Customer Reviews

Bella at Midnight

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Isabel (Bella) is an unlucky girl. At the time of her birth her mother died and her father, having loved her mother passionately, abandoned Isabel to her Aunt Maud for care. Maud placed her in a foster home, that of the Lady Beatrice (former wet nurse of the crown Prince of Moranmoor) and her husband, Martin, and son Will, and later a daughter named Margaret. Bella grew up in relative peace and comfort, never knowing that she owed her birth to a heartless knight. As she aged she grew friendly with the Prince of Moranmoor, Julian, who always called her a Princess despite her station and once gave her a thimble in a game of the faerie castle that he and Will invented for her.

Despite her pleasant upbringing there is still unhappiness brewing in the land of Moranmoor. Moranmoor has been at war with the neighboring kingdom, Brutanna, for years. Bella sees much strife in her quaint life. But suddenly peace has come to pass with the signing of a treaty between the two rivals. Unfortunately Prince Julian, as the king's youngest son, must go in to the palace of Brutanna as an amicable hostage so that peace might be ensured for the nations, but not before he mistreats Bella in a rather upsetting manor.

Shortly after Isabel's Aunt comes to fetch her. Her father has asked for her, and as such Bella has to be returned to a household she has never known. Her father has remarried a woman named Matilda who has two daughters, snobbish Marianne and mute Alice, who is still grieving the death of their father at sea. Not knowing what to do with a girl raised by peasants Bella is placed in the kitchens for lack of finesse as Marianne is placed at court. Every visit she brings a bit of gossip back home with her and one day Bella learns that Julian's life is in danger. Despite the fact that he mistreated her she has to warn him of his impending doom, and treks across the countryside to bring this news to him. But will he regard her as warmly as he once did in his youth or will his last actions to her prove that his heart has hardened against Bella?

"Bella at Midnight" is a warm and sweet retelling of Cinderella with a lot more truth and a lot less fantasy. The trace elements of magic and whimsy are at the behest of God's will. Bella herself acquires the means necessary to arrive at the "Ball" (in this case an opulent wedding) in style. The role of the fairy godmother has been taken over by Bella's kindly Aunt, and the wicked stepmother and sisters are of course in fine form, save Alice who does help out Bella at times. I'll be honest that for a while I found the book lacking in the middle. The character development is a little flat even though Stanley has chosen to break up the narration into different characters for every chapter. This actually distances the reader from the characters instead of drawing them in. However, the overall plot, the nice way she tied in the original mythos of Cinderella, and the incredible "Joan of Arc" style ending culminate in a fun, quick read. I would happily give this book 4 stars, but the character weakness that I have mention must alter that opinion a touch, so 3.5 out of 5 feels about right. I think younger folks will very much enjoy this.

Hello, Diane Stanley. You're looking well today. Could it be the result of a new haircut? A new shirt? Or could it be the fact that you've just written a work of fiction that is getting resounding, unending, and universal applause? I think that might be the case. You look at "Bella At Midnight" and you don't exactly know what to think. It's a nice cover and all, but is it any good? Well, there's a starred review of it in Kirkus, a starred review of it in Booklist, and a starred review of it in School Library Journal. So, yes, it is indeed good. More importantly, it does something that I would have seriously doubted possible until this time. It takes that old chestnut of a Cinderella myth, pumps it full of new life and vitality, and sends it spinning off into the ether like some kind of newfangled original tale. I still had qualms with some aspects of the storytelling, but for three-dimensional characters, magnificent plotting, and a great bit of writing through and through, "Bella At Midnight" is near impossible to beat.

The child was unwanted. Her mother had died in childbirth and her father wanted nothing to do with her, so unbalanced was he by his wife's death. So it was that Isabel (nicknamed Bella) was taken from her father's home and tended to by a peasant wetnurse by the name of Beatrice who had lately tended to the prince himself. Prince Julian, the third son in his family, often comes back to visit this wetnurse of his, and over the years it becomes clear that the person he seeks most often on his visits is Bella. But it isn't until Bella is a teenager that she is told the truth about herself. The peasant family who has loved her all these years? Not her family. Without any advance notice, Bella is shipped away from everyone and everything she has ever loved to live with a father she's never known alongside a new stepmother and stepsister. Sound familiar? The story of Cinderella has been retold for a new generation and with it comes a story full of intrigue, miracles, magic, and even a pair of tiny glass slippers. It's all here. What's remarkable is how Stanley manages to incorporate all these details and never loose sight of her own original story.

