I liked this retelling of Cinderella so much more as I read it with my kids. The emphasis is on standing up for yourself and learning the meaning of sacrificial love and true friendship. I think it’s a great improvement from the original story that it doesn't rely on a quick fairy godmother fix to solve every problem. Ella is clever and funny and is willing to try and solve her own problems. I love how her best friend Char knows who she truly is & loves her. ( )

Charming re-telling of Cinderella. Ella is cursed with the "gift" of obedience. Ella tries to fight it as much as she can. It is very different in tone from the movie. Both are enjoyable, but in different ways. ( )

The audiobook narrator was terrible. She sounded nine years old, specifically like a nine-year-old with a whiny, high-pitched voice (and most of her character voices pitched up even higher). I probably would've enjoyed this more if I'd read it myself. I do enjoy dramatic love stories.

Ella and Char reminded me more of Romeo and Juliet than Cinderella and Prince Charming. So young, so desperate to be together, yet torn apart by powers beyond their control. Of course, they don't kill themselves in the end or anything, but the final showdown is pretty dramatic. The point of this retelling, which by now feels a little cliche, is that Ella is her own hero, overcoming significant obstacles using her own strength, intelligence and spirit.

One star for the audiobook, but three for the story. [b:Cinder Edna|434076|Cinder Edna|Ellen Jackson|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1174738380s/434076.jpg|1715096] challenges tradition in a much more radical way. ( )

This is, without a doubt, the best Cinderella retelling ever. I love Ella, I love Char, and I love their relationship with each other. The world building is amazing and the main character, Ella, is such a brave and love-able heroine. Char is a great love interest and is such a great match for Ella. I loved reading their interactions with each other and watching their relationship bloom. Also, can I just say that I love Mandy? Honestly, the story wouldn’t be the same without her. I can say with certainty that this is my favorite book ever. I read it way back in elementary school and have loved it ever since. I've read and reread it over and over again, and that's not to be taken lightly, because I almost never reread books. This is 100% worth the read and I promise, you'll love the world and the characters almost as much as I do. ( )

Independent Reading Level: 3rd-5th Grade
Awards: Newbery Medal Nominee (1998), Mythopoeic Fantasy Award Nominee for Children's Literature (1999), Grand Canyon Reader Award for Teen Book (1999), Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award for Grade 6-9 (2000), Vermont Golden Dome Book Award (1999), Iowa Teen Award (2000), California Young Readers Medal for Middle School/Junior High (2000), Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award (2000)