Ella Enchanted

Title: Ella Enchanted
Author: Gail Carson Levine
Publisher: Harper Collins
Copyright: 1997 by Gail Levine
Pages: 288
Ages: 9-12
Genre: Fairy Tale

Summary:
Ella has been cursed since birth. A fairy named Lucinda gave Ella the “gift” of obedience when she was born. She spends her life obeying orders whether she wants to or not. She has next to no freedom. Only her mother, fairy god mother and Lucinda know about the curse. Not even her father is aware because he is a traveling salesman. But when Ella’s mother dies, Ella is left alone. Or so she thinks. She discovers that her fairy god mother is actually her mother’s old ladies maid, Mandy. During the funeral Ella is overcome with grief and her father orders her away until she can control herself. While attempting to control herself she meets Prince Charmont for the first time. They begin to talk and it’s the start of their friendship.
Ella is introduced to Dame Olga and her daughters Hattie and Olive. Ella is immediately distrustful. Her father confirms that they are not good people and Ella dismisses them from her mind until her father informs her that she is going to finishing school with Dame Olga’s daughters. Ella refuses to go, but of course she has no choice. Even without the curse, there is nowhere she could go. Before she is to leave she goes to the royal “Zoo” and visits her favorite sites. The Parrots who speak different languages are her favorite. She meets Char there and they talk and enjoy the sites. They find a small gnome who has lost his way. Ella calms him with words from the parrots but when an ogre tells her to come to him and bring the child she has to obey. Prince Char saves her and the child is returned to his mother.
The next day Ella is sent to finishing school with Hattie and Olive. Hattie finds out the Ella must do her bidding and uses this to her advantage. She orders her about and even takes her mother’s necklace. Ella is deprived of food for days because of Hattie and when she arrives at finishing school she quickly becomes one of the most unpopular students but makes a friend. Areida is also unpopular and she and Ella become fast friends. However Hattie soon intervenes there as well. She orders Ella to stop their friendship and to get around the curse, Ella runs away after finding out her father will be at a Giant’s wedding 2 weeks away. She thinks that Lucinda might be there as well. So she heads on her way. She befriends the elves, and is captured by Ogres. She tames the Ogres by imitating their greasy talk and keeps them in line until Prince Char arrives to rescue her.
Char sends her with one of his knights to the Giant wedding and there she meets Lucinda who instead of lifting the curse, orders her to be happy. Ella finds her father and when he informs her that she is to wed because he lost all their money, she is “happy” about that too. Until Mandy realizes what has happened and takes back the order. However, instead of having to marry, her father marries Dame Olga instead. The day of the wedding Ella hides and Char finds her. They spend the wedding together and even slide down the banister together. Dame Olga, Ella’s father, Hattie and Olive all witness this and they part ways. Dame Olga finds out that she is being used and turns Ella into a servant when Sir P. (Ella’s father) is called away on business.
Char leaves for a year in a neighboring country and he and Ella write each other frequently. Ella continues her life as a servant and when Char asks her to marry him, she lies. She pretends to be Hattie saying that Ella ran away with a rich man. She does this to protect him from her curse. But this just makes her miserable.
This causes Mandy to call on Lucinda and she challenges Lucinda to act out her gifts. To be obedient, and see how she likes it. She does and when she returns she apologizes to Ella for what happened, but that she cannot break the curse.
Soon, word comes that the Prince will have three balls. Ella decides to go, but chooses to wear a mask. She and Mandy alter her mother’s old dresses. The night of the first ball it starts to sleet, so Ella calls on Lucinda. Lucinda gives her the orange coach and she attends the first ball. She attends and catches Char’s attention. The next night, she returns again and spends even more time with Char. Every night she leaves at midnight, but on the third night she decides to stay longer. Char introduces her to the King and Queen and as she and Char are dancing, Hattie pulls off Ella’s mask. She is exposed. She runs home, but loses a slipper. Once home, she changes and makes herself look like a servant again. Char finds her and places the slipper on her foot. It of course fits, and he tells her to marry him. Not thinking anything of his order. Hattie is telling her not to and Dame Olga is telling her to. Ella is torn. Finally everyone is telling her to. She screams that she won’t marry him. Breaking the curse. Her love for Char is enough to break the curse and they are soon married. Her step family is not invited. But Mandy and her father are. They live happy lives and live happily ever after.

Recommendations:
I would definitely recommend this book to girls. Boys, not so much. But any girl who loves the Cinderella story I think would enjoy this book.

Problems:
People get made fun of in this book and it could be taken the wrong way.

My Reaction:
Love it. It’s my favorite Cinderella story. Ella is given a chance to develop her personality by going on adventures and making friends and of course, breaking her curse. It’s a nice twist on the Cinderella that we all know.