In this book, each chapter is told from a different person's point of view. Once in a while a singler person's P.O.V. will occur twice in a row, but usually that's out of sheer narrative necessity. What this multiple-narrative really manages to do is give almost everyone a voice. If Bella's stepmother is vicious or her stepsister proud, you learn why that might be from their separate stories. Talk about well-rounded storytelling! Not everyone gets a voice, I'll admit. We never really get inside of Bella's father's head (thankfully!) but we can see rather clearly why he acts the way he does. And any author that is able to make a privileged prince of pure heart and mind sound like someone you'd actually want to hang out with (to say nothing of perfect beautiful Bella) is an author of finely honed writing skills indeed. Actually, extra kudos to Stanley for giving Bella a backbone and having her save the day in a particularly dramatic way at the story's end. I've always been sick of Cinderella stories where the protagonist just sits around waiting for good fortune to fall into her lap.

Then take into account the way Stanley has incorporated everything from the original Cinderella myth alongside works like Shakespeare's, "The Tempest". When we first meet the meekest of Bella's stepsisters we hit a chapter that begins with, "My father lies below the sea. Crabs scuttle over him and scatter his bones. Beside his remains, half buried in the sand, lie trinkets he was bringing home for me". Ariel's song anyone? "Full fathom five thy father lies", and all that? There are multiple examples of intelligent referencing in this book, but never presented in such a way that they jar with the book itself.

With all these laudable qualities you might wonder how anyone could find ANYTHING to object to in this book. Admittedly, I was disinclined to say anything against "Bella", but there was one repeating and ridiculous aspect to Stanley's writing. It involves her children. Now I am perfectly aware that this story takes place in some distant past and that long ago kids were required to become adults much faster than they are today. Just the same, how likely does it seem to you that a ten-year-old conversing with a seven-year-old should say something along the lines of, "And then, Bella, I was not satisfied with merely playing a great hero... Is that not prideful enough for you? Can you picture me riding into the midst of a battle and bringing armies to their knees?"? The seven-year-old Bella's reply? "If God willed it, you could! You have a pure heart, Julian, as the Worthy Knight is said to have. God could make you a champion if it was needful". I am willing to suspend my disbelief a rather great ways, but this conversation doesn't read like that of a pair of children. It reads like a pair of twenty-somethings. And, considering the course it takes, rather wise twenty-somethings at that. I've always had a dislike of books in which kids don't act or speak like real children (hence my tempestuous relationship with E.L. Konigsburg). "Bella At Midnight", commits this crime multiple times. Fortunately, by page 66 these too-knowledgeable kids have grown into their flowery tongues and the book progresses at a rapid clip.

There's something wonderful about Cinderella stories. They speak to a universal desire to be recognized beyond the state of our birth. I daresay that no author (until now, of course) has ever given a Cinderella story such care and love as is found in this newest children's book. Kids with a penchant for fairy tales (perhaps of the Donna Jo Napoli variety) will find Stanley's title infinitely accessible. She really makes you believe in the world that she has conjured up. A wonderful addition to any library and a truly enjoyable read.

This book is so great. I could hardly put it down. I am a mom, an English Major, and an Elementary School teacher who loves a good read. This was fantastic. It would be great for an English teacher who is teaching point of view. I read it for fun because I am always looking for good books to read to my daughters and students. Read it -- You'll be glad you did!

This is about a girl named Bella whose mother died right after giving birth to her and Bella was sent to live with a nurse maid. Bella only knows the life of a peasant and thinks the nurse is her real mom but when Bella turns thirteen her real father wants her back and it turns out she's the daughter of a knight. She lives with her stuffy, cruel father for two years but one day when her stepmother locks her in a closet for yelling Bella decides to run away.

With the help of one of her stepsisters she leaves the house by midnight. She goes far away to Brutanna where her friend the royal prince lives. She warns him of a battle coming to Brutanna. When the battle starts a prophecy is fulfilled. A knight in white armor rides between the two armies with a white banner of peace and halo of heavenly fire.

The war that's been going on for a hundred years is finally over. The prince searches for Bella but can't find her and fears she is dead. Will they ever be together again?

