Do NOT judge Ella Enchanted by the unfortunate movie version!
This is a quirky fairy tale that takes a look at the odd logical outcomes that could arrive from fairytale subject matter we usually take for granted. A fairy gives Ella the gift of obedience, not realizing that this means that Ella’s life is forever in danger because of the “gift,” for Ella must obey any order anyone gives her.
Nobody could claim that this is a great book for teaching morals; deception and manipulation are common tools used by nearly every individual. The case could be made that it has some valuable things to say about character. Courage, inventiveness, loyalty, kindness, open-mindedness and selflessness are all lifted as high standards.
Aside from those considerations, this is a well-written, fun, surprising story that is very little like the movie version that came out awhile back. One of the unusual aspects of the book (which the movie completely failed to portray) is that the young man Ella falls for is a good person to start with. He is not, as in so many current teen stories, a second-rate person who has to change to be worthy of the girl. Rather, he’s a likeable, noble person—not too good to be true—and he and Ella have to learn from each other as friends before they ever fall in love.