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Stepsister Hardcover – May 14, 2019

4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 1,638 ratings

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Don't just fracture the fairy tale. Shatter it.

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's cut off her toes to fit into Cinderella's shoe . . . which is now filling with her blood.

When the prince discovers Isabelle's deception, she's turned away in shame. It's no more than she deserves: she's a plain girl in a world that values beauty; a bold girl in a world that wants her to be pliant.

Isabelle has 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.

Evoking the original version of the Cinderella story, bestselling author Jennifer Donnelly uses her trademark wit and wisdom to send an overlooked character on a journey toward empowerment, redemption . . . and a new definition of beauty.
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Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 9 Up-Donnelly brilliantly reimagines what happens after the "happily ever" in "Cinderella," from the point of view of Ella's ugly stepsister Isabelle. As in the original Grimms' tale, Isabelle cut off her toes to fit into the glass slipper but failed to win the prince. Her destiny has long been drawn by the ancient female Fates who map each human life. Their charming rival Chance steals Isabelle's map and wagers the oldest Fate that he can change the path of Isabelle's life, thus beginning a chess match with Isabelle as the pawn. Despite Isabelle's best efforts to behave, her anger always wins out, especially after the hypocritical townspeople shun and ridicule her and her smart older sister Tavi for how they treated Ella. Isabelle's lost everything-her beloved horse Nero and the groom's son Felix, with whom she spent her childhood riding and sparring. Tanaquill, the fairy queen, shows herself to Isabelle and says she will grant her greatest wish if Isabelle can "find the lost pieces of her heart." Military history-loving Isabelle must use her wits, courage, and strength to withstand the many hardships she faces as she tries to forge her own way. She learns to value herself and not let others define her or what she can do. VERDICT This first-rate fairy-tale retelling effectively portrays female strength and determination and will resonate with readers who want to be valued for who they are, not what they look like.-Sharon Rawlins, New Jersey State Library, Trentonα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Review

Praise for Stepsister:

An Amelia Bloomer Project RISE selection

* "Printz Honor winner Donnelly offers up a stunningly focused story that rips into the heart of familiar fairy tale. Isabelle [is] a shattered but not unredeemable girl with a warrior's heart." -- Booklist, starred review

"This is another needed voice exposing cultural myths that suffocate girls in the name of likability and pit them against one another in the name of beauty." -- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"Isabelle's emotional and triumphant journey of self-realization proves that beauty can be found in so much more than just a pretty face . . . A breathlessly exciting and utterly satisfying fairy tale." -- Kirkus Reviews

"Focusing on beauty's many guises, what contributes to hatred and cruelty, and people's power to take charge of their destinies, the retold fairy tale advocates autonomy and empowerment." -- Publishers Weekly

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Scholastic Press (May 14, 2019)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 352 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1338268465
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1338268461
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 12 years and up
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ HL640L
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 7 - 9
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 15.2 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 1.22 x 5.91 x 8.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 1,638 ratings

About the author

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Jennifer Donnelly
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Jennifer Donnelly is the author of thirteen novels - Poisoned, Stepsister, Beauty and the Beast: Lost in a Book, These Shallow Graves, Sea Spell, Dark Tide, Rogue Wave, Deep Blue, Revolution, A Northern Light, The Tea Rose, The Winter Rose and The Wild Rose - and Humble Pie, a picture book for children. She is a co-author of Fatal Throne, which explores the lives of King Henry VIII's six wives, for which she wrote the part of Anna of Cleves, Henry's fourth wife.

Jennifer grew up in New York State, in Lewis and Westchester counties, and attended the University of Rochester where she majored in English Literature and European History.

Jennifer’s first novel, The Tea Rose, an epic historical novel set in London and New York in the late 19th century, was called “exquisite” by Booklist, “so much fun” by the Washington Post, a “guilty pleasure” by People and was named a Top Pick by the Romantic Times. The Rose trilogy continued with The Winter Rose and The Wild Rose.

