Ella Enchanted

By: Gail Carson Levine

Narrated by: Eden Riegel

Length: 5 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's summary

"That fool of a fairy Lucinda did not intend to lay a curse on me. She meant to bestow a gift. When I cried inconsolably through my first hour of life, my tears were her inspiration. Shaking her head sympathetically at Mother, the fairy touched my nose. 'My gift is obedience. Ella will always be obedient. Now stop crying, child.' I stopped."

So begins this richly entertaining story of Ella of Frell, who wants nothing more than to be free of Lucinda's gift and feel that she belongs to herself. For how can she truly belong to herself if she knows that at any time, anyone can order her to hop on one foot, cut off her hand, or betray her kingdom, and she'll have to obey?

Against a bold tapestry of princes, ogres, giants, wicked stepsisters and fairy godmothers, Ella's spirited account of her quest to break the curse is a funny, poignant and enchanting tale about an unforgettable heroine who is determined to be herself.

Ella Enchanted is a 1998 Newbery Medal Honor Book and a major motion picture.

©1998 Gail Carson Levine (P)1998 Random House, Inc., Listening Library, An Imprint of Random House Audio Publishing Group

Critic reviews

Newbery Honor Book, 1998

"Eden Riegel's high, childlike voice is the consummate match for this first-person narrative. Her sweet-voiced Ella, under the dominion of a vulgar stepmother and duplicitous stepsisters, reveals the gift of obedience (from fairy Lucinda) to be a scourge that only someone of Ella's sensitivity and intelligence would have the means to outwit. Riegel's smooth delivery of the exotic languages of the elves, gnomes, giants, and ogres enhances the fantasy element while occasional interludes of music add to the medieval air of the story. A lively and satisfying reading of the 1998 Newbery Honor Book." (AudioFile magazine)

"A winning combination of memorable characters and an alluring fantasy realm." (Publishers Weekly) "A high-spirited, comic first novel." (The New York Times Book Review)

My favorite fairytale story

The narrator was not my favorite but it was the music that really bothered me.

On of my favorite books!!!

I loved this book when I first read it, and it's a joy to be able to listen to it whenever.

Better sorry than the movie

I enjoyed this version of the story, but I like the movie adaptation as well. The narrator's voice was too high pitched and screechy for my liking, and she often had trouble switching roles, making the story hard to follow

excellent

an excellent book i have read many times but was just as good when listening to it

Not the best listening experience

Great story. Not a fan of music in audiobooks. Not a fan of the narrator making Ella sound like she's eight. She's talented, but the overall narration didn't work for me. My advice: go for reading instead of listening to.

So magical

I loved this book and audio! There were moments when they would add music to the story being told to make it feel like you’re actually entering into the book. The narrator really helped with my reading skills and punctuation. All and all I loved this book and audio

favorite book ever

I love e everything about it and I read it on repeat so much, the story is amazing and everything about it definitely try it u might end up loving it like me. 🤗

I love this story but the narration is brutal

the narrator sounds like she's maybe 8... I wish they'd re-record this with a professional

12 year old struggles with reading....NOT ANY MORE

Our 12 year old daughter hated when we told her it was time to do reading homework. She has learning disabilities in language arts. It takes her so long to process the words she is reading that she can't remember what she has read. Often she would fall asleep (before supper) trying to read. Now she can hardly wait to sit down with her book and ipod to read and listen to the stories.

She is so enjoying Ella Enchanted and finds it emotionally moving. She describes it " as being there. What a delight. We'll write more when she finishes.

Favorite book ever.

I have read this book probably fifty times, and still enjoy the audio book. :)