Just Ella

Margaret Peterson Haddix

11/16/2002

Ella is living a dream come true. She took her life into her own hands to make it change. She knew all women in the land could go to the king's ball. So when her step-mother and step-sisters (the Evils) were not aware, she fixed up a gown, talked the glass blower into making a pair of shoes for her, and arranged her gruesome schedule to attend the dance.

She met the prince and danced with him all evening. She left at midnight so she could finish the assigned tasks in the house before the next morning and her shoe had fallen off. The next day the prince and his entourage were scouring all the homes looking for the owner of the shoe. When he found her, he proposed. She accepted and was swept off to the royal castle.

Now Ella is learning how to be a princess and live a royal life. She has protocol classes. She has religion classes. She has history classes. Each evening she and the prince sit together not talking in the presence of a chaperone. Frankly, she is bored. She is also frustrated because she is not allowed to do anything but look pretty and act royal. If her fire is out, she is required to call a maid to light it. If she does it herself, the servant will probably lose her job. She is allowed to needlepoint, but she can't sew. Instead she bleeds over the canvas. So now what is she going to do? Why isn't she happy living every girl's dream?

This is an adorable follow up to the Cinderella story. This woman is amazed at the stories circulating the castle gossip about a fairy godmother. She did the work herself without any magical help, thank you. This is no insipid maiden ground down by her step-family. This is a person who can take care of herself and direct her own destiny.

The book is a quick, easy read. I highly recommend it. Ella is able to find out how she can live happily ever after.

This book can be found at or your local library.