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Cinderella: Junior Novel
In 1950, Walt Disney Studios released the classic film about a kind and wishful servant girl who is swept away from the harsh lifestyle of a bleak home to a life of royalty and true love. The live-action re-imagining of this timeless tale is sure to delight fans both old and new!
176 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2015
About the author
Elizabeth Rudnick
70 books298 followershis is the part I'm always the worst at—talking about myself! So as you've figured out, my name is Elizabeth Rudnick and I'm a young adult author. I'm also a Senior Editor at Disney Press in New York City. I've edited books based on movies like Pirates of the Caribbean and Prince of Persia as well as Miley Cyrus's memoir, Miles to Go, which was a New York Times bestseller (imagine if Tweet Heart was too!) and a total blast to work on.
When I'm not working, I live in Connecticut with a big mutt named Jack Dyson (because he has the ability to suck up anything in his way) and have a habit of watching hours of mindless television. I like to think of it as research!
When I'm not working, I live in Connecticut with a big mutt named Jack Dyson (because he has the ability to suck up anything in his way) and have a habit of watching hours of mindless television. I like to think of it as research!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
January 3, 2018
For many people who know me it's not very new information that I loved the Cinderella live action movie more than any other movie in the whole wide world (which is not just because Richard Madden is a perfect and handsome human being). When a friend of mine told me that there was actually a novel based on this exact movie, I had to go to amazon to find it.
I found a very cheap, second hand copy and after returning home from a short holiday at my parents' I found it, looking absolutely new and unused, in my mailbox. I was really excited to start reading it and my excitement only grew when I discovered that Elizabeth Rudnick, who made me feel sorry for Prince Hans of the Southern Isles, wrote it.
And it turned out to be everything I hoped and wanted it to be. The Cinderella live action movie had, in my opinion, already done a great job when it came to creating layered characters for this fairytale that's not known for its depth. The book adds even more layers to all of them which will also give watching this movie a whole new dimension.
The book is written from multiple point of views, switching whenever needed. Therefore we get to see the motivation of not just Ella and Kit, but also Mrs. Tremaine, the Grand Duke and King Frederick. The expressions and acting choices make even more sense now they're accompanied by a thought process and reasons. And I'm sure I will see more than a few scenes in a different light now.
But, the book does more than that. It also adds scenes, small little moments, snippets of conversations. Scenes that made me smile, scenes that made this story even more magical, even more special, and even more beautiful. It were those small moments, where we got to see and hear things the movie didn't show us, or cut out (probably), that I had to smile most. It was as if finally, after all those time, I discovered a few deleted scenes I didn't know I needed.
I'm fairly certain that I will re-read this book quite often and I wished I had known and heard about it sooner! (Ow, and all other books from Elizabeth Rudnick are now added to my to be read list!)
I found a very cheap, second hand copy and after returning home from a short holiday at my parents' I found it, looking absolutely new and unused, in my mailbox. I was really excited to start reading it and my excitement only grew when I discovered that Elizabeth Rudnick, who made me feel sorry for Prince Hans of the Southern Isles, wrote it.
And it turned out to be everything I hoped and wanted it to be. The Cinderella live action movie had, in my opinion, already done a great job when it came to creating layered characters for this fairytale that's not known for its depth. The book adds even more layers to all of them which will also give watching this movie a whole new dimension.
The book is written from multiple point of views, switching whenever needed. Therefore we get to see the motivation of not just Ella and Kit, but also Mrs. Tremaine, the Grand Duke and King Frederick. The expressions and acting choices make even more sense now they're accompanied by a thought process and reasons. And I'm sure I will see more than a few scenes in a different light now.
But, the book does more than that. It also adds scenes, small little moments, snippets of conversations. Scenes that made me smile, scenes that made this story even more magical, even more special, and even more beautiful. It were those small moments, where we got to see and hear things the movie didn't show us, or cut out (probably), that I had to smile most. It was as if finally, after all those time, I discovered a few deleted scenes I didn't know I needed.
I'm fairly certain that I will re-read this book quite often and I wished I had known and heard about it sooner! (Ow, and all other books from Elizabeth Rudnick are now added to my to be read list!)
