HarperCollins
ISBN: 978-0060734084
Published Sept 19, 2006
Hardcover, 337 pages
Although my daughter and I saw the
movie Ella Enchanted several times, this was the first book we read
by author Gail Carson Levine. Both of us liked how the author
incorporated elements from the Snow White fairy tale into this story
and made it unique with the blaring message that physical beauty is
not as valuable as inner beauty.
Aza is a young fifteen year old girl
who has the gift of singing. She was raised by loving parents who
found her in their Featherbed Inn when she was one month old. Aza
aches to be pretty. She describes herself as large-boned and ugly,
covering her face with her hands when she would meet the guests at
the inn who were rude to her, except for the gnomes. Circumstances
make Aza the traveling companion of a duchess who is going to the
king's court for his wedding, and that is where Aza meets the prince
and her adventures start, culminating in a dangerous game with the
queen that teaches Aza the importance of being true to herself.
This was a fun book to read filled with
fantasy and songs. It's not our favorite genre but we liked it,
mainly because Aza was a great character. She was flawed and
realistic and torn between wanting to be pretty and liked and using
deceit to achieve it. There were funny moments in the story and
suspenseful ones as Aza is found out and is betrayed.
Fans of fairy tale spin-offs and
fantasy books will enjoy this story of a young girl who learns to
like herself despite her looks. The saying that “beauty is in the
eye of the beholder” holds true for this middle-grade tale.
Note: This book is rated C = clean read.
Reviewed by Laura and daughter
Disclosure: I bought this book and was not told how to rate or review this product.
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