What a lovely little book. And a perfect idea to make the curse one of obedience... It's the perfect way to make Cinderella come out of the story spunky instead of sacchrine while still being completely under the thumb of her stepmother and stepsisters.Almost every book I think worthwhile (fiction... emotionally worthwhile) has some section I find painful and difficult to read. In this it was the bit where Ella is ordered to be happy, and that funny dreadful scene following where she happily tries to love the awful old man.I wonder, though: why couldn't someone order her to not be obedient? ( )

I bought this on the strength of the glowing reviews on Amazon, many from people who loved both the book AND the film. I actually found the two to be very different, and on balance I much prefer the film (sacrilege, I know, I know...). Where the film is more of a satire on fairytales (Prince Char has a fan club, his evil uncle is trying to take his place, the fairy godmother's lover is trapped as a magical book), the novel is a far more conventional retelling of Cinderella (with no evil uncle in sight!).

Ella has been given a 'gift' by a well-meaning but thoughtless fairy. She has to be obedient at all times. Whether she's being told to wash the dishes or give up her most treasured possessions, she has to do as she's told. When her world falls apart and her vile stepmother and stepsisters find out about her obedience, she realises that the only way to stop this madness - and her domestic slavery - is to find the fairy, Lucinda, and persuade her to take away the gift. So she leaves her home town of Frell and sets off to find her, leaving behind her best friend, her home and her growing romance with Prince Charmont.

So far, so different from the movie - but still eminently readable and a sweet story. It's the ending that fell apart completely for me. The film had a gripping, exciting ending that made full use of the compulsive nature of Ella's obedience to create tension and a great climax. The novel just fell quietly into a bland ending which was really disappointing at the end of such a feisty heroine's story. It was perfect holiday fluff, but I don't think I'll be rereading this one. I'll buy myself the DVD instead! ( )

One of my favorite books as a child. Cinderella is set in a different world, where giants and fairies roam, and even Ella herself is enchanted. The movie really puts this wonderful book to shame, so give it another try and read the real story! ( )

spin off book of like a Cinderella type story?
not the greatest book unless you into the princessy thing. ( )

The book is about a young girl who is cursed at birth by a fairy. The fairy curses her with the gift of "obedience". Anything that someone tell Ella to do she must obey. Her mother dies and she is stuck with her hateful father who marries again and Ella feels like she is a evil stepmom. Ella even ends up with mean stepsisters. She has enough of it one day and leaves home on a journey where she encounters many interseting things along the way.

I liked this book a lot because it was a really good twist on the original Cinderella story. It had a good ending and she even fell in love with a prince along the way.

I would use this book in the classroom by having the students think of their favorite fairy tale then make it the way they would want it to go. Then as a class we would make a book over the new fairy tales they have written.