Bella at Midnight

Stanley always writes wonderful stories, and this book is no exception. In Bella at Midnight, she spins a narrative based on Cinderella, but, amazingly, she has found a way to tell the story that is completely different than any of the hundreds of other retellings of that classic fairytale. In this version, Bella ends the book as a hero, stopping two countries from entering into a bloody battle by putting herself in mortal danger. While there are glass slippers, a generous godmother, a prince and some unpleasant step-relatives, all of these elements are tucked into a heartwarming story about a girl who grows up in a loving adoptive family and who, as a child, is playmates with the boy who will one day be king. However, her stepsisters are not completely evil, and all of the characters have un-perfect moments of regret somewhere in the book, making for more well-rounded reading.