October 19, 2017
I am quickly learning that it isn't easy finding a sweet, clean, book for younger readers. This, however, is a book that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to any young girl. It follows the new Disney movie very well, and actually improved upon the movie's depth for me after I read it. It has 8 pages, in the center of the book, of fully colored photos from the movie. I wish they would publish this book in a pretty, little hardcopy with a ribbon marker. I am glad my daughter told me it was one of her favorite books to read and asked me to read it.
November 7, 2022
“Have courage and be kind.”
This is such a beautiful and sweet book about the power of kindness and forgiveness. I love this movie and Elizabeth Rudnick did a beautiful job of taking the movie and writing it as a book. I love a good fairytale retelling and Cinderella is one of my FAVORITE stories.
I love the characters and how they were written. Ella and Kit’s relationships is so beautiful and wholesome. I love them!
This took very little time to read and was very rewarding! This is one of my favorite books to reread (I don’t know how many times I’ve reread this book but I always feel so happy after reading it). This is the perfect short book to read if you are in a fairytale mood (and want a quick story).
Side note: I highly recommend listening to the soundtrack of the movie while reading this book! It gives an extra layer to reading having the soundtrack playing in the background. This is something I will be doing more often in my reading (listening to soundtrack while reading)!
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For more bookish content at https://fablerosemc.blogspot.com/ and @fablerosemc !
This is such a beautiful and sweet book about the power of kindness and forgiveness. I love this movie and Elizabeth Rudnick did a beautiful job of taking the movie and writing it as a book. I love a good fairytale retelling and Cinderella is one of my FAVORITE stories.
I love the characters and how they were written. Ella and Kit’s relationships is so beautiful and wholesome. I love them!
This took very little time to read and was very rewarding! This is one of my favorite books to reread (I don’t know how many times I’ve reread this book but I always feel so happy after reading it). This is the perfect short book to read if you are in a fairytale mood (and want a quick story).
Side note: I highly recommend listening to the soundtrack of the movie while reading this book! It gives an extra layer to reading having the soundtrack playing in the background. This is something I will be doing more often in my reading (listening to soundtrack while reading)!
.
For more bookish content at https://fablerosemc.blogspot.com/ and @fablerosemc !
September 20, 2015
I was curious as to how disney would approach a live action Cinderella and make more of the story than a reimagining of the animation, I am also quite impatient so I read this. It's a beautiful book for children, not too simple but not too complicated. It has strong interwoven themes of love, strength, courage and believing in yourself. The Cinderella in this telling is a good role model and the prince far more defined than previous incarnations. The step mother is more complex than evil and the step sisters are fun comic relief.
I think this is a version I would have like to have read as a child. It bodes well for the movie
I think this is a version I would have like to have read as a child. It bodes well for the movie
July 28, 2015
I've always loved Cinderella ..
July 2, 2018
When your daughter finishes reading a book and brings it to you and says "Mom, you should read this", you read the book. A nice little story. Love the message of "be kind and have courage", but I think we'll discuss in more detail the difference between being kind and letting others abuse you (though it had to happen to keep the Cinderella storyline intact...at least they tried to frame it as her refusing to give up the house her parents loved). And now we'll go watch the movie again together!
Read
February 12, 2015Plenty of people are excited about the new live action movie version of Disney’s Cinderella, and so I figured I might as well read the novelisation and see what they’d done with the (admittedly pretty anaemic) romance this time round. The 1950 animated version is entertaining enough, but there’s a lot more time devoted to singing and mice than there is to character development or any of the actually interesting parts of the Cinderella story.
There are a lot of people who start worrying every time a new fairy tale movie comes out. They don’t want the story “ruined” by a “feminist agenda”. Now, I find that really offensive and misogynistic, but I also understand people wanting to see the original story without too many changes.
And this is exactly what we get here.
The movie trailers promised a longer and more meaningful connection between Ella and her prince (Kit in this book). However, those few seconds in the trailer where they meet on horseback in the forest? That’s all there is!
The character of the prince IS more fleshed out, but he is off in the palace doing his own thing while Cinderella is busy ‘having courage and being kind’ while being literature’s greatest doormat.
Something about this book I thought was hilarious was that the author had a character using bloody as a swear word. Um… this is a children’s book!
And because it is a children’s book, I won’t even get started on all the incorrect forms of address for royalty. Surely even a Disney author has access to Wikipedia!
