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bookwormdanii's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
⭐️ 𝔹𝕆𝕆𝕂 ℝ𝔼𝕍𝕀𝔼𝕎 ⭐️
Stepsister by Jennifer Donnelly
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
sᥡᥒ᥆⍴sіs:
Isabelle should be blissfully happy -- she's about to win the handsome prince. Except Isabelle isn't the beautiful girl who lost the glass slipper and captured the prince's heart. She's the ugly stepsister who cut off her toes to fit into Cinderella's shoe . . . which is now filling with blood.
Isabelle tried to fit in. She cut away pieces of herself in order to become pretty. Sweet. More like Cinderella. But that only made her mean, jealous, and hollow. Now she has a chance to alter her destiny and prove what ugly stepsisters have always known: it takes more than heartache to break a girl.
mᥡ rᥱ᥎іᥱᥕ:
After meeting Jennifer Donnelly a few weeks ago, I was excited to dive into the world she created. Stepsister was the empowering story of the ugly step sister in Cinderella. Being ugly isn’t about what’s on the outside, but truly what’s at the core of oneself. Isabelle journeys through this book and discovers a deeper understanding about herself and the people around her. This retelling of a classic fairytale was so well done.
myadventurewithbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
eva_meijers's review against another edition
4.25
Aangezien ik dacht dat het boek ergens anders over ging, was het even moeilijk om erin te komen. Over het algemeen wel een leuk boek, maar de stukjes over de magistraat, sloeg ik over want die vond ik een beetje saai en snapte ik niet helemaal.
liacele's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
thebroestofbros's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
booksbydann's review against another edition
5.0
"Es curioso que las historias que nunca nos cuentan sean las que más necesitamos escuchar. ¿Verdad?"
Hermanastra ha sido un viaje increíble. Una historia maravillosa, de esas historias que son absolutamente necesarias de contar. Más allá del hecho de que esta historia es pura ficción, hay otras que no lo son, historias de mujeres fuertes y valientes que hicieron historia y poco se habla de ellas por no cumplir con las normas preestablecidas sobre lo que debería ser una mujer. Y existen otras historias, aún menos contadas, de mujeres que no han tenido la oportunidad de ser ellas mismas y triunfar a partir de ello. Tantas voces que han sido silenciadas, tanta historia que ha sido olvidada, tantos sueños rotos; "porque el mundo está hecho por y para los hombres". Pero eso se ha acabado, como lo ha demostrado Isabelle, como lo han demostrado tantas otras mujeres que, con su lucha, han aportado a la construcción de los cimientos de un mundo diferente. Un mundo en donde guapa podría no ser una palabra determinada por la belleza hegemónica, un mundo donde las mujeres podamos ser guerreras y construir nuestro propio camino en libertad y sin miedos. Aunque para ello aún falte un largo camino por transcurrir.
En resumen, la lectura ha sido increíblemente fluida gracias a la escritura de la autora, la trama me ha parecido excelente a más no poder y los personajes han estado tan bien construidos y desarrollados que es imposible no empatizar con ellos. El arco argumental, tanto de la trama como de los personajes, ha tenido un desarrollo impecable. En general este libro me mantuvo con los sentimientos a flor de piel, me invitó a reflexionar acerca de las verdades que allí se cuentan y me mantuvo en vilo durante toda la historia.
Hermanastra ha sido un viaje increíble. Una historia maravillosa, de esas historias que son absolutamente necesarias de contar. Más allá del hecho de que esta historia es pura ficción, hay otras que no lo son, historias de mujeres fuertes y valientes que hicieron historia y poco se habla de ellas por no cumplir con las normas preestablecidas sobre lo que debería ser una mujer. Y existen otras historias, aún menos contadas, de mujeres que no han tenido la oportunidad de ser ellas mismas y triunfar a partir de ello. Tantas voces que han sido silenciadas, tanta historia que ha sido olvidada, tantos sueños rotos; "porque el mundo está hecho por y para los hombres". Pero eso se ha acabado, como lo ha demostrado Isabelle, como lo han demostrado tantas otras mujeres que, con su lucha, han aportado a la construcción de los cimientos de un mundo diferente. Un mundo en donde guapa podría no ser una palabra determinada por la belleza hegemónica, un mundo donde las mujeres podamos ser guerreras y construir nuestro propio camino en libertad y sin miedos. Aunque para ello aún falte un largo camino por transcurrir.
En resumen, la lectura ha sido increíblemente fluida gracias a la escritura de la autora, la trama me ha parecido excelente a más no poder y los personajes han estado tan bien construidos y desarrollados que es imposible no empatizar con ellos. El arco argumental, tanto de la trama como de los personajes, ha tenido un desarrollo impecable. En general este libro me mantuvo con los sentimientos a flor de piel, me invitó a reflexionar acerca de las verdades que allí se cuentan y me mantuvo en vilo durante toda la historia.
myneverendingtbrlist's review against another edition
4.0
"That's what we do with our pain...
We make it into something beautiful...
something meaningful...
We make it matter..."
I love a good fairy tale retelling!
And this one had some great lessons. We've all been hurt at some point or another, but what do we do with that pain? Do we let bitterness take over, be hurtful towards others in our pain, believe other's assumptions?
I loved reading about the "ugly" stepsisters and what happened after Cinderella was whisked off by the prince. Check this one out if you haven't already!
"I think we all make mistakes. What matters is that we don't let our mistakes make us."
I know, I know...I'm really late to the party on this one since it was published in 2019.
crosswarrior7's review against another edition
4.0
This is an interesting case for me. Why? Because, well... It can read like a feminism book, and usually I hate anything overly about girl power. Have it woven into the plot without being obvious? Sure. Cool. But this book literally has a part where History is changed to HERstory before showing off awesome women generals. Normally, I would groan and just walk away.
