Just Ella facts for kids
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| Author | Margaret Peterson Haddix |
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| Cover artist | Rene Milot |
| Country | USA |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Romance, Speculative fiction |
| Publisher | Simon & Schuster |
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Publication date
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1999 |
| Media type | Print Hardback and Paperback |
| ISBN | 0-689-82186-7 |
| OCLC | 39335853 |
| LC Class | PZ7.H1164 Ou 1999 |
Just Ella is a fantasy novel written by Margaret Peterson Haddix. It was published in 1999 by Simon & Schuster. This book retells the classic story of Cinderella, but with a fresh, modern twist. Instead of just a "happily-ever-after," the story explores what true happiness means for Ella. It's about a beautiful girl who learns to find her own way. There's also a follow-up book called Palace of Mirrors, which came out in 2008.
Meet the Characters in Just Ella
Ella Brown: The Heroine
- Ella Brown (also known as Princess Cynthiana Eleanora or Cinders-Ella) is the 15-year-old main character. She is a version of Cinderella. Ella is described as very beautiful, free-spirited, clever, and kind. She wants to find real happiness.
Jedidiah Reston: The Thoughtful Friend
- Jedidiah "Jed" Reston is the son of Lord Reston. He is training to become the official castle priest. Jed first appears when he takes over Ella's history lessons. He is very thoughtful and often thinks deeply about life. Jed falls in love with Ella. He sees her humor, courage, intelligence, and determination, not just her beauty.
Mary: The Loyal Servant
- Mary is a 10- or 11-year-old castle servant. She becomes good friends with Ella. Mary helps Ella escape the castle. She is a very loyal friend who always tells Ella the truth.
Prince Charming: The Selfish Royal
- Prince Charming is the handsome but selfish prince of Fridesia. Ella is chosen to be his wife because of her beauty. Mary describes him as not very smart. When Ella no longer loves him, he acts unkindly toward her. By the end of the book, he marries Ella’s stepsister, Corimunde.
Lucille: The Cruel Stepmother
- Lucille is Ella’s selfish and cruel stepmother. She tricked Ella's father into marrying her. After Ella’s father dies, Lucille treats Ella very badly. She makes Ella her personal servant. Lucille has two daughters, Corimunde and Griselda. Both girls are similar to Lucille, but not as clever.
Ella's Father: The Book Lover
- Ella's Father loved books very much. He taught Ella how to read. He traveled to many places to find different kinds of books. He died before the story begins.
Madame Bisset: The Strict Trainer
- Madame Bisset tries to train Ella to be an elegant princess. She finds it hard because Ella is so free-spirited. Madame Bisset thinks people who are not noble are beneath her. She is very strict about palace rules. She also has a lot of power in the royal family. She acts delicate but is very smart. She even locks Ella in the dungeon to make sure she marries the prince.
Quog: The Dungeon Guard
- Quog is a strong guard who watches over Ella when she is in the dungeon.
Simprianna: The Lady-in-Waiting
- Simprianna is one of Ella's ladies-in-waiting. Later, she becomes Corimunde's lady-in-waiting after Ella escapes the dungeon.
The Palace Chronicles Series
Palace of Mirrors: A Companion Story
Palace of Mirrors is the second book in The Palace Chronicles. Margaret Peterson Haddix also wrote this book. It was published in 2008 by Simon & Schuster.
This story is about a girl named Cecelia. She believes she is the true princess of Suala and wants to claim the throne. Cecelia discovers that many girls were raised to believe they were the true princess. It turns out the queen adopted thirteen orphaned girls after her own daughter died. These girls were separated and raised by royal knights. Eventually, the truth comes out, and the thirteen girls decide to rule Suala together. Ella makes a short appearance in this book. She goes with Jed to peace talks between Suala and Fridesia.
Palace of Lies: The Third Book
Palace of Lies is the third book in The Palace Chronicles. It was published in 2015 by Simon & Schuster.
