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164th out of 1,228 books
—
2,997 voters
Just Ella
"Princess, nobody can stop those rumors. People would rather believe in fairy godmothers...than think that you took charge of your own destiny."Like every commoner in the land, Ella dreams of going to the ball and marrying Prince Charming. But after she is chosen to marry the prince, life with the royal family is not the "happily ever after" that Ella imagined. Pitiless an...more
Hardcover, 185 pages
Published
September 1st 1999
by Simon & Schuster
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Jan 07, 2009
Cara
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommended to Cara by:
Valerie
Shelves:
fantasy,
fairy-tales
Don't let the cover mislead you. This book is not set in modern times. What I liked so much about the book was that Ella had a lot more "umph" to her than the other Cinderellas I've encountered in other books.
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Reads like a twelve year old wrote it. Inconsistent, whiny, and altogether unlikeable main character.
This book is an all-time favorite. I’ve read it four times, and each time it gets better and better. I love retellings of fairytales – especially when the author completely renovates the story, and the characters. Instead of being the usual Happily Ever After, this book comes down to a Happily NEVER After.
The story doesn’t begin at the “beginning”. The story opens and Ella Brown is already a princess in the royal palace, engaged to be married to the most beautiful man she has ever seen, Prince C...more
The story doesn’t begin at the “beginning”. The story opens and Ella Brown is already a princess in the royal palace, engaged to be married to the most beautiful man she has ever seen, Prince C...more
Just Ella by Margret Haddix is a great book that takes place in the time of kings and queens. It is like the cinderella story but, after the part where the prince asks her to marry him and shes says yes it has a little twist. Ella was just an ordinary girl ,but her life changed when she went to the ball (of course without her step mother or step sisters knowing) danced with the prince all night raced out ay midnight left her shoe and whenthe prince found and asked her to marry him. Ella thinks t...more
This book started out in the middle of the traditional Cinderella story. Ella is engaged to the prince. However, she soon finds out that her "fairytale ending" may not be what she really wants.
At first I tried to like this book. But it was so obvious with the character cliche. I quote a review on amazon:
"Even the "I am woman, hear me roar" attitude might have been tolerable if the other characters weren't so obvious! Charming, being a handsome member of the upper-class, is an airhead. Jed, bein...more
At first I tried to like this book. But it was so obvious with the character cliche. I quote a review on amazon:
"Even the "I am woman, hear me roar" attitude might have been tolerable if the other characters weren't so obvious! Charming, being a handsome member of the upper-class, is an airhead. Jed, bein...more
Actually, I'd give it a four and three quarters, if it's possible.
Well, to start, this is the very first M. Haddix novel I've ever read, and already I know she is one of the best writers in the world. Not her writing, which isn't as impressive as some writers; not her characters, who are not diverse; not her plot, which is quite predictable; but the way she expressed her opinions about some world-issue through her stories.
Her novels are gripping from the first page. I finished the novel in les...more
Well, to start, this is the very first M. Haddix novel I've ever read, and already I know she is one of the best writers in the world. Not her writing, which isn't as impressive as some writers; not her characters, who are not diverse; not her plot, which is quite predictable; but the way she expressed her opinions about some world-issue through her stories.
Her novels are gripping from the first page. I finished the novel in les...more
Oct 12, 2007
Debbie
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
ella enchanted lovers; bella at mignight
Shelves:
teen
Like it, but wasn't blown away. Would recommend to 7th grade and up... dies talk about periods, sex, death. In Just Ella, Margaret Peterson Haddix puts a spin on the traditional tale of the glass slippers. In her version, Ella (sans "Cinder") finds her own way to the ball (there was no fairy godmother, despite the rumors) and wins the heart of the prince. But now she is finding that life at the palace as Prince Charming's betrothed is not as great as she thought it was going to be. In fact, it's...more
I had listened to this book several years ago, but read it yesterday. I liked it. I liked how she discovered who she was and what she wanted, and came to understand both that she could take charge of her own destiny and that she needed help to achieve it.
OK, I supposed the independent princess-to-be is a good role model for girls, but I just didn't get into this book. It seemed a little too negative and stereotypical--if the prince isn't perfect, then he must be a blithering idiot and life is totally restrictive.
