Ella Enchanted

by Gail Carson Levine
ages-11+

It was written in 1997 and a movie made in 2004 with Anne Hathaway. I was nervous about reading this book because I had already seen the movie. I was pleasantly surprised at the differences between the two. THE BOOK IS BETTER!

Ella is given a "gift" of obedience at birth by a fairy named Lucinda. She has to obey all commands. The story is the same as the movie, where Ella tries to overcome her gift and falls in love with the prince during her journey. In the book, the adventures are different. She meets the prince off and on in her adventures. She is forced to attend finishing school, so she can attract a rich husband for her father. She is able to pick up languages of the elves and ogres. The prince and Ella find glass slippers which fit her perfectly. They come into play during a ball where the prince has to pick his bride, after Ella "protects" the prince by refusing his love. She believes her curse could be used against him. How Ella breaks the curse is very inventive? Read the book.