Just Ella

By Margaret Peterson Haddix

Book Overview

The Cinderella legend gets a realistic twist in this enchantingly believable adventure from New York Times bestselling author Margaret Peterson Haddix that Booklist calls "provocative and entertaining." Ella dreams of going to the royal ball and marrying Prince Charming, just like every commoner in the kingdom of Fridesia. But after she is chosen to marry the prince--no magic involved--life with the royal family is not the happily ever after that Ella imagined. Pitiless and cold, the royals try to mold her into their vision of a princess. Ella's life becomes a meaningless schedule of protocol, which she fears she will never grasp. And Prince Charming's beautiful face hides a vacant soul. Even as her life turns to misery, stories persist that Ella's fairy godmother sent her to the ball: How else could the poor girl wear a beautiful gown, arrive in a coach, and dance in those glass slippers? But Ella got herself into the castle on her own--and that's the only way she's going to get out.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1481420216
• ISBN13: 9781481420211
• Release Date: April 2015
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.74 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.4" x 8.2"
• Age Range: 12 to 17 years
• Grade Range: Grades 7 to 12

Customer Reviews

Great pace. Engaging book

I sat down to read the book and it was iver before I knew it because I was so captivated. The story moves quickly but has depth. Characters are developed to the cirrdtt depth, no time wasted or helpful details left out. Right mixture of happy ending and struggle

Fabulous! Cinderella with a brain.

It's nice to know that Cinderella finally came to her senses! You see, in this story, Ella (*just* Ella, no Cinder) is living in the palace with her wedding with the prince coming up. For a while she's really happy. But then, as much as she tries, she really can't love the airheaded Prince Charming, and to be honest, life as his fiance is a bore, and it's only going to get worse. But when she tries to call off the wedding, Prince Charming throws her into the dungeon! Quite a predicament, but of course Ella pulls through. If no one is going to save her, she'll just have to save herself--and she does, quite admirably! I really enjoyed this story. I always thought that the Cinderella story was so trite--Cinderella has a hard life but Prince Charming comes and makes it all better. How sweet. *gag* But, Miss Ella has a brain (yay!) and she actually uses it! A fun, enjoyable, all-around-great book.

A little twist

Fairy godmothers, Prince charming, midnight magic, its all a fairy tale. But this book gives this tale a little twist. It tells the story of how Ella realy came to the ball; under her own determination not with magic help. I loved this book and could not put it down! It is a great way to show girl power and how you can take charge of your own destiny. And with Ellas determination and will she finds her true "Prince Charming" on her own.

Just Ella was Enchanting

I read "Just Ella" a couple months ago and I couldn't put it down. I found it very suspensful and smart. The author uses great wording and has a wonderful plot. The ending was a suprise as well. It was an excellent book and I recommend it to anyone who likes an age-old fairy tale reversed.

This book is Haddix's best yet!

'Just Ella' is terrific! It starts up about right after Cinderella has gone to the castle to marry the prince, and tells how she struggled with that decision and ended up choosing to do what she did. It is great, and easy to read, clear, thoughtfull, and funny. It has lots of irony in it, and the reason I used it was I needed a book with irony in it for a book report, and so I had the book read in less than 3 hours.

Yet another great remake!

This book follows closly in the style of Ella Enchanted by Gail Levine, though its creativity and the strength of the main charecter surpass the other. Haddix tells how Ella takes matters into her own hands, without the help of magic, and steers her own fate not once, but twice! Her perserverence and her intellegence make her one of my favorite heroines.