But... This story just does it right? It doesn't feel like the story is trying to shove an overall message that "WOMEN ARE STRONG TOO!" Instead... It just feels like Isabelle's story. Who she is just happens to be someone who needs reminded that there are great women in history too, not just men. It feels like the message is so centric to her that it doesn't feel preachy. It just feels like her growth. So moments that would normally feel forced and message-driven... They work. They gave me goosebumps. Not because "a woman" was being strong, but because Isabelle -- this young girl I have seen go through so much tribulation and self-hatred -- is being strong and embracing herself.
This story allows a character whose growth happens to come with a message drive a story rather than form a character purely for the sake of driving home a message. It is such a subtle change, but it made me adore this story where usually it would make me roll my eyes and get annoyed.
Okay. Now to get off the feminism side of this. Overall, the book is just enjoyable in an almost whimsical way, which one wouldn't expect because, well... The start is a bit gruesome. There are some really amazing, quotable parts that just hit home (though they tend to be random omniscient breaks, which kind of bugged me).
There are three entities at play, trying to influence Isabelle's life in a way unknown to her. And their interactions are way too fun to read. Also, can I just say, The Fairy Godmother is given a very vicious light, and I adore it.
The book truly makes you care and feel for these girls who are ugly on the inside because they let dark emotions eat at them, and the world did what it could to make that worse. At times it makes you want to strangle the characters though, but in a good way. Like I KNOW YOU ARE BETTER THAN THIS, JUST BELIEVE IN YOURSELF DANG NAB IT!!!
It's just overall a very smart, beautifully written tale that follows the step-sister having to embrace herself, and learn that just because the world demands she be pretty doesn't mean that's what her heart truly yearns for. If you're looking for a retelling that tries to re-define the backdrop of the original tale, I highly recommend it.
4/5 stars.
But... This story just does it right? It doesn't feel like the story is trying to shove an overall message that "WOMEN ARE STRONG TOO!" Instead... It just feels like Isabelle's story. Who she is just happens to be someone who needs reminded that there are great women in history too, not just men. It feels like the message is so centric to her that it doesn't feel preachy. It just feels like her growth. So moments that would normally feel forced and message-driven... They work. They gave me goosebumps. Not because "a woman" was being strong, but because Isabelle -- this young girl I have seen go through so much tribulation and self-hatred -- is being strong and embracing herself.
This story allows a character whose growth happens to come with a message drive a story rather than form a character purely for the sake of driving home a message. It is such a subtle change, but it made me adore this story where usually it would make me roll my eyes and get annoyed.
Okay. Now to get off the feminism side of this. Overall, the book is just enjoyable in an almost whimsical way, which one wouldn't expect because, well... The start is a bit gruesome. There are some really amazing, quotable parts that just hit home (though they tend to be random omniscient breaks, which kind of bugged me).
There are three entities at play, trying to influence Isabelle's life in a way unknown to her. And their interactions are way too fun to read. Also, can I just say, The Fairy Godmother is given a very vicious light, and I adore it.
The book truly makes you care and feel for these girls who are ugly on the inside because they let dark emotions eat at them, and the world did what it could to make that worse. At times it makes you want to strangle the characters though, but in a good way. Like I KNOW YOU ARE BETTER THAN THIS, JUST BELIEVE IN YOURSELF DANG NAB IT!!!
It's just overall a very smart, beautifully written tale that follows the step-sister having to embrace herself, and learn that just because the world demands she be pretty doesn't mean that's what her heart truly yearns for. If you're looking for a retelling that tries to re-define the backdrop of the original tale, I highly recommend it.
4/5 stars.
mbenzz's review against another edition
4.0
I love fairy tale re-tellings, and this addition to the genre was not a disappointment. The story starts out strong with the ending of Cinderella. The Prince is going door-to-door looking for his love when Isabella and Octavia, Ella's stepsisters, mutilate themselves (on their Mothers orders) to try and fit into the glass slipper. Once their deception is discovered, we continue following their (mainly Isabelle's) story, and part ways with Ella as she rides off into the sunset with her Prince.
This book, while dark and disturbing in some places (as classic fairy tales are wont to be), does have a powerful message to it...just because you are born a girl, or are less attractive than someone else, or don't excel in the same areas, does NOT make you less of a person or second to men. Nor should other peoples opinions and negativity bring you down, or cause you to doubt your own self-worth. You are YOU, and you need to OWN THAT SHIT!
I think this is a wonderful message to have in a YA novel, and will hopefully resonate with some of todays young readers.
While the story is a really good one, I felt it started to drag a bit in the middle. The side stories of Fate, Chance and Tanaquill were interesting, but just stretched the story out in ways that weren't completely necessary. That being said though, I still enjoyed this, and would absolutely recommend this to anyone who loves Grimm Fairy Tales, or fairy tale re-tellings.
This book, while dark and disturbing in some places (as classic fairy tales are wont to be), does have a powerful message to it...just because you are born a girl, or are less attractive than someone else, or don't excel in the same areas, does NOT make you less of a person or second to men. Nor should other peoples opinions and negativity bring you down, or cause you to doubt your own self-worth. You are YOU, and you need to OWN THAT SHIT!
I think this is a wonderful message to have in a YA novel, and will hopefully resonate with some of todays young readers.
While the story is a really good one, I felt it started to drag a bit in the middle. The side stories of Fate, Chance and Tanaquill were interesting, but just stretched the story out in ways that weren't completely necessary. That being said though, I still enjoyed this, and would absolutely recommend this to anyone who loves Grimm Fairy Tales, or fairy tale re-tellings.