Just Ella

Title: Just Ella
Author: Margaret Peterson Haddix
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Copyright: 1999 by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Pages: 240
Ages: Young Adults
Genre: Fantasy

Summary:
Where Cinderella left off, Ella is living her happily ever after in Prince Charming’s castle. Right? Not really. Life is not quite the Happily Ever After that Ella believed it might be. Ella is being smothered by new information and ridiculous rules. Her days are filled with lessons and learning things that are completely pointless. Every other night she is allotted one hour with the Prince in a chaperoned room where they don’t really speak. Then she and he both go back about their business. One day during her lesson, her teacher falls ill. She saves his life and is then reprimanded for it because that is not how a princess acts! Her instructor is soon replaced by her original instructor’s son. He is somewhat shy and awkward and unsure of how to act around her. They soon become friends, and with this, Ella’s meetings with the Prince become more and more strange. She keeps telling herself that she loves the Prince, but she is unsure. Ella’s days begin to set into a happier rhythm in which she spends time with Jed (her new instructor). She begins to hear rumors about a fairy godmother and that she won the Prince over with magic. To counter what the servants and ladies are saying she decides to tell Jed the real story.
While cleaning one day, someone arrived at the door. I was a messenger of the King. He announces that every young lady is invited to the ball in four weeks. Her step-mother informs her that she will not be allowed to attend. But Ella had a plan. She dug out her mother’s wedding dress to wear to the ball. But was faced with a dilemma of shoes. One day while passing the glass blowers shop, she challenged him to make a pair of glass slippers that she could walk in without breaking. He made them, and after six steps, the bet was won and she ran home with the slippers (after and argument with the glass blower). Her step-mother orders her to scrub the cellar the night of the ball but Ella ignores this, and gets dressed for the ball. She walks most of the way there and then has a man drive her to the front. Upon entering she gives the name Cindersella so that her Step-family will know she is there. The Prince dances with her every dance and she runs off at midnight.
After Ella finishes her story, Jed begins to act more distant. Later, while at dinner, the King announces a tournament. Ella is beyond excited. She’ll finally get to go outside and spend the day in the sun. The day of the tournament arrives and Ella is made to wear a ridiculous corset. Once at the tournament, the ladies are led into a tent and then closed in so that they cannot participate. Ella is furious. She tries to leave the tent and when she is threatened with not being able to marry the Prince, she faints. (Mainly because the corset is too tight). That night, Ella realizes something monumentally important. She does not love Prince Charming.
During her next meeting with the Prince, she decides to give him one more chance. She asks why he loves her and he’s only able to tell her she’s beautiful. When she asks Mary (the serving girl) about why she beauty is so important, she realizes the Prince doesn’t love her either.
During her next meeting with the Prince, she tells him she can’t marry him. He doesn’t take it well. They fight and the Prince throws a tantrum like a two year old. They continue their fight and the Prince actually ties her up. The Prince goes for help and everyone explains to Ella that she cannot call off the wedding. They drug her and throw her in the dungeon and threaten to leave her there until the wedding. That way she’ll be thin and pale and beautiful. Mary comes to visit and they plan Ella’s escape. Mary brings her a shovel and Ella begins to dig her way out the crap hole. (Ew!)
The next day Ella is introduced to her jailer, Quog. Quog is a rapist and in charge of guarding and drooling over Ella. They begin to starve her and Mary has to bring her food so the Ella can have the energy to continue digging. The Prince comes to see her and offers to take her away. She refuses, pretending that she isn’t worthy. The Prince kills Quog and Ella is left alone again. That night, Ella finishes her hole and escapes. She travels to her Step-mother’s house and takes some clothing, food and a few books of her fathers. Her step-mother catches her and Ella runs.
Ella travels by night and sleeps by day. She teaches herself about nursing so that she can join Jed at the camps. After several days, she hears the soldiers. The soldiers begin ordering the peasants to bring them food. And in return they share the story of the Prince’s wedding. Ella is of course shocked. Wondering who could have been his bride. The soldiers leave and Ella is once again on her way. She is given directions and eventually arrives at the camp. She meets Jed and tells her story. Then, he proposes! She asks for six months to make a decision and then gives her a job.
Ella begins her new life, splinting arms by day and spending her evenings with Jed. Ella is finally happy. Until the day when a letter arrives from the King saying that Jed’s father had died and they needed Jed to come back. Jed leaves and Ella adjusts. They write one another and Ella learns that her step-sister became the Prince’s wife. Ella learns that she truly loves Jed, and she decides to wait for him.


Who would I recommend this to?
I would recommend this to anyone who likes the Cinderella stories and likes a little bit of a twist. Young girls (or women) who like to do things differently rather than fit in with the crowd.

Potential Problems:
There are some rude things throughout the book. And Quog is rather disgusting.

My reaction:
I didn’t like this book, It seemed to have a lot of filler, and I didn’t particularly like the characters. Honestly, I got bored throughout the novel. It didn’t exactly have the happily ever after feel that I enjoy in a book.