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Quick answer: If you loved Ella Enchanted, try Fairest, The Two Princesses of Bamarre, Cinder, Princess Academy, The Goose Girl and Howl's Moving Castle. Each one is a witty, heartwarming fairy-tale retelling with a clever heroine and a touch of romance.
Gail Carson Levine's Newbery Honor novel retells Cinderella through Ella, who was cursed at birth by a foolish fairy with the “gift” of obedience. She must do whatever anyone tells her. After her mother dies, Ella sets out on a quest to break the curse, with help from her friend Prince Char. Readers love its humor, its brave heroine and its sweet romance. These books share the same fairy-tale charm.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fairest | Gail Carson Levine | 10+ | readers who want more Levine |
| The Two Princesses of Bamarre | Gail Carson Levine | 10+ | readers who like sisters |
| Cinder | Marissa Meyer | 12+ | readers who like Cinderella retellings |
| Princess Academy | Shannon Hale | 9+ | readers who like brave girls |
| The Goose Girl | Shannon Hale | 10+ | readers who like fairy tales |
| Howl's Moving Castle | Diana Wynne Jones | 10+ | readers who like witty magic |
| The Princess Bride | William Goldman | 12+ | readers who like humor and romance |
| Just Ella | Margaret Peterson Haddix | 11+ | readers who like a twist on Cinderella |
| A Tale Dark and Grimm | Adam Gidwitz | 9+ | readers who like darker fairy tales |
| The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell | Chris Colfer | 9+ | readers who like fairy-tale worlds |
| Dealing with Dragons | Patricia C. Wrede | 10+ | readers who like rebellious princesses |
| Beauty | Robin McKinley | 12+ | readers who like Beauty and the Beast |
| The Selection | Kiera Cass | 12+ | older readers |
| Matilda | Roald Dahl | 7+ | younger readers |
| Spindle's End | Robin McKinley | 12+ | readers who like Sleeping Beauty |
1. Fairest by Gail Carson Levine
A girl with a beautiful voice in a kingdom of singers is caught in a Snow White-like plot.
Best for: readers who want more Levine.
2. The Two Princesses of Bamarre by Gail Carson Levine
A timid princess sets out on a quest to save her sister.
Best for: readers who like sisters.
3. Cinder by Marissa Meyer
A cyborg Cinderella in futuristic Beijing.
Best for: readers who like Cinderella retellings.
4. Princess Academy by Shannon Hale
Girls from a mountain village attend an academy to train as the prince's bride.
Best for: readers who like brave girls.
5. The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale
A princess who can speak to animals must reclaim her identity.
Best for: readers who like fairy tales.
6. Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
A young woman is cursed into old age.
Best for: readers who like witty magic.
7. The Princess Bride by William Goldman
A farm boy and a princess face pirates and giants.
Best for: readers who like humor and romance.
8. Just Ella by Margaret Peterson Haddix
After the ball, Ella discovers palace life is not what she expected.
Best for: readers who like a twist on Cinderella.
9. A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz
Hansel and Gretel wander through Grimm stories.
Best for: readers who like darker fairy tales.
10. The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell by Chris Colfer
Twins fall into a world of fairy tales.
Best for: readers who like fairy-tale worlds.
11. Dealing with Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede
A princess volunteers to be a dragon's captive.
Best for: readers who like rebellious princesses.
12. Beauty by Robin McKinley
A retelling of Beauty and the Beast.
Best for: readers who like Beauty and the Beast.
13. The Selection by Kiera Cass
A girl competes for a prince's heart.
Best for: older readers.
14. Matilda by Roald Dahl
A clever girl with telekinetic powers.
Best for: younger readers.
15. Spindle's End by Robin McKinley
A retelling of Sleeping Beauty.
Best for: readers who like Sleeping Beauty.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick is a real, widely available book that shares something specific with Ella Enchanted: its tone, its themes, its pace or the kind of characters it puts at the center. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious titles, and we noted who each book suits best so you can match it to the reader. Where a book belongs to a series, we list the first volume so you can start at the beginning.
How to Choose
For more Levine, try Fairest and The Two Princesses of Bamarre. For fairy-tale retellings, choose Cinder, Just Ella, Beauty or Spindle's End. If you love brave princesses, read Princess Academy or Dealing with Dragons. For humor, pick Howl's Moving Castle or The Princess Bride. Younger readers can start with Matilda or The Land of Stories. If Ella's spirit and humor are what you loved, Dealing with Dragons and Princess Academy have heroines who solve problems with brains and courage rather than magic. Older readers who want the same blend of fairy tale and romance will enjoy Beauty and Cinder.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What age is Ella Enchanted for?
It is usually recommended for ages 9 to 12, though many teens and adults enjoy it.
Is Ella Enchanted a Cinderella retelling?
Yes. It is a clever retelling with a curse of obedience.
Is there an Ella Enchanted movie?
Yes. A loose film adaptation came out in 2004, but the book is quite different.
Did Ella Enchanted win awards?
Yes. It was a Newbery Honor book in 1998.
Is Ella Enchanted a series?
No. It is a standalone, though Levine wrote other books set in the same world.
Is there romance?
Yes. A sweet romance with Prince Char.