Glass: A Cinderella Tale

by Kathryn Lasky

A prequel to the Cinderella story from the perspective of a young fairy godmother.

In a grand glass house, there was a girl named Bess whose power would, one day, change the fate of her family. . . Bess Wickham has always felt like a bit of an outcast among her family of extraordinary glassblowers, but then an immense, magical power that’s lain dormant in her bloodline begins to emerge. So, when she suspects her family’s business has taken a sinister turn, Bess must find the strength to defeat dark magic and save a certain cinder girl. But will she shatter under the weight of such evil or get her happily ever after?

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Fairy Tales, Cinderella, Retellings, Childrens, Fiction

224 pages, Hardcover

First published August 20, 2024

About the author

Kathryn Lasky, also known as Kathryn Lasky Knight and E. L. Swann, is an award-winning American author of over one hundred books for children and adults. Best known for the Guardians of Ga’Hoole series, her work has been translated into 19 languages and includes historical fiction, fantasy, and nonfiction.

Reviews

[Haleigh Gravgaard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Glass: A Cinderella Tale by Kathryn Lasky presents an imaginative prequel to the classic Cinderella story, offering a unique perspective through the eyes of a young fairy godmother, Bess Wickham. Set in a grand glass house, the narrative introduces Bess as a member of a family of extraordinary glassblowers. Despite feeling like an outcast, Bess discovers an immense, magical power within herself, one that has been dormant in her bloodline. This newfound power becomes crucial as she uncovers a sinister turn in her family's business and must face dark magic to save the future Cinderella.

Lasky crafts a rich and enchanting world, filled with magical elements and a deep sense of family heritage. The glassblowing craft, woven into the fabric of the story, adds a unique layer to the fairy tale genre, making the setting both intriguing and vibrant. Bess's journey from feeling insignificant to embracing her magical abilities is compelling and adds depth to her character. The story's focus on Bess’s internal struggle and growth is well-developed, giving readers a strong, relatable protagonist.

However, the book occasionally falters in its pacing and complexity. Some plot points feel rushed, and the development of secondary characters could have been more fleshed out. The dark magic element, while intriguing, sometimes overshadows Bess's personal journey, making it challenging to fully invest in her character. Despite these shortcomings, Glass: A Cinderella Tale remains an enjoyable read, offering a fresh and creative take on a beloved fairy tale. It captures the essence of magic, family, and courage, making it a worthwhile addition to the Cinderella mythos.

[Lizz Axnick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really cool take on the Cinderella story. One of the most creative I have seen, although I did think the ending was a bit rushed.

Bess Wickham comes from a long line of glass makers. Bess, however, longs to grow flowers and work with animals. Animals are drawn to her, respond to her and she can communicate with them. Her family takes advantage of this and asks her to bring animals to them for "sketching" so they can create glass figures from them.

There is something much more sinister going on and Bess flees the family. They in turn paint her to be a witch. Her cousin, Estrella, comes to live with the Wickham family and here we enter our Cinderella. The Wickhams refuse to call her Estrella and just call her Ella, give her chores and expect her to take over the garden and bring them animals like Bess did. They keep her in the cellar where it is cold and she is underfed.

It is the last 50 or so pages that the Cinderella story unfolds, though with a few twists. Not quite the Disney ending with happily ever after but not as horrific as a proper Grimm Fairy Tale.

An excellent spin on an old story. I'd love to see what else Ms. Lasky can do with other fairy tales.

My thanks to Harper Collins and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are my own.

[Sierra Reyelts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unique take on the Cinderella story. Some parts were rushed and some elements were surprisingly dark but it was still a fun read

[Hadassah Buie · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF
There was a lot of dark magic, and although it was portrayed as evil, I still had no desire to continue reading.

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

My thoughts:
Such a unique way to reimagine the story of The Little Cinder Girl. Intelligent, kind main characters. Magic, and animals. Make this a fun read. There is human death, but nothing is described. Animals also are transformed by dark magic. How can good overcome if there is no bad to defeat it right? This is a children's book. Ages 8-12 is what is recommended by the publisher. I think that is a good age group as long as parents know what their kids are reading and can talk to them if they are scared. I enjoyed this read very much. There is just something about discovering new books for kids that are exciting to read. It makes me happy to think that new titles are being added every day to foster a love of reading for kids. Not only did I enjoy this read, I would recommend, and purchase it for gifts.



