Ella Enchanted is the story of protagonist Eleanor (Ella) from Frell who, at birth, is given a “gift” in the form of a magic spell by an amusingly misguided fairy named Lucinda. The spell dictates that Ella obeys every direct command she is given, and that she must also keep this condition a secret. Now I know why people made such a fuss when the movie came out. I watched the movie first, so I had no idea how utterly wrong everything was. It totally is not like the book. Just slap on the names and the curse and that's where the similarities end. I must say the book is MUCH better than the movie.

Cinder & Ella is a (surprise, surprise!) Cinderella retelling taking place in Hollywood. Only the stepmother isn't evil, the father is alive, Prince Charming is a swoonworthy playboy and Cinderella a fantasy geek. The real villain, besides the awful, I-wanna-strangle-you-bitch Kaylee, is the society. The society that can't show compassion to a girl who lost her mother and was damaged both mentally and physically during the accident that turned her world upside down. Being bullied all the time and feeling unwanted by a family she just got to meet, Ella's only sunshine was her internet friend Cinder. She never met him in person, but she felt like she had known him her entire life. And the best part is (the one I absolutely adored) that the reason it all started was their love for the same fantasy books! I love nerdy protagonists! Ella Minnow Pea is the 18-year-old protagonist of the novel. Her name is a play on words as it sounds like the pronunciation of the letters "LMNOP", fitting with the content of the novel. She is a strong and intelligent young woman who uses her determination and persistence to survive the hardship placed on the island of Nollop by the high council. Towards the end of the novel, she is the only one in her family left on the island and is in charge of Enterprise 32. She eventually runs across a sentence in her father's farewell letter that will save the citizens of Nollop from the oppression they are experiencing, and allow her family to return to the island. These titles include Lily Lindon’s recently published Double Booked, about a 26-year-old woman who realises that she is bisexual, and two queer coming-of-age novels: Cynthia So’s young adult novel If You Still Recognise Me and Henry Fry’s First Time for Everything. It’s a boom reflected in film and TV, too, notably with the release of Netflix’s Heartstopper, based on Alice Oseman’s graphic novel of the same name. Ella is desperate to find Lucinda and have her remove the curse, which leads her to run away from the finishing school and into all sorts of trouble. Unlike a lot of fantasy stories, though, this one isn't a quest story set on an endless road. Ella meets Elves and is nearly eaten by Ogres, but spends most of the story at home. Humorous escapades and a blooming friendship between her and Char balance out the cruelty dealt her by others. And the Cinderella aspect is given full due, but in a refreshing way. The similarities are there, but it never feels old and tired and same-y. Night after night Tate fends off the persistent advances of the undeniably charismatic man, but after an explosive moment in the bar, all bets are off as he finds his body stirring with a different desire than his mind.

Sex. Logan Mitchell loves it, and ever since he realized his raw sexual appeal at a young age, he has had no problem using it to his advantage. Men and women alike fall into his bed--after all, Logan is not one to discriminate. He lives by one motto--if something interests you, why not just take a chance and try? But in spite of all this . . . when I closed the book I found it forgettable. It’s not a book that I’d treasure or a new favorite—I’m not even sure I’d read it again. For some reason, this book wasn’t one that stayed in my mind or claimed a permanent part of my emotions. the title’s reminding you a bit to a certain unhinged blondie who wears glass slippers (how), goes to a ball w/ pumpkin as a car the benefits of collective action are not extended to women (111), adding beyond a handful of problematic instances, female heroines in Grimms’ are on their own… isolated and abandoned in a way similar to such tragic heroines as Medea, Dido, or Desdemona(112).

How does Dunn manage to make Ella Minnow Pea both a whimsical fable and a serious anti-authoritarian satire? What elements of the novel seem comical or lighthearted? What elements seem more pointed? How well does the author integrate them into the story? About this Author For authors writing queer romcoms, though, there is the added complexity of deciding when to represent the traumas that many LGBTQ+ still face, such as discrimination and familial rejection. Indeed, authors quoted in this article stressed the importance of having books focusing on these issues, coexisting with the positive stories. Dame Olga, Hattie, and Olive collectively represent one of the only types of female collaboration seen in fairy tales, which Mendelson refers to as an “evil women’s group” (115). Mendelson notes: The thing that makes Ella Enchanted one of my favorite fairy tale retellings is that the clever and seamless incorporation of Ella’s curse provides the story a much bulkier message for young readers: one about the importance of free will and the control that others will always try to exert over us, and the fact that sufficient determination to do the right thing will prevail against even the most improbable odds. These are the truths at the hearts of Ella’s story, and it just so happens that they are presented in the midst of a story that is indescribably magical and charming. It follows Jaigirdar’s first two novels, The Henna Wars – which was included in TIME’s 100 Best Young Adult Books of All Time – and Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating, both featuring heartwarming love stories between young queer Muslim women. Until now, people like Jaigirdar had “never been given the narrative of happiness,” she says.

Conclusion

There are several reasons that I love this novel and recommend it to everyone. The first is that it's an imaginative retelling of Cinderella which makes the story exciting for readers familiar with the original version without making it too abtruse for readers who have never heard of Cinderella. Also, the book is full of great role models for girls. All of the female characters are strong, self-aware women--things seen far too rarely in the fairy tale genre. The novel is narrated in Ella's voice. This makes it easy to see how strong Ella is as a character (especially at the end of the novel). Love is a very important theme in Ella Enchanted. The love that Ella receives from her mother enables her to grow up to be a strong willed, independent woman who will fight for love at all costs. It is Mandy’s love and not her magic, that helps Ella survive the loss of her mother. Ella’s father doesn’t appear to love her and he makes this very apparent when he does not keep Ella’s stepmother and stepsisters from abusing her. Ultimately, a final act of love is what eventually breaks the curse of obedience for Ella. Breaks with convention Lots of adventure and action. This book is looking for someone - people - to share an adventure with. We join Ella as she embarks on a quest, to find a way to get rid of her curse. Take it from me, it was a wonderful experience. Mittie is Ella's aunt. She is a teacher at the local elementary school. Because of her career, she finds the laws passed by the council quite difficult to follow and obey. This, in turn, creates serious problems for her. She commits her first offence while explaining to her students that 12 eggs are equal to a do Zen. The laws and restrictions put on the use of language on the island create a sense of depression in her life. She, along with her daughter and Nate Warren, travels to the States to escape her daughter's death sentence.