Her second novel, A Northern Light, set in the Adirondacks of 1906, against the backdrop of an infamous murder, won the Carnegie Medal, the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, the Borders Original Voices Award, and was named a Printz Honor book. Described as “rich and true” by The New York Times, the book was named to the Best Book lists of The Times (London), The Irish Times, The Financial Times, Publishers Weekly, Booklist and the School Library Journal. In 2015, TIME Magazine named it one of the 100 best young adult books of all time.

Revolution was named a Best Book by Amazon, Kirkus, School Library Journal, and the Chicago Public Library, and was nominated for a Carnegie Medal. The audio edition was awarded an Odyssey Honor for Excellence.

In 2014, Jennifer teamed up with Disney to launch the bestselling Waterfire Saga, an epic series about six mermaids on a quest to rid the world of an ancient evil. The first book in the series, Deep Blue, was released in May, 2014; the second, Rogue Wave, launched in January 2015; the third, Dark Tide, came out in October 2015; and the fourth, Sea Spell, was released in June 2016.

In November 2015, Jennifer released the historical novel These Shallow Graves, which received starred reviews from Booklist, Publishers Weekly and Shelf Awareness, and was named a Junior Library Guild Selection.

Jennifer worked with Disney again in 2017, when she released the NY Times bestselling "Lost in a Book," an original novel set in the world of the blockbuster film, "Beauty and the Beast."

Jennifer's 12th novel, 2019's Stepsister, begins where the classic tale of Cinderella leaves off. It follows Cinderella's wicked stepsister Isabelle as personifications of fate and chance battle for control of her life, hinting that there may be hope after all for a girl labeled "ugly" since her first appearances in literature. Jennifer followed this up in 2020 with Poisoned, which looks at the Snow White fairy tale a whole new way -- proving that even the darkest magic can’t extinguish the fire burning inside every girl ... and that kindness is the ultimate form of strength.

Jennifer is busy at work with the third novel in this series of retold fairy tales -- stay tuned for more information.

Jennifer lives in New York's Hudson Valley with her husband, daughter, and two rescue dogs.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
1,638 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers enjoyed the book's retelling of the story. They found the characters compelling and relatable, with a strong female protagonist. The storyline was described as exciting, riveting, and fun. Readers appreciated the uplifting message and life lessons. Many praise the writing quality as well-written and thought-out. However, opinions differ on the pacing - some found it hard to put down and manageable, while others felt it dragged a bit in the beginning.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

64 customers mention "Readability"64 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's retelling of the classic Cinderella story. They find the storyline captivating, relatable, and fun. Readers appreciate the moral lesson and see the classic tale through the eyes of one character. Overall, they consider it a great read and worth revisiting for any potential readers.

"Awesome read" Read more

"...I loved every character and the moral of the story. We developed and enjoyable!" Read more

"...-The pro-woman slant was amazing and fit into the story very well. You don't have to be physically attractive to be beautiful...." Read more

"...Stepsister is different, however. Stepsister is a gripping story of redemption, and I don’t think that I will forget Isabelle or her story too easily..." Read more

25 customers mention "Character development"25 positive0 negative

Customers enjoyed the compelling characters and engaging storyline. They found the female protagonist relatable and the author did an excellent job building empathy for her. The book was described as fun and enjoyable, with a strong message about female empowerment.

"...I loved every character and the moral of the story. We developed and enjoyable!" Read more

"...But this was still a really fun book and I love all the girl power...." Read more

"...The author did an exceptional job of building our empathy for Isabelle and teaching her (and us!)..." Read more

"...positive side, there was quite a bit of action, and the character of Isabella was strong." Read more

21 customers mention "Story quality"16 positive5 negative

Customers enjoy the well-written story with its engaging plot and characters. They find the book exciting, fun, and adventurous. Readers appreciate the new perspective on a classic fairytale. The action and personification of fate and chance are also appreciated. Overall, readers describe the book as refreshing yet relatable.

"...-The very mild, hardly there, romance was sweet. -The pro-woman slant was amazing and fit into the story very well...." Read more

"...While the characters are at the heart of the novel, the plot is also a great deal of fun. This is a charming read, and I recommend it." Read more

"...ugliness, a triumph of the oppressed over the oppressor, a triumph of chance over fate and a triumph that magic can and does exist within the realm..." Read more

""There is magic in this sad, hard world. A magic stronger than fate, stronger than chance. And it is seen in the unlikeliest of places."..." Read more

16 customers mention "Message"16 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's message. They find it uplifting, with excellent life lessons and powerful. The message is about being true to yourself. Readers appreciate the convincing characters and the courage shown by the characters.