I received this book from NetGalley for this review. I was under no obligation to leave a review. All opinions are on my own. I am disclosing this per the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

[Marcy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love fairy tales, remakes and reimagined! This was a delightful read!

[Paige Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly I'm very surprised that the author is still active, but I'm glad that she is, because I really enjoyed this book.

The story took a surprisingly dark turn fairly early on, as it's quickly revealed that the Wickham family is using ancient dark magic to steal the souls of animals and turn them into glass sculptures that they create and sell for fortunes. Much later, they also think of doing something similar to Estrella "Ella" Diggerton by turning her into a glass vanity/mirror. Thankfully, they didn't succeed.

I will admit, I was very happy to see Bess running away and making a better life for herself, as well as her getting her daich (which is a kind of magical crystal or glass talisman), which turns out to be her late grandmother's magic wand. From there, she lives mostly by herself with a few animals for company while trying to master her magic and powers. She also puts in a lot of effort to help Estrella survive the harsh winter after the latter is taken in by a bad family. I also wasn't expecting the story to go with our "fairy godmother" figure falling in love with someone. I was even more surprised when Will Darlington, Bess's potential love interest, turned out to be Prince William of Wynmore.

One thing I will say is that the author also thought ahead for the degrading nickname for our Cinderella-esque character. You might recall how Cinderella got her name in the original fairytale. After her father married the wicked stepmother, one of her many chores was to clean out the fireplace, resulting in her being covered in ash and cinders, hence the name "Cinderella".

In this story, Estrella Diggerton is mockingly dubbed Ella by the Wickham family, and since her adoptive family are glassmakers and don't really have need for someone to sweep cinders, it wouldn't make very much sense for 'Cinder' to be added on to her name.

I'm not entirely sure why Bess was imprisoned only to have Ulli (her owl companion/familiar) find her wand and essentially bail her out happened, as I feel like it was resolved a bit too quickly to have any real weight on the story itself. I also feel like Bess took a long time to confront her family, but her fears of facing them are understandable.

And the fate of the malevolent Wickham family? Fitting, a touch ironic and very much deserved! They were all turned into glass but without having their souls extracted, so when they were shattered to pieces, they were super dead.

As for Bess, she got to be with her love despite having magic, and Estrella got to be with Piero, an astronomer and royal lens keeper.

The epilogue was also rather fitting, as the Crop Shire Bird and Nature Sanctuary (a royal conversatory of sorts) combines the interests of both Bess (watching/tending to animals), Estrella's interests (stargazing and astronomy) while forbidding the use of glass, save for exceptions to view animals or the stars in binoculars and telescopes respectively.

All and all, a pretty good book. There might be a few small details I might change, but I still enjoyed the book quite a lot. And who knows? You might too.

Rating: 4.6/5.

[Paige V · Rating 5 out of 5]

Will Bess save the animals from their terrible fate and also rescue a family member?

Bess Wickham, a teenage girl, is different from the rest of her family, who are glassblowers. She possesses a special gift for communicating with animals and dreams of having a real garden. Her chance comes when Bess' grandmother passes away, and her family agrees to let her have a garden as long as it attracts animals to benefit their business. However, when the animals begin to disappear, and Bess uncovers a dark truth, she decides to run away. In Bess' absence, her family takes in a distant cousin named Estrella to work as their servant. Estrella is mistreated, and it's up to Bess to come to her rescue.

In "Glass," Kathryn Lasky masterfully reimagines the classic Cinderella tale in a medieval setting. The author's evocative writing brings to life the mistreatment of animals, evoking a strong sense of empathy in the reader.
Bess, a unique and compassionate character, takes on the role of a fairy godmother figure in the story, adding depth and intrigue. Estrella, portrayed as hardworking and kind, is a pivotal character in the narrative. Bess' family, on the other hand, is depicted as incredibly cruel.
This book is a must-read for Cinderella enthusiasts and anyone who appreciates well-crafted fairytale retellings.

