Ella Enchanted

I am 23 and loved this book. I have watched the movie but never read it, and wow this exceeded expectations! It is so different from the movie but it is really a great book.

I love this story so much, the adventures of Ella will keep a young reader interested to the very end. Ella has to endure many trials and joys. My 7yr old and I have been reading through it together and it is one of her favorites. I heard this story on audio book for the first time when I was her age and I was hooked ever since. These wonderful adventure books will open up your child's imagination and they will become book lovers in no time! (One tip, never watch the movie, they completely destroyed the story and its highly disappointing, stick with the book.)

In a world filled with superfluous novels, ancient tomes, and convoluted texts aren't we all grateful for an amazing book that can be finished in one or two sittings? And when a marvelous book crosses your way that's less than 250 pages and captures your attention on every page, it is truly something out of the ordinary. In Gail Carson Levine's charming tale Ella Enchanted, the use of a confidante, the appeal of a rebel, and an atmosphere of the surreal coexisting with the real are effectively used to create a character and a story that are both appealing and engaging. Ella is introduced immediately in the book who, as a baby, was cursed by a fairy with the "gift" of obedience. This curse forces her to do whatever somebody tells her. From a simple order of "hold this for me" to "jump up and down", Ella has absolutely no control once told to do a task. Throughout her constant dilemma though, Ella has a friend and confidante--Mandy. Mandy is Ella's cook and subsequently her fairy god mother. When Ella goes off to finishing school Mandy gives Ella a magic book that comforts Ella and keeps them connected. The character of Mandy offers Ella someone with whom she can confide in, a person whom Ella can truly convey all her heartfelt emotions and deepest thoughts. When Ella relates her fears of attending a finishing school, her feelings toward her step family, and her love for the prince, Ella's thoughts are revealed to be smart, funny, and charismatic- a character with whom the audience can connect. Through having a confidante, Ella is able to have an ally against all the evil that is going on around her. Mandy doesn't completely shield Ella from harm, but lets her deal with life independently coming to her aid when necessary, transforming Ella into an independent character yet also one who knows when she needs the assistance of others. Through having Mandy, the cook, be Ella's confidante, Ella's sensibility and good character are revealed as someone who transcends the normal societal bounds between a wealthy girl and the hired help. This attests to her unassuming and non-judgmental nature. The character and role that Mandy plays gives Ella an avenue to display her best qualities which truly captivates the reader, and makes the reader want to absorb further into the novel. The book and consequently Ella are also engaging as it has the appeal of a rebel to obedience. The target audience, usually young to preteen girls are the chief individuals who have so many figures that they are forced to obey. Whether it is parents, teachers, older siblings or the popular crowd, there's a level of obedience that rules a girl's childhood and teenage years. Even adults have to answer to some line of command. Thus, the idea of rebelling and becoming one's own master has universal appeal. Ella's rebellion to her forced obedience also portrays a consistency of will. She becomes endearing to our eyes as the girl who never simply succumbs to her fate--rather works t

Gail Carson Levineis the most brilliant and best author I have ever read, and everyone I know agrees! I guarentee that you'll love it. If you have never read this book, a quick summary: This book is another version of Cinderella, but the best version. Ella's much loved mother dies and her father is an unloving greedy merchant. Ella, her mother, and her cook Mandy (Ella's fairy god-mother) are the only ones who know about the spell of obedience put on Ella at her birth by Lucinda, a crazy fairy. Ella is sent of to finishing school with her evil soon to be step-sisters, but really wants to get rid of her evil spell. Her friendship with the prince, Char, grows throughout the book. There are a couple of parts that were really sad, but it ended up happy! I recommend this book to who ever I can, but mostly to 10-16 year old girls! This was the first (and favorite book) my sister read over 200 pages. If you are thinking of buying this for someone, please, buy it, you won't regret it!

This book was so cool! The first time I read it the beginning was a little confusing because of all of the introduced languages and stuff, so I thought that was kind of strange. But Ella is so well described by Gail Carson Levine that you can feel the emotions as she struggles to overcome her wicked stepsisters' commands. I was so mad when her stepsister took Ella's necklace after she found out about her curse. It was all very suspenseful in the middle when she was with the ogres and I rejoiced at the end when...well, you'll have to read it to find out. I loved to book so much! I'm reading it right now for the fourth time and all of my friends are interested in reading it and asked if they can borrow it. This book is so beautifully written and the characters in it come alive just like Agulen's masterpieces! I loved the elves and d the ogres and I soon found myself worrying over the ending - whether Ella would break the curse and if she would get her wish of being with Char. This book is so awesome and I'd recomend it to everyone - in fact, I already have!

At first I was not sure if I wanted to read Ella Enchanted. My friend told me so many time to read it but I thought it looked stupid. Then, my teacher started to read it to my class. I loved it SO much I went out, bought my own copy and finished it before my class. Ella Enchanted is about a girl who lives in the country of Frell, Ella. Ella is very close to her mother and her cook, Mandy. But also, Ella is cursed. When she was born, the horrid fairy Lucinda put this curse on her, and she is always obediant. I mean, if someone told her to never take her hand off her head, he hand would always be on her head. Likewise, if someone told her to slash herself through the heart, that she would have to do. So, this book is about Ella and her adventures to break the curse.

When i read this book, I couldn't put it down, litterally. I'm a school student, and i was spending my recess reading this book. I was also so moved by the ending, that I wanted to turn the page and keep on reading about their marrage and their children. I really think the author should write a second part to this book. It was the best book I've ever read in my entire life.