Author(s): Margaret Peterson Haddix

Teen (Ages 15+)

Ella Brown is unhappy. Shivering cold in her luxurious bed, she's afraid to get up and light the fire, because she's recently been scolded for doing things servants are supposed to do. New to the castle, Ella is having trouble adjusting to her unfamiliar role: Princess. In this wonderful continuation of the Cinderella story, award-winning author Margaret Haddix imagines a heroine who has gotten what she wants, not through some fairy godmother's magical intervention, but by taking control of her own destiny. The trouble is, now that her dreams are coming true, Ella has serious doubts about what "happily ever after" really means. Just Ella offers young adult listeners a very contemporary take on one of the most beloved fairy tales of all time. Narrator Alyssa Bresnahan magically brings life and depth to Ella, who is determined to act on her heart's desires-even when they take her in unexpected directions.