Happy Reading, Paige ❤️ 📚

Thank you, @harperkids @theshelfstuff , for sending me a copy of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Christine]

While I think there was some fine descriptive writing here, I thought the pacing was uneven and the world building shallow. It read more like a much longer Grimm's fairy tale in tone (not a bad thing but you won't get much in the way of character depth). I was tracking with the story and suddenly Bess could speak to animals. She didn't find this unusual or odd although no one else in her world seems to be able to do so. Later on, Estrella understands what an owl is telling her and thinks nothing of it. Maybe I'm being picky but wouldn't one of them exclaim, "Oh! I can understand what this animal is telling me! Why is that?"

We know that magic exists in this world and that it's from the druids but we don't know much more than that. It's unclear how many people in the world have magic or if magic users are rare. What did the ornithologist think when Bess literally disappeared before his very eyes? We'll never know. There are a lot of little questions like this that remain.

Not a bad book by any means and a clever reworking of the Cinderella story but it left me wanting much more. It is possible this is because I am a middle aged woman and this is written for 4th - 7th graders so I do acknowledge that. :)

Content Notes:

Sex/sexual references: None

Swearing/profanity: None

Religious Elements: There's the magic from the druids thing but that's about it

LGBTQIA+ rep: Not specified

[Snakebite · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was probably not really the target audience, but I don't care.
This book, mostly about Bess Wikham, was a pretty good and interesting read, WAY better than Cinderella. I found it amusing that the prince's last name was Darlington and very interesting that Bess's best animal friends were a Barn Owl and some wolves, hinting at Kathryn's other books.

Bess Wikham was born to the renowned glass making family of the Wikhams, living in a glass house and strolling in a glass garden (this made me look closely at the cover and find that most of the flowers are glass). After her grandmother's death, Bess's mother shows her a glass rabbit figurine, saying that they were a great seller. Bess's family only thinks of money and profit, making it so then they gladly approve of Bess making a real garden to attract animals. But the process of making these figurines is more sinister than it seems, and this family will only become worse.

I didn't really like how quickly everything rapped up but overall, a good read that I would recommend to people who like books like Ella Enchanted and Guardians of Ga'Hoole.

[michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for a digital review copy. All opinions are my own.

This story was intriguing for 2 reasons - first, I love any fairy tale reimagining, and second, Lasky wrote the popular Guardians of Ga'hool which I read with my daughter many years ago. Not all of this story flowed well for me, but the plot itself was very interesting. In this prequel, Cinderella is the orphaned niece of a strange glassblowing family. But before we meet her, we meet the family's daughter, Bess. She does not fit in with her family who only want to create glass figurines and be considered the best. They have no love for the natural world. Bess, on the other hand, has a way with animals and gardening and feels like her family's glass creations are cold and lifeless. Bess is the only decent member of the family and becomes a fairy godmother of sorts. The book itself felt jumpy and perhaps could have been edited a bit better. I still enjoyed it and can see it being liked by those who like both fairy tales and fantasy.

[Kelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

With Glass Lasky has written an intriguing Cinderella-adjacent retelling. Bess is from a family of renowned glassblowers but doesn't find as much beauty in their lifeless creations as she does in the natural world. When she suspects dark magic is at play in her family's glassblowing endeavors she flees into the woods to the comfort of animal friends. Bess's departure from her family and affinity for the natural world leads her to be labeled and hunted as a witch. Bess not only has to save herself, but also the orphaned girl who has been swept up in her family's sinister plot. While this is a slim volume the action takes a few chapters to really get going and some readers may find it difficult to connect with the old-fashioned feel of the setting and some of the language choices Lasky makes. Readers who persist will be rewarded with an unlikely sort of happily-ever-after. Lovely jacket art will attract fairy tale fans.

Recommended for readers in grades 4-7, especially where fairy tale retellings are popular.

[Sarah-Lyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This magical story focuses on Bess and her family of glass blowers known for their intricate sculptures and designs. A family that holds a disturbing dark secret, and one that Bess quickly uncovers and causes her to run away. She isn’t like her family. She has a different kind of magic within her that allows her to communicate with animals and create things she needs with a magical glass wand that only she can wield.

When Bess discovers her family's dark secret she runs away to the woods and with the help of her animal friends she starts a new life for herself but soon learns of her family's more sinister plan and must now find a way to save a young girl named Estrella, who is being held captive in Bess’ family's glass house.

