★★★★★ 5 out of 5

Imagine being cursed with obedience, having to do whatever anyone commands, or facing severe consequences otherwise. Imagine people finding out about the curse and using it for their own selfish gain, but instead of remaining a slave, you go out to find the person who did this to you and demand they release the curse. That is the life of Ella from Gail Carson Levine’s Cinderella adaptation, Ella Enchanted.

Levine has cleverly woven the familiar tale of Cinderella and created her own fictional town of Frell, where Ella lives with her absentee father, her awful step-mother, and her two idiotic step-sisters. Cursed to obey every command by the foolish fairy named Lucinda, headstrong Ella is desperate to escape her “gift” from Lucinda and live a life where no one can force her to do anything again. Filled with adventures of battling ogres, dealing with loss, and playing mischievous pranks, Ella Enchanted has been the best Cinderella adaptation I have ever read. Yes, there are the fairytale’s iconic pumpkin coach, a glass slipper, and the happily ever after we all demand when reading, but Ella Enchanted has much more than what the classic fairytale has to offer.

The one complaint I often have about fairytales, especially those involving princesses, is that the women are too “damsel-in-distress,” and the plot always revolves around getting the prince. We want to read about women who know what they want and who will fight for it. Levine’s characters do not disappoint because Ella is strong-witted, telling readings straight off that instead of her curse making her docile, it has made her rebellious. She wants to be freed from her curse so she can get away from people telling her what to do, and instead of waiting around, hoping her fairy godmother will come and fix things, she takes fate into her own hands and does something about it.

Ella is a good role model for younger and older audiences, reminding us to get off our bums and do something about the things we do not like about our lives. Ella Enchanted has romance, yes, but do not let that push you away. Levine’s story is about a young woman fighting for her freedom, a theme that I am pleased to continuously find in contemporary literature. Ella has better things to be doing than worrying about Char, the prince, and whether he loves her or not.

Do not let the fact that Ella Enchanted is an adolescent lit book scare you away. Embrace your inner child and step away from all the stresses that college brings along. Join Ella in Frell and discover how she breaks free from her obedient life. You will not be disappointed, I promise.