What do you think?
Rate this book
Sadie Jones and the Ball
Sadie Jones, the smallest kitchen maid in the palace, is determined that no one should be left out of Prince Charming’s ball in this funny Cinderella retelling from Sally Nicholls.
Everyone knows the story of Cinderella and how she and Prince Charming danced the night away at the ball. But what happened to all the other girls who were invited?
Sadie Jones, kitchen maid at the palace, is furious when everyone else is left standing around with no one to dance with while Prince Charming and Cinderella have a wonderful time.
So when Cinderella disappears and Prince Charming flounces off in a huff, it’s up to Sadie to save the day!
Particularly suitable for readers aged 7+ with a reading age of 7.
Everyone knows the story of Cinderella and how she and Prince Charming danced the night away at the ball. But what happened to all the other girls who were invited?
Sadie Jones, kitchen maid at the palace, is furious when everyone else is left standing around with no one to dance with while Prince Charming and Cinderella have a wonderful time.
So when Cinderella disappears and Prince Charming flounces off in a huff, it’s up to Sadie to save the day!
Particularly suitable for readers aged 7+ with a reading age of 7.
120 pages, Paperback
Published January 15, 2026
2 people want to read
About the author
Sally Nicholls
45 books282 followers Sally Nicholls is a prize-winning British children's author. She was born and grew up in Stockton-on-Tees. On finishing school, Nicholls chose to travel around the world. Her first novel was Ways to Live Forever.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 8, 2026
Sadie Jones and the Ball is a fun and heart-warming story, bringing a fresh perspective to a much-loved fairytale.
Sadie Jones is the youngest kitchen maid at the palace. Spending her days washing dishes, she dreams of going to one of the palace balls so, when Prince Charming throws a ball for every unmarried girl in the Kingdom, it seems that her dream might just have come true …
But what’s fun about a ball where only the Prince gets to dance with a girl wearing glass slippers, and where your best friend is not invited? Becoming more and more angry, Sadie decides to break the rules …
When the Prince sees what is happening, he reveals his selfish, spoilt nature, causing Cinderella to run from the ball, leaving only a glass slipper behind.
Can Sadie Jones come to the rescue and save the ball … and perhaps even give the Prince an opportunity to make amends?
This is a fantastically fun and fresh take on a well-known fairytale, told from the perspective of a young kitchen maid who is determined to make Prince Charming’s ball welcoming for all. This wonderful story has some powerful messages of accepting others, inclusiveness, empowerment and seeking forgiveness which are perfect to open up discussion with young readers.
The full-and-partial page illustrations by Ashley King are absolutely stunning with beautiful detail, energy and expression.
Discover what happens to the other girls invited to Prince Charming’s ball in this delightful adventure, perfect for young readers of 7+.
The Accidental Vikings
The Accidental Vikings is an exciting time-slip adventure that sees two school children on a museum visit board a ride and travel back in time to a Viking village.
Ten-year-old Alfie is on a school trip to the Viking Museum with his class. Whilst Alfie is enjoying finding out more, and listening to the talk being given by Varg, his classmate, Kat, is completely disinterested. But when they are chosen to dress as Viking children, and find themselves sharing a seat on a ride into the model Viking village, something neither of them could ever have imagined happens …
They find themselves separated from the rest of their group and wandering through a Viking village where the models start to come to life. Kat is convinced that they are being filmed as part of a reality TV show and convinces Alfie to play along, but could she have made a mistake? Could they really have travelled back in time to the age of the Vikings? And, when life becomes dangerous, will they be able to find their way back home, or remain trapped in the past?
I absolutely loved this exciting adventure, brimming with danger and discoveries, as the children are mistaken for a visiting Viking family and thrown into life in a Viking village. I really enjoyed learning about Viking culture and think this is a brilliant way to immerse young readers in learning about this era, especially the lives of children which will open up some rich classroom discussion.
The illustrations by Anneli Bray are absolutely wonderful and, alongside the storytelling, will really help young readers travel back in time with Alfie and Kat.
A thrilling time-slip adventure, perfect for young adventurers and history enthusiasts of 7+.
