, wicked stepsisters, and fairy godmothers, Ella’s spirited account of her quest to break the curse is a funny, poignant, and enchanting tale about an unforgettable heroine who is determined to be herself.
The Good
Ella loves her mother and godmother. She tries to protect the people around her from her curse. The fairy who originally bestowed the supposed gift to Ella eventually has a change of heart.
The Bad
Ella and Prince Char kiss once at the end of the book. Ella hates her father. There are ogres that try to eat her, but she escapes them.
Ages
Ages 8+ would be good for this book. It would also be a good read-aloud.
My Take
If you haven’t figured it out yet, Ella Enchanted is a hilarious, exciting retelling of Cinderella. I really enjoyed the book. Gail Carson Levine added more to the story that made it enjoyable to read and not as predictable as other fairy-tale retellings. I would definitely recommend it, especially to girls 10-12 years old and people who enjoys fairy tale mash-ups.
Story line
Characters
Scary stuff
Romance
Weird Creatures
Overall Rating
Review by Kaitlyn