Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine Date of Publication: 1997 ISBN: 0-06-440705-5 Number of Pages: 238

REQUIRED READING ABILITY:Junior: Average Intermediate: Average
GENRES: Fantasy
THEMES : Good versus Evil - Appearance versus Reality - Coming of Age

SUMMARY:
This unique take on the Cinderella story is told in first person narrative. Ella is bestowed the ‘gift’ of obedience upon her birth. This ‘gift’ turns out to be more of a curse with Ella being unable to say no to any request. Ella is a strong character who does not accept this fate. Battling drooling ogres, wicked stepsisters, clumsy giants and flakey fairies, Ella begins a journey to find a way to rid herself of the irksome curse. Her friend, Prince Charmont, proposes marriage, but Ella knows that if she marries him her curse would put him in grave danger. When he tries to use her curse to force her to marry him, she cries out "No”! finally attempting to exert her own will and not follow the gift of obedience. Will Ella’s determination break the curse and allow her to live happily ever after?

WHO WOULD LOVE THIS BOOK? A kid who...
- enjoys humourous twists on the fairy/fantasy genre
- loves Cinderella stories
- relates to strong female characters
- is interested in medieval times

WHAT ELSE?
The author, Gail Carson Levine, has written many books, including a number of twists on traditional fairytale princess stories. This book was chosen as a Newbery Honor Book in 1997 and was adapted into a movie in 2004. The movie, note, is virtually nothing like the book, though both are enjoyable in their own rights.

RELATED LINK:
For more information and ideas, check out http://eduscapes.com/newbery/98b.htm and http://falcon.jmu.edu/~ramseyil/levine.htm .