Sadie Jones is the youngest kitchen maid at the palace. Spending her days washing dishes, she dreams of going to one of the palace balls so, when Prince Charming throws a ball for every unmarried girl in the Kingdom, it seems that her dream might just have come true …
But what’s fun about a ball where only the Prince gets to dance with a girl wearing glass slippers, and where your best friend is not invited? Becoming more and more angry, Sadie decides to break the rules …
When the Prince sees what is happening, he reveals his selfish, spoilt nature, causing Cinderella to run from the ball, leaving only a glass slipper behind.
Can Sadie Jones come to the rescue and save the ball … and perhaps even give the Prince an opportunity to make amends?
This is a fantastically fun and fresh take on a well-known fairytale, told from the perspective of a young kitchen maid who is determined to make Prince Charming’s ball welcoming for all. This wonderful story has some powerful messages of accepting others, inclusiveness, empowerment and seeking forgiveness which are perfect to open up discussion with young readers.
The full-and-partial page illustrations by Ashley King are absolutely stunning with beautiful detail, energy and expression.
Discover what happens to the other girls invited to Prince Charming’s ball in this delightful adventure, perfect for young readers of 7+.
The Accidental Vikings
The Accidental Vikings is an exciting time-slip adventure that sees two school children on a museum visit board a ride and travel back in time to a Viking village.
Ten-year-old Alfie is on a school trip to the Viking Museum with his class. Whilst Alfie is enjoying finding out more, and listening to the talk being given by Varg, his classmate, Kat, is completely disinterested. But when they are chosen to dress as Viking children, and find themselves sharing a seat on a ride into the model Viking village, something neither of them could ever have imagined happens …
They find themselves separated from the rest of their group and wandering through a Viking village where the models start to come to life. Kat is convinced that they are being filmed as part of a reality TV show and convinces Alfie to play along, but could she have made a mistake? Could they really have travelled back in time to the age of the Vikings? And, when life becomes dangerous, will they be able to find their way back home, or remain trapped in the past?
I absolutely loved this exciting adventure, brimming with danger and discoveries, as the children are mistaken for a visiting Viking family and thrown into life in a Viking village. I really enjoyed learning about Viking culture and think this is a brilliant way to immerse young readers in learning about this era, especially the lives of children which will open up some rich classroom discussion.
The illustrations by Anneli Bray are absolutely wonderful and, alongside the storytelling, will really help young readers travel back in time with Alfie and Kat.
A thrilling time-slip adventure, perfect for young adventurers and history enthusiasts of 7+.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thanks to Poppy at Barrington stoke for the early copy, Out 15th January. Sadie Jones is a kitchen maid at the palace - you know the one with Prince Charming. Well, it actually appears he's not so charming! Anyway as we all know the King and Queen want him to get married. So he says they'll have a ball but he only invites all the women and girls -no men. Yes, even Sadie, her sister Arabella, Dora from the stables and cook. But the only man is Prince Charming and he's not dancing, so no one is dancing! Well, until she walks in - yes Cinderella, Arabella knows who she is - she's a kitchen maid too. But then the Prince only dances with her! Dora sees another girl who like her is wearing riding clothes and boots and asks her to dance, Arabella asks Bill the footman, the Butler asks Cook. But what about the Prince - he's cross at all these servants dancing Cinderella goes white speaks to the Prince, and leaves just as teh clock chimes midnight. The King and Queen are cross - the Prince asked all the girls! What is he to do? And what about everyone else that was enjoying themselves at the ball? Sadie it seems can work yet more magic... Good fun story about what happens to all the other girls at that Ball!
Read
December 28, 2025What a great take on Cinderella, and so modern.
This is a great story, looking at the other people invited to the Prince’s ball.
This shows that the Prince actually isn’t a nice person who was only interested in Cinderella when he thought she was upper class.
I liked this take on the story.
About the author.
This is a great story, looking at the other people invited to the Prince’s ball.
This shows that the Prince actually isn’t a nice person who was only interested in Cinderella when he thought she was upper class.
I liked this take on the story.
About the author.
January 1, 2026
This is super cute! It’s a retelling of Cinderella but told through the eyes of one of the maids at Prince Charming’s palace. I love how everyone gets included in this and how Prince Charming has to humble himself (he’s a bit of a snob at times ha). Gorgeously illustrated by Ashley King too!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews