Book Review: "Just Ella" by Margaret Peterson Haddix

SPOIL-FREE SUMMARY

We all know the story of Cinderella. But this author asks the question, what if Cinderella didn't live happily ever after? What if she discovered life in the palace was not at all what she expected? What if the prince wasn't so charming after all?

CAST OF CHARACTERS

Ella isn't like the Cinderella we know. She sneaked to the ball just to spite her stepmother and didn't put much thought into to it. She realizes her lack of thought and as the story progresses she grows as she realizes this isn't a life she wants. Her character development is definitely a strength of the story.

Jed ends up teaching Ella the rules of the state religion. But they spend more time getting to know each other and Ella discovers that only he will talk to her as an equal and be honest with her.

Mary is a young servant girl who becomes friends with Ella. She is only other person besides Jed who is honest and forthright with Ella.

Prince Charming is not in the story much. But when his personality is revealed...it's shocking.

Madame Bisset is the woman who oversees every aspect of Ella's new life. She is commanding, stern and unbending and it's later revealed she wasn't always a noble who worked in the palace.

FLASHBACKS

There is one use of a flashback as Ella tells Jed the true story about who she really is. This takes of two chapters that are not short, but not dull either. We get a little insight into Ella's past life.

MOOD/THEME

If I could put my finger on a mood, I'd day: absurdity. It sounds weird, but from the first page, we learn of the insane rules that royalty must follow and we want to scream. When we see who the prince really is and how he reacts to Ella's announcements. When Ella gets to finally go outside and see a tournament. We start to feel as though she is living in an asylum.

LANGUAGE

I am assuming this fairy tale takes place in a land long ago, and the speech should probably be more formal, since most other aspects of the story reflect history. Like woman not being able to read, people not marrying outside their social class, and traditions and standards being strictly enforced. In this culture, a few phrases seem glaringly out of place, like Ella thinking, I gave him my “you've got to be kidding, look.” And when they first meet, Jed keeps saying “dang” which feels a little out of place as well making him sound like an American hick rather than a teacher of nobles and royalty.

REBEL ELLA

In the flashback, Haddix tries to paint Ella not just a servant, but a rebel as well. But it comes across a bit awkwardly as Ella lectures her stepmother from her first line. She comes across as holier-than-thou, instead of spirited. Also, when she see's her stepmother one last time, she says she hopes that “She dies in her own filth”. These lines just feel forced and make Ella seem slightly obnoxious in these scenes. Luckily, they are few. Ella's anger is understandable, but we want our heroine to be someone we can admire. Not a girl who takes her anger, holds onto it until death, and excitedly expresses it.
To be fair though, Ella does note later that her anger might have been foolish. It's just that it could have been expressed in a way that felt more natural and less obnoxious.

CHARACTER DRIVEN

I would say this is another story that is character-driven, instead of plot-driven. I have discovered a pattern with these stories. They often have less action and more time in conversation or thought, making discoveries that change a character and force growth. Although there is some action in the last part of the book and plenty of suspense halfway through the story. It's Ella's development that pushes the story forward.

She notes the absurdity of palace life and it causes problems.

She realizes she was only infatuated with the prince and that pushes the story forward.

It's her decision to rebel and use the strength she bottled up against her stepmother, that pushes the story forward.

Every turn the story takes is because of her decisions.

BISSET AND THE PRINCE

Neither character is delved in too deeply although there are hints that there is more to them than meets the eye. Haddix hints that Bisset is more than meets the eye when she tells Ella that “she won't mess everything up for her”. Ella wonders how she became this way and who she used to be. Because she is more of villain in the book than her stepmother, I wish we could have learned more of her. I wish Ella would have asked. I could easily see Bisset telling her just to make her grateful for her position as the prince's fiance.

EVIL IS STUPID

A character introduced to guard Ella is supposedly a criminal, and is presented as an animal with little intelligence. It came across more as comically creepy than frightening. It really lacked dimension, as though to do something truly awful, one must be an imbecile. He is a minor character, but it would have helped the story if he had shown some intelligence.

ELLA AND BEAUTY

Ella seems confused as to why beauty is important to people. To her, it's an annoyance. She recalls a boy who wouldn't leave her alone. I thought this view was rather unrealistic. I think the story would have been better served if Ella, like the majority of girls, simply didn't believe she is pretty. When you see the same face everyday, it's easy to notice flaws that no one else sees. I was surprised she didn't take this angle. It seemed obvious that most readers would find a girl who complains about how men think she is pretty, is rather far-fetched. Luckily, this subject is only briefly touched upon.

EXPLICIT CONTENT

Ella makes multiple references to her father only marrying her stepmother for sexual reasons.
When Ella meets a guard it is implied that he will rape her if she disobeys.

CONCLUSION

Even with my criticisms, I think the characters are mostly likable, and the story is original and interesting. I give “Just Ella” four stars.

What do you think? Did you read this book? Agree or disagree with me on any points? Please let me know!