I came across someone on TikTok talking about how much they loved this book and I had to pick it up again. It was my favorite when I was a tween and it still holds up remarkably. So much action is packed into this short middle-grade book and you're rooting for Ella the whole way. The magical and fairy-tale elements are charming and woven in so well to the story. Ella as a protagonist is everything I wanted as a girl noticing that most books were written about boys. She's smart and resourceful, and her romance with Char includes genuine friendship, though her story doesn't revolve around getting married. This is a classic that I would be thrilled to pass along to future generations.