"...more like comic relief than a serious player —- but the mortal individuals were convincing and utterly believable...." Read more

"...Strong, smart but flawed and still growing. I liked the trade-in of princes and balls for swords and battles...." Read more

"...There is great strength and power in a courageous heart...." Read more

"...There are some interesting lessons learned. I would love to see this as a movie." Read more

13 customers mention "Writing quality"13 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the writing quality of the book. They find the story engaging and well-written. The author is praised as great, and readers often read the book in one sitting.

"...is a moving coming-of-age story, told in a fantastic, lush, farytale-like writing I couldn't help but love. Also this book is highly quotable...." Read more

"...I couldn't put it down and read it in one sitting. Can't wait till the next one comes out. I already pre-ordered it. A new favorite author...." Read more

"...blow you away, but it is a fun chill read with decent characters and writing." Read more

"Yes!! Another hit outta the ballpark by this wonderful author! The ugly stepsisters salvage their own fate...." Read more

7 customers mention "Pacing"4 positive3 negative

Customers have different views on the pacing of the book. Some find it engaging and hard to put down, with short chapters that are manageable. Others feel it drags a bit in the beginning but picks up towards the end.

"This was such a great story. The story was captivating. It was hard to put down. It is Cinderella told from the step sisters point of view...." Read more

"...However, I can't give it a 5 star because of the phasing, it dragged on the first half and felt like it was rushed after, I can't help but feel the..." Read more

"...The audible version was so addicting and hard to put down. If you ever wanted to know why the “evil” stepsisters were as labeled, this is your story...." Read more

"This book was slow in the beginning but i enjoyed it towards the end...feminism was weaved throughout the book" Read more

Stepsister
4 out of 5 stars
Stepsister
I purchased this book from Amazon to read with my bestie @mycornerforbooksand. All opinions are my own. 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Stepsister by Jennifer Donnelly. We have all heard Cinderella's story.....goes to a royal ball, loses a slipper, gets hunted down, and marries a Prince. What happened to those evil stepsisters of hers? Well, it isn't exactly what you think happens. This is the the story of Isabelle and Octavia after Cinderella is carted off to marry the prince and live in the palace where she is safe and loved. Isabelle sets off to find the pieces of her heart and along the way she stumbles upon the one person she never thought she would see again......Cinderella.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on December 1, 2024
    Awesome read
  • Reviewed in the United States on July 19, 2024
    I didn't know if I was going to like this book. I bought it on a mere chance and now can't stop thinking about this story! I loved every character and the moral of the story. We developed and enjoyable!
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2019
    Oh Stepsister I wanted to love you. That cover! That premise! A feminist retelling of Cinderella from the stepsister's view point! Yessss. Well I didn't quite love it but I did really like it. First some things I really liked about the story:
    -The very mild, hardly there, romance was sweet.
    -The pro-woman slant was amazing and fit into the story very well. You don't have to be physically attractive to be beautiful. Your unique traits make you shine. Including Isabella's bravery and (deep-down) kind heart.
    -The looming war plot line was interesting and while we just skimmed over the villain, he was a pretty good big baddie.
    -The crazy mother, the other 'ugly' stepsister
    -Hugo...I loved Hugo. No he's not the love interest. Read for Hugo and feminism.
    -The backstory which told us how the stepsisters became the way the did.

    Some things that kept this book from being a full five star read:
    - The jewel of the story was twined between another plot where a guy named Chance fights an old crone called Fate to change the map of Isobella's life. While Chance and his band of buddies are entertaining I just felt like the book didn't need Chance or Fate. (There is a version of a fairy Godmother in this book and she made sense.)
    - Fate is determined to see Isobella die so she does some things (trying to edit this for no spoilers) that actually causes huge amounts of people to die. What about THEIR fate's? Didn't she just change all those lives? And why was Isobella's fate so special to outweigh tons of others? Wasn't explained in the book and caused some loopholes in my mind.

