STEPSISTER

Jayne Entwistle narrates this dark feminist Cinderella retelling, which is beautifully eerie and tragic. Isabelle has been the mean, ugly stepsister her entire life--going so far as to cut off her own toes in an effort to change her fate and be with the Prince. When that plan fails and beautiful Ella marries the Prince, the story really begins. Isabelle is frustrated with a world that discounts her based on her looks. Entwistle narrates her intense emotions with indignance, which brings Isabelle alive in a way the written word alone can't do. There are few moments when the story's characters interact, but when they do, the voices are so similar that it's difficult to distinguish who is who. But this is a minor issue in an otherwise essential listen for young people. A.K.R. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2019]