Ella Enchanted

This comical book is a twist on many classic fairy tales. It's about a teenager who has no choice but to obey every command given to her. Whether it be "Put on a scarf," or "Kill yourself," Ella has to obey it. Instead of becoming docile and obedient, the curse, put on her by a foolish fairy, made her into a rebellious, humorous main character. I really enjoyed how Gail Carson Levine portrayed Ella. Instead of the childish, ignorant princesses we usually read about in fairy tales, Ella is headstrong, intelligent, brave, and sarcastic. The story is basically about her trying to break the curse. Along the way, however, she has to battle ogres, horrible commands, foolish fairies, and her stepsisters.

I can clearly see why this book won a Newberry Honor. It's such a great book to read, and it's right for all ages. It's fantastic to read on any day. Levine's sarcasm is timed perfectly, and I actually found myself chuckle a few times.