Originally posted on 3 Book Bees Blog

I cannot describe enough how wonderful this book is and was to read. It is a great read for young readers, especially girls, who are torn between coming of age, and dealing with different "stations" of people or life. It begins with her birth, and her heroic ending of finding her prince and becoming a princess. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE THIS BOOK. Also love that the character, Bella, relys on her own strength of character & God, to help her throughout the book. Recommend this for girls 10-15, or anyone really.
5 BIG, BRIGHT STARS for Diane Stanley.!!! Also try Nobody's Princess by Esther Friesner. Another empowering and moving tale, when women were not "suppose" to be strong in that time era. ENJOY =0)

I never especially liked Cinderella. She seemed a little too self-pitying, and her way out of her miserable situation was to become beautiful (thanks to a fairy godmother's magic) and "catch" a man with that beauty. But I love what Diane Stanley has done with the old story.

For one thing, Bella has much more going for her than beauty. Let me take that back - Bella has more going for her than external beauty. She has to be one of the most pure-hearted characters I've encountered in my reading, yet Stanley doesn't allow her to slip into a stereotype of perfection. I think this is especially clear in her relationship with Julian. She is deeply hurt by his betrayal, yet she is able to put those hurt feelings aside in order to undertake a mission to save his life. How many of us would say, "He's getting what he deserves, the snob!"

I think that's my favorite thing about the book. Stanley does well at weaving in the contrast between the self-centered characters and those who think about the welfare of others. I don't often tear up while reading (not all that sentimental), but the conclusion Bella draws while looking at the glass slippers (made by the boy who was hopelessly in love with her aunt) made me do it this time. We don't always have to get something in return; sometimes simply loving someone is reward enough.

After a wonderful build-up, though, the ending fell a bit flat, in my opinion. I had a feeling the Worthy Knight would make an appearance and that I knew who it would be (I was right!), but that revelation didn't have quite the impact I had expected. The last two chapters of the book are narrated by minor characters, and I'm not sure I entirely agree with Stanley's choice to do that, or maybe her choice of the particular characters who do the narration. However, the story ended the way it needed to so we as readers would be satisfied; I just felt a little distant from the action compared to other points in the book.

All in all, this fairy tale is one I will encourage my daughter to read, as one in which the "princess" succeeds because of her strength of character and by giving of herself.

Once Upon a time there was a book review (written by my 12 year old)...

Bella at Midnight is a fictional story set in the medieval time period in the country of Moranmoor. The main character of the book, Bella, was cast aside as a baby by her father, a knight. Her aunt took her to a peasant family where she grew up with no knowledge of her noble birth.

She had a happy childhood, playing with her foster brother and sister and her best friend Prince Julian of Moranmoor. When she was older she was taken back from her foster family and sent to live with her father and new step-mother and sisters. Bella's new step-family was unkind, and there was a dismal air about the house.

One day, Bella heard a secret from the royal court that Prince Julian's life was in danger. Consequently, she set out on a quest to save him.

In my opinion this story is a must read. I finished it within three days of checking it out at the library. The plot is ever so slightly slow in the middle, but it quickens in the end!

I would recommend this book particularly to girls about nine to thirteen who enjoy fantasy.

On a scale of 1 to 5, I would give this book 4 ½ stars!

A reimagining of Cinderella that departs from the original in some interesting ways.

When Bella is born, her mother dies. Her father, a cruel and unpleasant knight, can't bear to look at Bella and sends her to a wet nurse. He abandons her there for many years, until he remarries.

Bella is raised by peasants to be good and hardworking and her closest childhood friend is Prince Julian, who is fostered with the same wet nurse.

When Bella is finally summoned to her father's house, she finds out that the loving family who raised her are not related to her. Her new stepmother doesn't want her around and her father has not mellowed over the years.

When Bella finds out that the life of Prince Julian is in danger, she sets out to save him, and to avert a war if she can. I loved Bella because she doesn't sit around waiting to be rescued--she rescues herself and many others along the way.

Hooray for girl power!

I thought that this was an excellant book! It was sort of like a mix of several stories, put together in a unique way. I especially like the part when the "Worthy Knight" (or was it the knight?) came riding out onto the battlefield and...

A clean fairytale inspired book with heros driven by their faith and integrity. A great read for girls, middle school to 99, maybe younger for advanced readers.