    So overall I did really like this one. It just didn't live up to the hype I built around it in my head. But this was still a really fun book and I love all the girl power. IF there were more stories written in this manner by Jennifer Donnelly I would read them but I hope she wouldn't continue with the tug of war between Chance and Fate.
    5 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on November 24, 2024
    I loved every page. Everything from shocking to endearing. This one’s for the girls…And the boys, too, I guess. lol
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 27, 2019
    I didn’t really expect too much from Stepsister. Cinderella sequels are common enough —- some are better than others, of course, but they are rarely memorable. Stepsister is different, however. Stepsister is a gripping story of redemption, and I don’t think that I will forget Isabelle or her story too easily. Her backstory skillfully lets the reader understand why she did the things she did without whitewashing her more questionable moments away. The author did an exceptional job of building our empathy for Isabelle and teaching her (and us!) that she is far more than she believes herself to be.

    I did have some issues with the magical characters and their motivations —- Chance at times seemed more like comic relief than a serious player —- but the mortal individuals were convincing and utterly believable. It was particularly interesting to watch the two “ugly” stepsisters develop their personae without the “guidance” of their mother. Ella makes a satisfying appearance and reveals herself to be quite as human as her stepfamily.

    While the characters are at the heart of the novel, the plot is also a great deal of fun. This is a charming read, and I recommend it.
    4 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2024
    Most definitely recommend! Got the entire collection from the author.
  • Reviewed in the United States on August 17, 2021
    I wanted to like this more than I did. It was a bit too long and the duel between Fate and Chance dragged. There is a not very subtle subtext of tamale empowerment. On the positive side, there was quite a bit of action, and the character of Isabella was strong.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on July 10, 2024
    This book was so amazing!!! Literally changed my life. One of my favorites for sure!

Top reviews from other countries

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  • Elizabeth
    5.0 out of 5 stars Page Turner
    Reviewed in Canada on December 3, 2021
    Beautifully written story about coming into ones own, but not in a way you expect. I highly recommend this book to everyone, but especially to anyone who loves a spin on classic fairytales.
  • Gabriela de la Cruz
    5.0 out of 5 stars Girl power
    Reviewed in Mexico on September 26, 2021
    Nunca esperé que este libro me gustara tanto. O sea, sí, sabía que era una versión feminista de lo que sucede con las hermanastras de Cenicienta, pero OMG realmente se voló la barda. Este libro te convence de que todo lo puedes hacer si tan solo crees en ti mismo. Brutal.
  • maria
    4.0 out of 5 stars Great book
    Reviewed in Spain on December 19, 2022
    Very good
  • Sternschnuppe
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wow!
    Reviewed in Germany on January 2, 2022
    Ich liebe Jennifer Donnelly als Autorin einfach. Schon ihre vorherigen Bücher wie Teerose, Winterrose, Das Licht des Nordens, etc fand ich einfach genial. Einige davon gehören sogar zu meinen absoluten Lieblingsbüchern.
    Mit Stepsister und Poisend hat sie jetzt nochmal auf einem neuen Level den Vogel abgeschossen (natürlich im absolut positivem Sinne).

    Es sind diesmal komplett andere Art von Geschichten als die, die ich sonst von ihr gewohnt bin. Diesmal ist es im Fantasy Genre, genauer eine noch nie vorher gehörte Märchenadaption von Conderella in dem es allerdings um die hässliche Stoefschwester geht.
    Im Grunde ist die Message eine wunderschöne, nämlich, dass es um innere Schönheit geht bzw. darum dass es egal ist, was andere Menschen über dich sagen und denken. In erster Linie ist es nur wichtig, was du selber über dich denkst. Damit dich andere lieben, solltest du zuerst dich selbst lieben lernen und nicht darauf hören was andere Leute sagen.
    Sehr stark. Wirklich!
  • Kiki
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good
    Reviewed in India on August 11, 2020
    Book arrived in good condition no edges were tattered it arrived within delivery date. But it did have a lot of dust on it but that’s no problem just take a damp cloth and rub it over it and it should be fine. Overall satisfied with the service would recommend And would buy from the same seller again too.. :)