What I loved about this story:
✨️ The magical connection Bess has with animals and her ability to communicate with them
✨️ How Bess’ storyline is reminiscent of what I imagine a fairy godmothers prequel story would be
✨️ It has a happily ever after ending but not the typical one you would imagine

[Larissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

What an interesting twist to the Cinderella story. There were quite a few things I loved about this story. I loved Bess. I thought that her character was super strong, and I loved how she was able to reject what her family was doing to follow her heart. I also loved having her grandmother’s spirit to guide her as she tried to figure out how to navigate the grandmother’s loss, and what her family was doing. I also enjoyed Estrella. She also is another strong character whose love of science shines through the pages. What I didn’t love was the ending. It felt super rushed and a little bit disjointed. The story jumped around so much at times it was hard to keep track of who was doing what.
Thank you so much to HaperCollins Books and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

[Jennifer Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this creative re-imagining of the "Cinderella" fairytale, with a unique twist. While Cinderella still gets her happily ever after, it's not with Prince Charming, and the fate she is rescued from is far worse than being a servant!

The main character starts out as 14 in the beginning of the story and is 17 by the end, and though some older teens would no doubt still enjoy this story, it is solidly middle-grade and I would recommend for readers aged 9-14 who enjoy fantasy in general and definitely for those who like fairytale re-tellings in particular. This is a very quick read, with a relatively fast pace, perfect for those who don't want to commit to a long high-fantasy series, are intimidated by thick, long books, or like a book they can read start to finish in an afternoon.

[Tirzah · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded up to 3

As a child, Cinderella was my favorite Disney princess; therefore, I will always hold a soft spot for any Cinderella retelling. That is the reason I picked up this book. It's tone is darker than I would have liked, which brought my rating down to a 2.5. I rounded it up, because it is a Cinderella story and it was well-written. The pretty cover art and interior roses on each chapter page are also worth noting.

I would caution parents/guardians of sensitive youngsters to perhaps review it first From my understanding, animals' souls are shattered and trapped in glass. That part was a little confusing to me, but the idea can be terrifying for some. There is one exclamation of profanity. Those who enjoy mildly dark fairy tales might want to try Glass.

[Althea · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a unique twist on the Cinderella tale. It focuses on the fairy godmother, named Bess in this interpretation. Bess is the youngest daughter in a family of cold and cruel glassmakers. Young readers will enjoy many aspects of this story, including the fascinating way magic works and very likable talking animals. The book’s biggest flaw is its brevity. We get glimpses of characters' motivations and the worldbuilding, but things move very quickly, leaving very little time to flesh these details out. The ending especially feels quite rushed. I’d have appreciated another 50 or so pages to explore all these concepts. Still, this story will appeal to readers looking for a short fantasy with a dash of romance.

[Megan]

The Wickhams are a family of glassblowers, providing glass trinkets to nobles and royals. Unlike the rest of her family, Bess prefers the living vibrancy of nature to the cold 'perfection' of glass, longing for a garden of real plants to the glass flowers that decorate the grounds. After her beloved Grannie's death, things change in the family and Bess makes her escape upon learning the cruel truth of her family's glass animal figurines. With a magical legacy her Grannie left behind for her, will Bess be able to right the wrongs of the family trade? Can she help the distant cousin her parents brought in to replace her?

[LPR · Rating 3 out of 5]

Light touch but very good. The fantasy elements were equal parts very creepy/off-putting for the villains and delightfully wholesome/charming for the heroines. I wish more had been done with the glass slipper since there was a lot of glass stuff, obviously, but then the fairy godmother was like 'and i'm making glass slippers with the wand, next question' which seemed like kind of a missed opportunity. Loved the teenage fairy godmother and how she got a lot of classic princess-coding with her affinity to animals and nature.

[SOYAMRG · Rating 4 out of 5]

With Glass Lasky has written an intriguing Cinderella-adjacent retelling.

Bess is from a family of renowned glassblowers but doesn't find as much beauty in their lifeless creations as she does in the natural world. When she suspects dark magic is at play in her family's glassblowing endeavors she flees into the woods to the comfort of animal friends. Bess's departure from her family and affinity for the natural world leads her to be labeled and hunted as a witch. Bess not only has to save herself, but also the orphaned girl who has been swept up in her family's sinister plot.

