23. Ella Enchanted

Title: Ella Enchanted
Author: Gail Carson Levine
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Copyright Date: 1997
Number of Pages: 232
Reading Level: 9+
Genre: Fantasy

Summary
Ella was cursed when she was a baby by the fairy Lucinda. The “gift” was obedience. Ella has to do anything anyone tells her to do. Although she can resist for a little while the curse takes over and she is helpless. Ella’s mother dies and at the funeral she meets Prince Charmont who likes it that she’s clumsy and awkward but funny. Ella’s father, Sir Peter, who is normally not around orders Ella to go finishing school with Hattie and Olive, two horrible girls around her age. They are the daughters of Dame Olga, a woman interested in Sir Peter’s wealth. On the way to finishing school Hattie finds out about Ella’s curse and used it against her. When they get there Hattie torments Ella and makes her do everything she wants. Before Ella left home her fairy godmother, Mandy, gave her a gift of a book. In the book it tells stories, sometimes has pictures, and has letters all from those that she knows. She finds out from the book that her father is going to a Giant’s wedding and that fairies usually attend weddings. In hopes of finding Lucinda and reversing her curse Ella leaves school in the middle of the night taking Hattie’s wig with her. On her way to the wedding Ella is ambushed by Ogres that eat the pony she was lent by the elves. Ella is ordered to stay with them and the Ogres laugh at her because if they wanted she would even cook herself. Ella is really good at languages and starts working on getting down the syrupy, honey nature of the Ogres and she is able to command them to do what she wants. Just after this Prince Charmont and his knights show up and tie up the Ogres. Char tells a knight to take Ella to the wedding. Ella gets there and finds Lucinda but instead of taking away the curse Lucinda tells her to be happy to be obedient. Ella finds her father and relishes in obeying what he commands until Mandy releases her. Ella’s father marries Dame Olga and Ella is forced to be their maid. Char keeps writing and professes his love to Ella, she has to break his heart because he will never be safe with her as his wife. King Jerrold holds three balls hoping that Char will choose another and Ella goes to all three but doesn’t remove her mask. On the third night Hattie rips off the mask and all is revealed. Char follows her and puts the slipper on her foot and says “marry me.” Ella refuses and refuses again. The curse is broken and she asks him to marry her. They live happily ever after.

Recommendation
The ultimate Cinderella story. I would recommend this to girls who like fairy tales and like to pretend they are princesses or that their prince will one day come and sweep them off their feet.

Problems/Conflict
I wish there would have been some kind of punishment for Hattie. She didn’t seem to get what should have been coming to her at the end.

My Reaction
This book makes my heart flutter. It’s a beautiful retelling of Cinderella with a strong person at the lead. Ella fights for what she knows is right and wants to save those that she loves. She is a good example of a determined woman with a goal in view. I would gladly read this book again for a third time because the second time I caught a lot of what I missed the first. Its just an exciting and sometimes frustrating story.