If you’re expecting an alpha hero in the shape of a prince, you’ll be disappointed. He’s a shy sort of fellow whose plan for ruling the kingdom is not for international alliances (he doesn’t want any!), but to rule with kindness, courage and love. Ho-kay then. That sounds smart!
I do really like softer, kinder, less assertive heroines, as backwards as that may sound. I was a very shy thing at Cinderella’s age. However, there’s kind and then there’s THIS! It was a little painful to see what a weak and useless creature Cinderella was – even more so than in the animated version.
This is exactly what you’d expect: a fairy tale movie put on the page. Expect nothing more.
There are a lot of people who start worrying every time a new fairy tale movie comes out. They don’t want the story “ruined” by a “feminist agenda”. Now, I find that really offensive and misogynistic, but I also understand people wanting to see the original story without too many changes.
And this is exactly what we get here.
The movie trailers promised a longer and more meaningful connection between Ella and her prince (Kit in this book). However, those few seconds in the trailer where they meet on horseback in the forest? That’s all there is!
The character of the prince IS more fleshed out, but he is off in the palace doing his own thing while Cinderella is busy ‘having courage and being kind’ while being literature’s greatest doormat.
Something about this book I thought was hilarious was that the author had a character using bloody as a swear word. Um… this is a children’s book!
And because it is a children’s book, I won’t even get started on all the incorrect forms of address for royalty. Surely even a Disney author has access to Wikipedia!
If you’re expecting an alpha hero in the shape of a prince, you’ll be disappointed. He’s a shy sort of fellow whose plan for ruling the kingdom is not for international alliances (he doesn’t want any!), but to rule with kindness, courage and love. Ho-kay then. That sounds smart!
I do really like softer, kinder, less assertive heroines, as backwards as that may sound. I was a very shy thing at Cinderella’s age. However, there’s kind and then there’s THIS! It was a little painful to see what a weak and useless creature Cinderella was – even more so than in the animated version.
This is exactly what you’d expect: a fairy tale movie put on the page. Expect nothing more.
March 26, 2015
This story was petty good. there was a little more I wish they had included like occupations the mother and daughter did together, a little more on the mother's funeral, chores that Cinderella must do around the house, and perhaps what happened to the Tremaine's after the absence of Cinderella and the marring of her and the prince. The story was wonderfully developed with wonderful language. I especially loved the little notes the fairy god mother snuck in. overall a great book after you watch the movie and get a little more back round and detail.
June 28, 2016
A great companion to Disney's live action Cinderella movie, this easy to read chapter book is based on the screen play by Chris Weitz. It's a wonderful edition to have. I love it when movie ties make you feel like you're reading the movie brought to life in book form. Also featured in the book, are images from the movie. We really enjoyed this one, and would definitely recommend picking it up. This book is great for readers in grades 2nd-4th.
June 14, 2021
I finished this book in one sitting. It's like rediscovering my childhood all over again. I watched the movie back in 2015 and I still love it now. I personally think that both Richard Madden and Lily James are the perfect for the role of Kit and Ella. This book of the film is simple and yet, still good at the same time. While reading, I remember the scenes in the movie. I think the author did well in writing this in a fun and simple way.
April 25, 2015
Charming supplement to the film. I especially liked the screen shots from the film they added to the book.
March 6, 2020
When I first purchased this book, I bought preceding since the 2015 live action film of Cinderella. What I found in leu of reading this book, is it pretty much exactly the same as the film, which I may mention is not the same as the original cartoon film. Even though it was practically the same, I still found joy in reading it. I am just curious into why the author felt the need to copy the movie exactly, rather than put her own take on it? Overlooking that aspect this is still a quality children’s chapter book, where young kids can follow a beloved character in her journey to find happiness. The main themes of this story include perseverance, courage, kindness, and finding the good in all living creatures. This book exhibits a large amount of imagery, which makes the book even more magical, as well as a joyous and hopeful tone. This book would be a great book for beginning readers because it has a simplistic vocabulary and east to follow plot. It would also be a good read-aloud book for teachers to read in their classes. As well as a good book to keep in your classroom library.
November 5, 2019
This book was as sweet, magical and romantic as I have expected it to be.
Loved to read the little comments, made by a very dearly character, now and then through out the story.
Cinderella is a really strong and loving character, and her story is a delight to read over and over again, just because it warmed my heart so much!