I realize getting girls to think about unrealistic fairy tale endings is a good idea, but this one went so far the the other side of unreal that I found it hard to swallow. Why couldn't the prince just have been boring instead of stupid?...more
I realize getting girls to think about unrealistic fairy tale endings is a good idea, but this one went so far the the other side of unreal that I found it hard to swallow. Why couldn't the prince just have been boring instead of stupid?...more
I can't help comparing this book to Ella Enchanted. Both are YA retellings of the Cinderella story. While I prefer Gail Levine Carson's version, I have to appreciate Margaret Peterson Haddix's injection of reality into the traditional fairy tale. No magic, no fairy godmothers, no magic pumpkins. Rather, this is the story of Ella who got to the ball under her own perseverance, and then gets herself out of the palace the same way. It was enjoyable and a good read for all ages. However, I would hav...more
Just Ella by Margaret Peterson Haddix starts off where the Cinderella story ends. Ella is living in the palace learning everything that she needs in order to be a princess. She has nightly chaperoned visits with her prince and spends most of her day learning etiquette and manners. She's also bored to tears. She soon decides that she no longer wants to be the princess but finds that leaving the castle and breaking her engagement is not as simple as it seems like it would be.
This is a terrific boo...more
This is a terrific boo...more
"It's a familiar story: In spite of the obstacles put in her way by her wicked stepmother, Ella goes to the ball, sweeps Prince Charming off his feet, and is chosen to be his bride. Now she's comfortably ensconced in the palace, awaiting marriage to the man of her dreams. It's happily ever after time, right? Wrong! Life for Ella has become an endless round of lessons and restrictions; even worse, Prince Charming turns out to be more like Prince Boring. Why can't she talk with him the way she can...more
This book seemed like it might be an extension of Ella Enchanted by Carson-Levine, which I loved. However, Just Ella was pretty disappointing. The things that bothered me:
1. The language. Even though the novel is set hundreds of years ago, the characters talk like they are from the 21st century. For some people, this might not be a big deal, but it really killed the story for me, as I couldn't ever get myself to feel like I was being transported into the story to another time.
2. It is a very sho...more
1. The language. Even though the novel is set hundreds of years ago, the characters talk like they are from the 21st century. For some people, this might not be a big deal, but it really killed the story for me, as I couldn't ever get myself to feel like I was being transported into the story to another time.
2. It is a very sho...more
This book is a Cinderella story with a twist. Her name is Ella and the book takes place after the ball, when she was moved to the castle, and before the wedding. She is learning to be a princess, and not very fond of her teacher, Madame Bisset. She is cooped up inside all day long and misses the outdoors. Her only two friends are a servant girl named Mary, and one of her teacher named Jed. The actual story of how Ella got to the ball is less magical. She got to the ball because she was clever an...more
We are all familiar with the traditional ending to fairy tales "and they lived happily ever after." But what if they didn't live happily ever after? That is the premise of this book. Cinderella has moved into the castle in anticipation of her upcoming wedding to Prince Charming. While there she is being taught how to be a princess. How she should act, what she should do, and what will be expected of her. As she receives this training, she begins to realize that she doesn't like this. What is she...more
I like young adult literature. Like many people, I find that right now it is one of the genres with the most inventiveness and without the pompousness of much of the literature that deems itself "adult" and "serious."
Sometimes though, you happen on young adult books that were absolutely not intended for an older audience, that have no hidden meaning at all. Just Ella is one of those books. Writing this might make it sound like I didn't enjoy the book, when in fact I read it all in one day and ha...more
Sometimes though, you happen on young adult books that were absolutely not intended for an older audience, that have no hidden meaning at all. Just Ella is one of those books. Writing this might make it sound like I didn't enjoy the book, when in fact I read it all in one day and ha...more
I would like to give Just Ella 3 1/2 stars but alas no fractions are permitted. A very quick read, I was not overly enamored with the writing style. It is age appropriate but lacks the carefully crafted quality that sets apart the children's books I really love.
Just Ella presents the classic story of Cinderella and is set in the "happily ever after". Only it turns out not to be so happy; and unlike traditional fairy-tale heroines Ella does not play the damsel in distress card and hope for a prin...more
Just Ella presents the classic story of Cinderella and is set in the "happily ever after". Only it turns out not to be so happy; and unlike traditional fairy-tale heroines Ella does not play the damsel in distress card and hope for a prin...more
Ella is a regular girl living with her step mother and step sisters when at a ball she meets the Prince and is whisked away to the castle to become his Princess. The story starts with Ella in her room in the castle, she is cold and she wants to start the fire but last time she did she was reprimanded. She is finding it really hard to fit in with the rest of the palace and it forever getting in trouble for the things that she does that do not fit the description of Princess. Every week is she all...more
After Prince Charming sweeps her off her feet and brings her to the castle, Ella finds herself in a new and disconcerting world. She is required to attend endless tutoring in culture and decorum to make her a suitable bride for the Prince. The constant instruction is trying, but even more disturbing is the fact that Ella is betrothed to the Prince simply because he must have beautiful children. No one values her mind or talents, except her religion tutor and one small servant girl. However, Ella...more
I was amazed at how wonderfully thought-provoking Just Ella was for a YA book! It's one of those books that every girl should read, at least once. Not only is it an engaging read but it brings up many great thoughts. At its core it is a satire, challenging the dangerous unrealism that has perpetually threatened society, leaving day-dreaming females all over the world disillusioned in the face of their everyday lives and (gasp!) guys that actually have faults. I LOVE how it represents Ella's new...more
Dec 12, 2011
Kara Roberts
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
chapter-book,
family,
fantasy,
fiction,
fear,
heart-felt,
love,
motivation,
problem-solving,
relationships,
suspense
It's a familiar story: In spite of the obstacles put in her way by her wicked stepmother, Ella goes to the ball, sweeps Prince Charming off his feet, and is chosen to be his bride. Now she's comfortably ensconced in the palace, awaiting marriage to the man of her dreams. It's happily ever after time, right?
Wrong! Life for Ella has become an endless round of lessons and restrictions; even worse, Prince Charming turns out to be more like Prince Boring. Why can't she talk with him the way she can w...more
Wrong! Life for Ella has become an endless round of lessons and restrictions; even worse, Prince Charming turns out to be more like Prince Boring. Why can't she talk with him the way she can w...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
While I've always loved fairy tales, especially by the Brother's Grimm, this is my first fairy tale retelling I've ever read. Margaret Peterson Haddix took the story of Cinderella and shows what really happens ever after. And "happy" is not part of it.
Taking off where the traditional fairy tale ends this was a fluffy book focusing on Cinder Ella who's now trying to adapt to life in the castle and looking forward to getting married with Prince Charming. Unfortunately he's rather boring (or shall...more
Taking off where the traditional fairy tale ends this was a fluffy book focusing on Cinder Ella who's now trying to adapt to life in the castle and looking forward to getting married with Prince Charming. Unfortunately he's rather boring (or shall...more
This is an interesting twist on the Cinderella story. Ella is a girl who had lost her father while he was crossing the border to buy a book and was put to work by her stepmother and stepsisters the moment that they found out he was gone for good, and she wanted to go to the ball so that she could find an employer so that she could run away from her step family, but she had no fairy godmother to help her, and so she took her fate into her own hands. She took her Mom's old ivory wedding gown and c...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Just Ella is a realistic idea of the Cinderella tale. In it, Ella learns that all in the castle and noble families have spun a tale of her using magic and fairies to get to the ball that night. They have created the idea of what we all know as the classic Cinderella. However, during talks with the only person in the castle she can freely talk to, her tutor, she reveals the truth of the events leading up to the ball. Ella realizes that Charming isn't all that charming and the fairytale ending she...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
I love this book. It's an interesting take on a common fairy tale, Cinderella. But what I love about it is how it's different form the fairy tale it's based on
Think about it: Cinderella goes to a ball because she wants to have fun. She meets the prince, and dances with him. He asks her to marry him, she agrees. How can a relationship with someone you barely know lead to happily ever after?
Well, this book doesn't. Just Ella is about how Ella realizes life in the palace is dull and boring. She har...more
Think about it: Cinderella goes to a ball because she wants to have fun. She meets the prince, and dances with him. He asks her to marry him, she agrees. How can a relationship with someone you barely know lead to happily ever after?
Well, this book doesn't. Just Ella is about how Ella realizes life in the palace is dull and boring. She har...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazing Heroines ...: Just Ella | 1 | 4 | Apr 01, 2012 05:38am |
Margaret Peterson Haddix grew up on a farm near Washington Court House, Ohio. She graduated from Miami University (of Ohio) with degrees in English/journalism, English/creative writing and history. Before her first book was published, she worked as a newspaper copy editor in Fort Wayne, Indiana; a newspaper reporter in Indianapolis; and a community college instructor and freelance writer in Danvil...more
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“...even the most independent people sometimes needed help. And if I'd learned nothing else from my life thus far, it was that you don't always end up where you think you're going.”
—
124 people liked it
“I snorted "oh, beauty. What's that good for?"
Mary stared, her eyes round.
"It won you the prince, did it not?"
I snorted again, I prefer to think that he was captivated by my charming personality." I giggled to let Mary know I was trying to make fun of myself.”
—
23 people liked it
More quotes…
Mary stared, her eyes round.
"It won you the prince, did it not?"
I snorted again, I prefer to think that he was captivated by my charming personality." I giggled to let Mary know I was trying to make fun of myself.”
Apr 05, 2013 08:47pm