While this is a slim volume the action takes a few chapters to really get going and some readers may find it difficult to connect with the old-fashioned feel of the setting and some of the language choices Lasky makes. Readers who persist will be rewarded with an unlikely sort of happily-ever-after. Lovely jacket art will attract fairy tale fans.

Recommended for readers in grades 4-7, especially where fairy tale retellings are popular.

K.M.
School Librarian

[Yapha · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very interesting and unique take on the backstory of Cinderella's Fairy Godmother, with her starting out as part of a family of glass blowers who begin to use evil magic. There is a bit of druid magic and celtic origins as well. Cinderella is introduced towards the end and it is not your usual ending. Give this one to readers who want to know why it's a glass slipper. For grades 4 & up.

eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss

[Marinda (rindasreads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm always up for a Cinderella retelling, and I loved that this one delved into the fairy godmother's origin story. Unfortunately, I was left wanting more than this book delivered. I felt like it started too slowly and wrapped up far too quickly. I didn't like the family portrayals and when I really thought about different aspects of the plot, it felt incredibly dark for a middle grade novel.

3.5 stars, rounded down. Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for giving me an advanced copy to review. I was not required to post a positive review, and all opinions are my own.

[Katie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I hate to be negative but this was a miss for me. The most interesting thing about the book is that the main character ends up being the fairy godmother. The rest of this is a strange mix of magic and science with some witchcraft and druidry thrown in there. The evil family is particularly dark and amoral. The double case of insta-love and the ridiculously rushed ending tipped my hand in favor of one star.

[Sharon the Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

A girl who feels like an outcast in her glass blowing family escapes their evil ways. They accuse her of witchery, the very thing that will eventually save her, and others.

This very unique Cinderella tale, a prequel actually, makes you rethink everything you know about the traditional Cinder tale. It isn't for the very young, I would say 10 and up, but they will be entranced in the story and the spinning of the characters they have known and loved for years. Enchanted animals, kindness, a handsome stranger met in the woods, and of course the evil family members only looking out for themselves.

[Madison LibraryBookFamily · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise of the story was quite fun. It provided a back story to Cinderella and more importantly her fairy godmother. Bess is kind and hardworking. She recognizes the evil of her family. Estrella is a girl who loves the stars and astronomy. Together they work to escape their evil family. Loved the found family the two girls had in their hour of need. Loved the idea of magic being the result of hard work and planning. A fun take on a classic tale for younger readers.

Bess is the odd one in her family. She loves animals and living plants. She takes after her Grannie who loved the druids. Her family are glassmakers who seek fame and riches. When a Estrella’s grandfather dies she is sent to live with her cousins, who treat her as a servant and order her around. Bess helps Estrella survive and find happiness.

[Engel Dreizehn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably one of the most interesting takes on Cinderellla tale I have read recently. Short but riveting-packing and good on the glass imagery...the glass making family is really that evil, greedy and possibly delusional.

[Alpa · Rating 1 out of 5]

nice story, fairly interesting lead characters. very disappointing ending as the story and characters revert to predictable tropes.
plotting was odd: years pass with nothing happening and then suddenly Lasky throws in some new characters and plot points and wraps up the story in the last 2 chapters.
there are some BIG plot holes which made me crazy.

[Jacob Benjamin Paramore · Rating 4 out of 5]

The ending kind of fell apart (no pun intended) but I thought the godmother being related to the evil family was a fun twist. I just wish the conclusion didn't feel so rushed. It felt like three paragraphs and the story stopped.

[Robyn Tocker · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm always interested in fairy tale retellings, and this quick middle grade book was a nice, light read. Not my favourite "Cinderella" retellings, but still a good one nonetheless.

"Glass" offers a backstory to Cinderella's fairy godmother, mingling a bit of history in this fantastical story. It was interesting to see Bess, technically Cinderella's cousin, embrace her magic and become a protective figure for Cinderella long before the glass slippers. The alchemy used by Bess' parents/sisters with their glass was also unique, albite disturbing.

My biggest issue were the romances for Bess and Cinderella. They felt very rushed and Cinderella's especially felt forced. I honestly would have preferred no romance over what was depicted here.

"Glass" by Kathryn Lasky is a good choice for young readers looking for a spellbinding "Cinderella" story.

[Erin]

lasky is an auto-buy author for me. i'm waiting increasingly impatiently.