If you had seen this movie, then you already know what happens in this book, but then, as I said before, you will miss the magical eyes that are telling this story or miss reading the sweet note in the end or even miss having the gorgeous pictures to go along as you read this enchanting tale!
A beautiful little book with an amazing story to tell to people of all ages, a story about kindness, love and courage!
And believe me or not, I’ve finished this book exactly at midnight!😉����
Loved to read the little comments, made by a very dearly character, now and then through out the story.
Cinderella is a really strong and loving character, and her story is a delight to read over and over again, just because it warmed my heart so much!
If you had seen this movie, then you already know what happens in this book, but then, as I said before, you will miss the magical eyes that are telling this story or miss reading the sweet note in the end or even miss having the gorgeous pictures to go along as you read this enchanting tale!
A beautiful little book with an amazing story to tell to people of all ages, a story about kindness, love and courage!
And believe me or not, I’ve finished this book exactly at midnight!😉����
August 26, 2022
I went to see the old neighbourhood library's new selections the other day. Not the best really 😅 but I stumbled onto the Cinderella story, adapted from the 2015 film and decided to read it there and then.
I loved revisiting the story, having re-watched the movie a few months back. There's just something timeless about this fairytale to me that always draws me to it. Of all the Cinderella movies I've watched though, Ella Enchanted takes the cake for me 😂
It made for a light quick read and I liked it.
I loved revisiting the story, having re-watched the movie a few months back. There's just something timeless about this fairytale to me that always draws me to it. Of all the Cinderella movies I've watched though, Ella Enchanted takes the cake for me 😂
It made for a light quick read and I liked it.
Read
December 4, 2020I read this after watching the movie and highly recommend the book first. The main messages that I found were believing in yourself and courage. These are important messages for students to learn while they are growing up in a harsh and critical world. This is a great book for young girls in middle school or going into high school.
February 5, 2022
This was a book gifted to my daughter. After putting her off for her requests to read it for some time, I gave in. Surprisingly, It was a really well written book. The dialog was natural. The heros were loveable, and the antagonist truly evil. The moral throughout is kindness and courage. Everybody loves a Cinderella story and this delivered.
May 28, 2020
Book 16 in the 2020 Medieval A Thon-A book under 300 pages.
This is an entirely biased review. I love this movie, and therefore I loved this book. The full-colored movie pictures were a lovely addition. It was a lovely and sweet.
I'll be keeping this from my physical TBR.
This is an entirely biased review. I love this movie, and therefore I loved this book. The full-colored movie pictures were a lovely addition. It was a lovely and sweet.
I'll be keeping this from my physical TBR.
February 26, 2022
Beautiful
Once you get over the fact that they've only met twice and fell in love, it's a beautiful story of strength of character/courage, goodness/kindness, and love overcoming all.
Once you get over the fact that they've only met twice and fell in love, it's a beautiful story of strength of character/courage, goodness/kindness, and love overcoming all.
December 29, 2017
Really good details that follow the movie. It was an exciting story, but not overly scary. Great for young girls.
January 24, 2018
I didn't like that the stepmother was super bad to Cinderella. The thing that I did like was that their family got to visit and painted in a portrait.
January 5, 2019
I love Disney so much. I loved this movie and novel. It's great for all ages, especially for Disney fans.
January 13, 2020
Still love this story! Was my momma's favorite.
April 20, 2020
The story of how Ella became Cinderella. Essentially from the movie itself. A very emotional tale indeed.
September 17, 2020
Really good and cute book
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 17, 2020
Magical
Disney live action Cinderella is a lovely and powerful story about kindness and courage.
Definitely worth to read and as well worth to watch the movie.
Disney live action Cinderella is a lovely and powerful story about kindness and courage.
Definitely worth to read and as well worth to watch the movie.
April 1, 2021
I love both the book and movie! This is so sweet and lovely❤
Read
May 7, 2021I like this story, I read this story by watching movies. the story is about a kind and wishful servant girl who got rid of the desolate family life and lived a life of royal family and true love.
September 26, 2021
242 - 2021
October 30, 2021
I read this when I was like in 5th grade and that was the first chapter book I finished by myself and I was so proud of myself
March 2, 2022
It was okay not my favorite novelization of a film. I think I prefer the story book Edition
Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews