Stepsister by By Jennifer Donnelly

**** This blog post is contributed by Kara, a Grade 6 student, copied from her own book blog with permission****

Isabelle is the ugly stepsister that cut off her own toes. Her sister, Tavi, cut off her heel. And Maman made them do it. Isabelle was about to win the prince, but then he discovered Ella, Isabelle’s pretty stepsister and Isabelle is left with Tavi and Maman. Life is hard there in Saint Michel for them; the villagers hate them because of all the mean stuff they did to Ella. They throw rocks and other objects at their house all the time, and they charge Isabelle more for food.

Then one night, Isabelle sneaks out and meets the fairy queen, Tanaquill, the one who granted Ella her wish to go to the ball. Isabelle makes a wish, which is to become pretty. Tanaquill says “Find the lost pieces of your heart.” So Isabelle tries but she doesn’t really know what the pieces are. Tanaquill also gave her three gifts, a walnut shell, a jawbone from a small animal and a blackbriar seedpod.

Meanwhile,  is taking over France and killing towns. All the armies are trying to stop him and his men but they can’t.

Fate and Chance are both trying to change Isabelle’s path. Chance is trying to help Isabelle find the pieces of her heart; Fate is trying to prevent it. 

The one night Isabelle and Tavi’s house burns down and they beg to stay at the stingy Madame Benet’s house. Fate has also disguised herself as a relative of Madame’s and Isabelle knows her as Tantine. Fate tries to stop Chance, But they keep stealing Isabelle’s map from each other.

Isabelle needs to find the pieces of her heart-and fast. Time is running out and the skull on Isabelle’s map tells Fate and Chance that she doesn’t have much time before she dies. Will Isabelle find the pieces of her heart or will she give into Fate and die? Find out in this fascinating story!

I loved this book so much because I love fractured fairy tales. This book also was great because it was about powerful girls who changed the world and were brave. This book was also written in a very descriptive way, and all of the chapters ended on cliffhangers. Isabelle was a strong character with lots of emotion and she made readers think. 

I think this book was a lot like Molly Moon’s Incredible Book of Hypnotism because Molly and Isabelle were both strong female leaders anyone can look up to. I’d give this book five stars! ★★★★★