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A review by sonnetsandstarfall
Just Ella by Margaret Peterson Haddix
2.0
The book calls itself 'young adult', but at 212 pages with large font and a (almost too) simplistic journey, it reads somewhere between a middle grade and YA. I would say that if not for heavy themes (mentions of r*pe, violence, misogyny, domestic violence, etc) that it would be more of a middle grade reader. In fact, I think the first time I picked this book up, I was 12.
It's another retelling of Cinderella in that life isn't so sunny after the ball. It's meant to deliver a punch with a feminist Ella who is independent and saves herself.
Unfortunately, her character is flat and unlikable, because of the font and length, there's just no detail to the story. It's an adventure without anything substantial between points A and B.
There is a romance in the book that made very little sense to me, as fairytales do sometimes.
Also, I'm never a fan of women fat-shaming women (and men, too), and the main character does indeed do this. There's nothing that makes me want to keep this book, no spark of joy so it will be going in my donate pile. Honestly, this would have done better as a middle grade, if the heavier topics could have been cut back. I think it would have been better received for what it was.
In short: A flat and unlikable protagonist, a nonsensical love interest meant to prove a point, and a straightforward journey from points A to B without fanfare.
It's another retelling of Cinderella in that life isn't so sunny after the ball. It's meant to deliver a punch with a feminist Ella who is independent and saves herself.
Unfortunately, her character is flat and unlikable, because of the font and length, there's just no detail to the story. It's an adventure without anything substantial between points A and B.
There is a romance in the book that made very little sense to me, as fairytales do sometimes.
Also, I'm never a fan of women fat-shaming women (and men, too), and the main character does indeed do this. There's nothing that makes me want to keep this book, no spark of joy so it will be going in my donate pile. Honestly, this would have done better as a middle grade, if the heavier topics could have been cut back. I think it would have been better received for what it was.
In short: A flat and unlikable protagonist, a nonsensical love interest meant to prove a point, and a straightforward journey from points A to B without fanfare.