Cinderellis and the Glass Hill (Princess Tales) [Hardcover]

Gail Carson Levine (Author), Mark Elliott (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 7 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up | Series: Princess Tales

Ralph said, "Rain tomorrow."
Burt said, "Barley needs it. You're covered with cinders, Ellis."
Ralph thought that was funny. "That's funny." He laughed. "That's what we should call him-- Cinderellis."
Burt guffawed.

In this unusual spin on an old favorite, Cinderlla is a boy! He's Cinderellis, and he has two unfriendly brothers and no fairy godmother to help him out. Luckily, he does have magical powders, and he intends to use them to win the hand of his Princess Charming-- that is, Marigold. The only problem is-- Marigold thinks Cinderellis is a monster!

Gail Carson Levine is the author of Ella Enchanted, a spirited retelling of the "real" Cinderella fairy tale and a 1998 Newberry Honor Book. In this fourth of her Princess Tales, Levine brings new life and new fun into a little-known tale and proves that determination, imagination, and kindness can carry the day.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Levine fractures fairy tales in the nicest possible way as she's previously demonstrated in the The Princess Test and The Fairy's Mistake [both in BKL Ap 15 99]. Her latest book in the Princess Tales series wittily conflates "Cinderella" and "The Glass Hill," adding a gender switch for spice. Ellis longs for his older brothers Ralph and Burt to include him, to approve of him, to appreciate and love him. But they simply ignore him and his fool inventions and call him Cinderellis instead, after his flying powder produced a messy result in the chimney. Princess Marigold, whose father is always going off on quests and leaving her alone, wishes she had a real friend besides her cat, Apricot. When the king, grounded from too many quests gone awry, puts Marigold on a glass hill that suitors have to climb, she figures she better have an escape mechanism. Besides, while interviewing potential princes disguised as a dairymaid, she finds few with good kingdom-ruling ideas. Cinderellis, of course, is full of ideas, and after a few missteps and three magic horses, Ellis and Marigold live happily ever after in a way that includes Ellis' inventions and Marigold's sweet temper. Endearing to the max. GraceAnne A. DeCandido

About the Author

Gail Carson Levine thinks she can write poetry. Forgive her; the doctors say she’ll be sane again soon. She was born in New York City and shares a birthday with William Carlos Williams. Her first book for children, Ella Enchanted, won a Newbery Honor. Gail’s other books include A Tale of Two Castles; the New York Times bestsellers Ever and Fairest; Dave at Night, an ALA Notable Book and Best Book for Young Adults; The Wish; The Two Princesses of Bamarre; and the six Princess Tales books. She is also the author of the nonfiction book Writing Magic: Creating Stories That Fly and the picture books Betsy Who Cried Wolf! and Betsy Red Hoodie, both illustrated by Scott Nash. Gail and her husband, David, live in the Hudson Valley of New York State.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 7 and up
  
• Hardcover: 112 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins; 1st edition (February 2, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 006028336X
• ISBN-13: 978-0060283360
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 4.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #542,103 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Gail Carson Levine grew up in New York City and has been writing all her life. Her first book for children, Ella Enchanted, was a 1998 Newbery Honor Book. Levine's other books include Dave At Night, an ALA Notable Book and Best Book for Young Adults; The Wish; The Two Princesses of Bamarre; and her Princess Tales books: The Princess Test, The Fairy's Mistake, Princess Sonora and the Long Sleep, Cinderellis and the Glass Hill, For Biddle's Sake and The Fairy's Return. She is also the author of the picture book Betsy Who Cried Wolf, illustrated by Scott Nash. Gail, her husband, David, and their Airedale, Baxter, live in a two-hundred-year-old farmhouse in the Hudson River Valley.

In Her Own Words..."I grew up in New York City. In elementary school I was a charter member of the Scribble Scrabble Club, and in high school my poems were published in an anthology of student poetry. I didn't want to be a writer. First I wanted to act and then I wanted to be a painter like my big sister. In college, I was a Philosophy major, and my prose style was very dry and dull! My interest in the theater led me to my first writing experience as an adult. My husband David wrote the music and lyrics and I wrote the book for a children's musical, Spacenapped that was produced by a neighborhood theater in Brooklyn.

"And my painting brought me to writing for children in earnest. I took a class in writing and illustrating children's books and found that I was much more interested in the writing than in the illustrating.

"Most of my job life has had to do with welfare, first helping people find work and then as an administrator. The earlier experience was more direct and satisfying, and I enjoy thinking that a bunch of people somewhere are doing better today than they might have done if not for me."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a kid's point of view, August 15, 2000

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Cinderellis and the Glass Hill (Princess Tales) (Hardcover)

I would have given Cinderellis and the Glass Hill 10 stars if I could! IT IS WONDERFUL! In my opinion it's is even better than Ella Enchanted! It is a great book with a terrific sense of humor! Cinderellis and the Glass Hill is hillarious (especially when first read)!This book is Gail Carson Levine's best book yet! (and thats saying something because she writes REALLY good books). I (in case you havn't noticed) highly recomend this book.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For fairy tale lovers, and anyone who just loves to read!, May 6, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Cinderellis and the Glass Hill (Princess Tales) (Hardcover)

Levine has handily won the crowning title of story teller extraordinare! She just gets better and better with each tale she twists as only she can (and probably should). Not the first to make Cinderella a man (remember Jerry Lewis as Cinderfella?), she winningly combines that beloved fairy tale with the tale of the glass mountain for a completely new fable that is sure to win the hearts of romantics (and nutcases) everywhere. If you haven't read the other Princess Tales (and everything else this amazing writer puts out), travel post haste...and grab them while you still can!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fun update of classic fairy tale, April 7, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Cinderellis and the Glass Hill (Princess Tales) (Hardcover)

Gail Levine seems to be on a one-writer crusade to instill some new millenium sensibilities into well-loved fairy tales. Having a male protagonist is not that only deviation from tradition Levine makes in this little book. The "bad" characters are dim and ignorant more than they are evil and malicious. The "good" characters, for the most part, demonstrate some of the more elevated human traits (patience, intelligence, wit, and optimism.) Moreover, Levine neatly dodges becoming distractingly "polically correct." The writing is excellent - simple yet descriptive. Levine uses humor to temper the "moral of the story" and creates a well-rounded tale while leaving enough room for the imagination to take over. If you want, for yourself or for your children, the magic of fairy tales without the out-of-date stereotypes, Levine's Princess Tales series is an excellent place to start. I also HIGHLY recommend anything by Robin McKinley.