Ella Enchanted - Softcover

Carson Levine, Gail

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0007171684 ISBN 13: 9780007171682

Publisher: HarperCollinsChildren’sBooks, 2004

NOW A MAJOR NEW FILM

ELLA ENCHANTED is a witty, refreshing take on the popular fairytale, Cinderella which preserves the spirit of the original but adds plenty of humorous twists and a spunky, intelligent female protagonist.

Ella is given a blessing at birth by a very stupid fairy: She gets the gift of obedience! but the blessing turns into a horror for Ella who literally has to do what anyone and everyone tells her, from sweeping the floor to giving up a prrecious necklace! She has to battle with ogres and wicked stepsisters, make friends and loose them, and even deny she loves her Prince Char to save his life and his kingdom. The story overthrows the stereotypes of the original Cinderella when Ella breaks the curse – not the prince – saving not only herself, but Prince Char as well. And Ella rejects his proposal of marriage, at least until she decides herself to propose to him! And the curse is only broken because she’s said ‘No!’ rather than ‘Yes!’.

Review:

‘If you loved Harry Potter, try Ella Enchanted.’
Publishers Weekly

‘Plenty of humorous twists and a spunky, intelligent female lead.’ The Kirkus Review

‘Levine provides a winning combination of memorable characters & and alluring fantasy realm that will leave readers with hopes of future tales of Ella and Prince Char.’

‘A thoroughly enchanting novel that deepens and enriches the original tale.’

‘Now room must be made for Levine’s superbly plotted and thoroughly enjoyable retelling of the Cinderella story.’

From the Back Cover:

How can a fairy's
blessing be such a curse?

At her birth, Ella of Frell was the unfortunate recipient of a foolish fairy's gift -- the "gift' of obedience. Ella must obey any order given to her, whether it's hopping on one foot for a day and a half, or chopping off her own head! But strong-willed Ella does not tamely accept her fate. Against a bold backdrop of princes, ogres, giants, wicked stepsisters, and fairy godmothers, Ella goes on a quest to break the curse -- once and for all.

In this incredible debut novel comes the richly entertaining story of Ella of Frell, who at birth was given the gift of obedience by a fairy. Ella soon realizes that this gift is little better than a curse, for how can she truly be herself if at anytime anyone can order her to hop on one foot, or cut off her hand, or betray her kingdom'and she'll have to obey? Against a bold tapestry of princes, ogres, giants, wicked stepsisters, and fairy godmothers, Ella's quest to break the curse once and for all and discover who she really is is as sharply funny as Catherine, Called Birdy and as richly poignant as Beauty, and has all the marks of a classic in the making.

• Publisher: HarperCollinsChildren’sBooks
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 0007171684
• ISBN 13: 9780007171682
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 240