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The story of Cinderella has been told over and over again—in all kinds of different styles and formats. But with Stepsister, author Jennifer Donnelly turns the story around and follows another character from the original fairy tale—with a very different outcome.
The story begins as beautiful servant girl Ella fits into the glass slipper and is whisked away to become France’s new queen. Punished for their deception and cruelty, her stepmother and her two stepsisters, Isabelle and Octavia, are shunned by the rest of the village. Isabelle dreams of a better life, but she fears that no one will ever allow her to be anything but one of the ugly stepsisters. So when she’s given a chance to determine her own fate, she has to fight to put back the pieces of her heart and become the woman she’s meant to be.
If you love the story of Cinderella as much as I do, yet you’ve always wished that it had a little more grit and a little less luck, you’ll love this new take on the story. While the beloved fairy tale is a magical story of a pretty girl and her handsome prince, Stepsister goes much deeper, exploring a different kind of beauty.
Ella may have always been the pretty sister—the one who could charm anyone with her good looks and her sweet disposition—but the other two sisters have gifts of their own. Unfortunately, though, these gifts just aren’t popular traits for a future duchess. Tavi is brilliant, always reading and researching and experimenting. And Isabelle is a leader and a fighter. But they’ve been forced to hide their personalities (as well as their big feet) in an attempt to attract a wealthy husband that neither one really wants.
As Isabelle fights for the life she’s afraid to dream about, she gets caught in the middle of a battle between Chance and the Fates—and she gets a little bit of help from Ella’s fairy godmother (who’s nothing like the sweet little old lady in the Disney cartoon). But, in the end, she has to own her dreams and do the work. And as her bitterness, jealousy, and fears give way to strength and determination, readers will be inspired by this unconventional character and her unconventional story.
If you prefer fairy tales that involve balls and pretty gowns and handsome princes, Stepsister isn’t really your style. But if you like characters with a little more tenacity, you won’t want to miss this edgier tale. It’s an empowering story for young women—and a powerful reminder for older readers, too.
Listen to the review on Shelf Discovery:
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