Just Ella

By: Margaret Peterson Haddix

Narrated by: Alyssa Bresnahan

Ella Brown is unhappy. Shivering cold in her luxurious bed, she's afraid to get up and light the fire because she's recently been scolded for doing things servants are supposed to do. New to the castle, Ella is having trouble adjusting to her unfamiliar role: princess.

In this wonderful continuation of the Cinderella story, award-winning author Margaret Haddix imagines a heroine who has gotten what she wants, not through some fairy godmother's magical intervention, but by taking control of her own destiny. The trouble is, now that her dreams are coming true, Ella has serious doubts about what "happily ever after" really means.

Just Ella offers young adult listeners a very contemporary take on one of the most beloved fairy tales of all time. Narrator Alyssa Bresnahan magically brings life and depth to Ella, who is determined to act on her heart's desires - even when they take her in unexpected directions.

©1999 Margaret Peterson Haddix (P)2000 Recorded Books,LLC

Critic reviews

"Haddix puts a feminist spin on the Cinderella story, beginning her tongue-in-cheek novel where the traditional story ends." ( Publishers Weekly)
"Provocative and entertaining." ( Booklist)

Unique retelling

One of my favorite books growing up! Happy to find it as an audio book

loved it

Is book was amazing. I love Margaret Peterson Haddix already, but having someone like Alyssa Bresnahan read it was amazing!!!!! My first audio book and I loved it!! 👼

Ella Enchanted is a much better book

Simple story, but it accomplishes what it sets out to do. It isn't the most original, most profound, or most entertaining book I have ever read. However, it kept me engaged the whole way through. I thoroughly enjoyed the narration as well. I have listened to another book done by this same narrator and she does a great job. If you are wanting to read a Cinderella spin off I think Ella Enchanted is a much better book.

Meh, or Eh

More around a 3.5

I think that this was more of a just "eh" story for me. Maybe if I was younger, I would have liked it more. Or maybe if I haven't read other not-your-typical-fairy-tale-twist-stories, this one could have shone a little bright. However, all I could really think while reading/listening to this book was...is this over yet?

I think the main problem was that many of the characters were flat and predictable. There was the evil teacher that had the chance at redemption but not really because she was evil. There were the brainwashed maids that wouldn't or couldn't change because they were brainwashed. There was the new love interest because he came up at just the right time and was everything dull Prince Charming wasn't. And Prince Charming? Well...dear lord. I really wish that he was just playing at <spoiler> being a fool, but no. He's just a fool. Nothing more complex than that. </Spoiler> It's just that everyone's intelligence seemed toned way the heck down to make Ella seem like a genius. There had to be more people out there who were...smart. But I don't know. Even some of the characters on Ella's side weren't the sharpest crayons in the box. Not that that's bad, it's just that I believe that giving the main character normal brain power while making side characters the intelligence of rocks makes the story a little less interesting.

I also didn't really get the mindset of everyone. Wouldn't there also be a set of rules only women should be doing outside the palace? Wouldn't there be discrimination all around, especially if the root of said discrimination was the palace itself? Why would outside the palace be more relaxed? And why was there modern lingo?

Anyways, the book was just okay. I see that this the first book to a chronicle. Will I read the next book? Who knows. I always do like narrations done by Alyssa Breshnahan.

Not much smooching! Yay!!

I appreciated the lack of "romantic" scenes. I don't find them beneficial to any story. This story had sweetness. And expressions of love and affection. But no excessive descriptions of make-out scenes.