By: Gail Carson Levine
Ella is cursed. She's been cursed ever since she was a baby, when a ignorant fairy "blessed" her with obedience. Now she has to do whatever somebody tells her to do. Everything is fine enough until her mother dies. Ella's father soon marries a cruel lady with daughters just as sweet. The three girls are sent to a boarding school to become proper ladies. Sick of the strict teachers, Ella runs away. But Ella's way back home is rocky, full of ogres and other magical creatures. But soon after reaching home, Ella realizes that her curse might hurt others besides herself. Through this realization, Ella starts her quest to find the fairy who cursed her, and hopefully be able to save the ones closest to her.
The largest differences in the movie are Ella's companion Slatin, who is not mentioned in that regard in the book, and Prince Charmond. In the movie, he is a young man who Ella detests when she meets him. In the book, the prince is a young boy when they meet, who are good friends. The movie also incorporates a new main character, Char's uncle, who plays the antagonist.