Are you in
the mood for a tale set in an entertainingly imagined realm and featuring a
spunky heroine with enough wit and grit to tame a pack of ogres? (You think I’m
speaking figuratively.) Look no further than Gail Carson Levine’s Ella Enchanted, one of those valuable
books that is truly worth the popularity it has garnered.
Ella has been cursed since babyhood,
when a decidedly short-sighted fairy bestowed on her the “gift” of obedience,
meaning that whenever Ella is given a command, she must immediately comply. Besides
the obvious downside of having to obey adult commands to eat her vegetables and
do household chores, Ella’s curse puts her in constant danger from unscrupulous
people who would exploit her unusual compulsion. Ella is possessed of many
other gifts, however, and has more than enough courage and humor to face her
difficulty. As best she can, she hides her curse and searches for a means of
breaking the spell. But how can she fend off the manipulation of her nasty
stepfamily? And how can she hope for a happily-ever-after with the prince she
loves, knowing that she could be forced to do him harm?
As a retelling of the classic fairy
tale Cinderella, Ella Enchanted goes beyond retelling to become an excellent original
story. Ella is a thoroughly likeable, zestful narrator, with both sympathetic
flaws and good points. The kingdom of Frell and the surrounding geography
feature prominently in the plot almost as characters themselves and are just as
interesting; Ella’s interactions with them and their people while on her
travels include meeting giants, ogres, elves, and fairies, each with their own
personalities. As for her friendship with Char, the novel’s “Prince Charming,”
it is warm and humorous and yes, romantic. Named a Newbery Honor book in 1998,
this novel definitely deserves its hype.
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