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."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.