Ella Enchanted

Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine. It was published in 1997 by HarperCollins Publishers. The book tells the story of Ella of Frell, a teenage girl who struggles to gain control of her own life as she navigates friendship, danger, and love while trying to break the curse of obedience that was placed on her at birth. The story is a retelling of "Cinderella" that features various mythical creatures, highlights modern themes relating to gender and autonomy, and draws a traditional fairytale into the modern era. The book won a Newbery Honor in 1998. It was also the basis for a popular 2004 film adaptation and an award-winning stage musical. In 2006, Levine went on to write Fairest, a retelling of the story of "Snow White" that is set in the same world as Ella Enchanted. Levine later published Ogre Enchanted, a prequel to Ella Enchanted, in 2018.