Just Ella

Reader reviewed by ReggieWrites

Okay, I have to be honest. . .the only thing great in this book was the
plot. . .it stops there. Don't get me wrong, I hate writing bad
reviews. That's why my lowest rating is going to be a 'D'. No author
deserves an 'F'.

Haddix's writing was the most boring I've read.
It was dull and unexciting. I was snoring by the time I got to page 3.
. . literally. I've looked at what others thought about this book and
surprisingly, Just Ella elicited almost-perfect reviews. Maybe it's just me then.

Haddix
just couldn't accomplish charismatic writing. Instead, the book ended
up colorless and passive. To get to the point, I was bored out of my
mind. Even though this book was practically lifeless, I persisted in
reading it so that I could have this review done (plus, I hate it when
I don't finish a book).

Ella was practically the only thing in Just Ella that
was great. She was so full of life. I loved her from start to finish
(and Jed also). They made the plot more lively and less boring. Is it
possible to hate the writing but love the characters and the plot?

The
Bottom Line: I didn't get why people liked this book so much. For me, I
was extremely disappointed with the book, aside from the characters and
the plot. I guess it was just too 'middle-aged' for me. But who knows?
You might like it. Me? Not so much. D
:-)

Reader reviewed by Ellery

Ella has her Prince Charming with just one hitch.  Everyone is telling her what she should do when she becomes a princess.  Her personal maid, Madame Bisset, always has a heart attack every time she does something from her old life.  Those stunts eventually put her into the dungeon for about 4 months.  She escapes to a refugee farm where her true love, Jed, was sent.  She stays there for the rest of her life as a refugee helper.

Reader reviewed by Kyra

What ever happens after "Happily Ever After"? Is being a princess all its cracked up to be?

Reader reviewed by Swayze

Just Ella by Margaret Peterson Haddix is one of the best young adult books I have read.  Many of my 7th grade students (mostly girls) borrowed this book before I had a chance to read it.  I am so glad I took the time to read this unexpected delight of a book.  

Haddix's story of Cinderella, after she has moved into the Charming castle, allows readers a glimpse into a fairy tale gone wrong.  While being broken in like a wild horse, Ella finds out that she might not want her new royal life.  Through various life lessons and experiences, Ella discovers who she is truly meant to be.  Haddix includes something for everyone - action, adventure, romance, self-realization.  This surprising coming-of-age story is one that I will definitely recommend to my female students.  Cinderella has a new happy ending! 

Reader reviewed by Abi

This is such a fun book! Ella has gotten everything she could possibly hope for! She finally fid of her evil step family, shes won Prince Charmings Heart, and she's living in the lap of luxury as Princess in the castle just days before the wedding! But all is not as it seems; This new lavish life shes accquired is a little too comfortable, she can't do anything! Ella soon finds that even her Prince Charming is just a pretty face with no personality to speak of! Ella's brave (somtimes petulant) spirit will not cow tow to this new life of restriction and propiety, but will her actions be too brash?

I found this book very entertaining. Sort of, the truth behind the fairy tale. It's a story of adventure, romance, finding who you are.

Reader reviewed by Heatha the hottie

I think this book is very good but i've read better i no a lot of teachers like this book i actually got the book Just Ella from one of my teachers at the end of the year and i am not much of a reader but this was a good book i never got time to read it in the summer so i read it the next year and i engoyed it i am happy my teacher gave it to me it really gave me a reason to read and that reason was because it was a good book!!! Thank you teach for some good readinggggggggggggg!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Reader reviewed by Mary

What if Prince Charming was really Prince Boring? What if Cinderella no longer wanted to marry Prince Charming after he proposed? Margaret Peterson Haddix continues the tale of Cinderella in this story.

Ella thought that her dreams had come true when Prince Charming had proposed to her. But she was wrong. Prince Charming is a dull, boring man. She misses the old days when there were things that had to be done-although she doesn`t really miss her stepsisters. Ella is a strong character and so soon voices her concerns to the Prince. And in a hilarious scene she is locked in a prison until the wedding. Will Ella be able to escape?


This is an excellent retelling. Ella is a spunky heroine who is determined to get what she wants. After many hilariously told setbacks, the story ends in true fairy tale style- with a happily ever after.

Reader reviewed by Kris

this tells the story after the Happily Ever After ending Cinderella is always given. I enjoyed this book b/c I've always seen the prince as kind of stupid and shallow and glib (why could he not just look at the girls in the kingdom and say "Her with the broom. That's the lady I danced with"? and how likely is it that NO ONE else in the kingdom shared her shoe size? that's not a good way to find the woman of your dreams if you ask me...). anyway, it's not all happily ever after at the castle (esp when Ella makes a run for it), but there is still a happy ending to it. in this book you get to see what happened after the fact. which is good. and the prince is shown as stupid and shallow and glib. but Ella still finds herself a good happy ending, which she, of course, deserves.

Reader reviewed by Tamanna

Ok, ha, but I would not say it is better than Ella Enchanted, though this book is somewhat good. First of all, nothing about princesses and them digging out is very REAL, and secondly, Ella in Ella enchanted also had guts, her spell just stopped her. Ella Enchanted is much more exciting because it also grabs the reades attnetion in the beginning. So, no, I say ELLA ENCHANTED is better!

Reader reviewed by Ally

This book is is all about after Cinderella's ball. And as it turns out, there was no fairy godmother. No magic. Just luck and the help of a few friends. And now that ellas at th palace, she comes to find that she had mistaken adventure for love and desprately needs a way out of her engagment. Cute story, shows there are two sides to everything. i'd recommend this for someone 10 or 11...