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The Stepsister Tale Tracy Barrett Books

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The Stepsister Tale Tracy Barrett Books

I love fairy tale retellings and Barrett's twist on Cinderella is amazing! I haven't read one from the stepsister's POV before and when I stumbled upon this story, I decided to check it out. I'm so glad I did!

Without giving away too much of the plot, I can say that I loved the main character, Jane, who works so hard to keep her mother and sister (and, later, her stepfather and stepsister) from starving--they may live in a grand house, but it's falling down around their ears and there's little food to be had. Despite all the hardships they face, Jane keeps fighting to make things work out.

And work out things do, though not the way you might expect...

The story is a light read, easy to inhale in an afternoon with a cup (or three) of tea. I highly recommend it to lovers of Cinderella retellings and fairy tales in general.


Tags : Amazon.com: The Stepsister's Tale (9780373211210): Tracy Barrett: Books,Tracy Barrett,The Stepsister's Tale,Harlequin Teen,037321121X,Fairy Tales & Folklore - Adaptations,Fantasy - General,Romance - General,Fantasy,Fantasy fiction,Poor,Poor;Fiction.,Stepfamilies,Stepfamilies;Fiction.,Stepsisters,Stepsisters;Fiction.,10030100,115026X,20140701,707220,Canada,Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12),Fairy; Fantasy; Historical; Romance,Fantasy;Historical;Romance;Fairy,Fiction,Fiction-Fantasy,JUVENILE,JUVENILE FICTION Fairy Tales & Folklore Adaptations,JUVENILE FICTION Love & Romance,Juvenile Fiction,Juvenile FictionFairy Tales & Folklore - Adaptations,Juvenile Grades 10-12 Ages 15+,Love & Romance,Poor,Poor;Fiction.,Romance & relationships stories (Children's Teenage),Romance - General,Stepfamilies,Stepfamilies;Fiction.,Stepsisters,Stepsisters;Fiction.,TEEN'S FICTION FANTASY,TEEN'S FICTION ROMANCE,YOUNG ADULT FICTION,YOUNG ADULT FICTION Fairy Tales & Folklore Adaptations,YOUNG ADULT FICTION Fantasy General,YOUNG ADULT FICTION Romance General,JUVENILE FICTION Fairy Tales & Folklore Adaptations,JUVENILE FICTION Love & Romance,Juvenile FictionFairy Tales & Folklore - Adaptations,Love & Romance,YOUNG ADULT FICTION Fairy Tales & Folklore Adaptations,YOUNG ADULT FICTION Fantasy General,YOUNG ADULT FICTION Romance General,Fiction,YOUNG ADULT FICTION,Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12),Romance & relationships stories (Children's Teenage)

The Stepsister Tale Tracy Barrett Books Reviews

It's hard for me to like a book if I don't like the people in it. However, Tracy's Barrett's THE STEPSISTER'S TALE is worth reading, even though nobody is very likable. It's described on the cover as a "brilliant and innovative retelling" of Cinderella. In this story, we meet Maude and Jane and their mother--unpleasant upper-crust people in reduced circumstances due to the father/husband's debts and death. The girls, however, suck it up and perform all the hard work of the house (not without grumbling, mind you.) Enter Isabella (later taunted with the nickname "Cinder"ella), a whiny spoiled brat with a controlling father. Isabella, far from being the victim of her stepsisters, gives as good as she gets in the mean and whiny department. Enter a dislikable prince. And a ball. And a twist on the "fairy godmother" aspect. And a more-or-less happily ever.

What worked the tale kept enough of the bare bones of Cinderella to give a framework to the story, though there is freedom taken with the retelling. The girls are strong-willed and willing to work hard, even if they complain about it.

What didn't work as well Nobody is a hero. I guess I wanted one person to root for wholeheartedly. (There are a few minor characters from the woods who are root-for-able, but they are minor characters.) Those girls on the cover look 20 years old, while in the story they seem 13, aging to 16 or so. And I have a quibble about where the apostrophe belongs -- Is it really just one stepsister's tale?

This is a great choice for people who read a lot and looking for something different. Barrett's plot and writing style kept me reading, even as I winced at the characters. I'd recommend to mid-teen girls who read lots of books. Readers who enjoy this story might also try Jillian Coats THE WICKED AND THE JUST. Great historical fiction with two flawed heroines.

About me I'm a middle school/high school librarian
How I got this book Finished copy sent by the publisher
The Stepsister's Tale is a retelling of Cinderella that's almost gritty, almost rough in its interpretation of the well-loved fairy tale, and it works. It's a fairy tale that's so associated with beauty and magic, thanks to Disney, that you would think a touch of dirt would take away its luster, but it has the opposite effect. And instead of shining a light on the cruelty of others and true love taking Cinderella away, The Stepsister's Tale highlights familial (especially sisterly) love and duty and works to show that the value of a person doesn't lie in how they're born or their title, but simply in who they are and who they choose to be.

The novel follows a general path of Cinderella, though many of the details are turned on their heads. The stepsisters aren't evil, just hard-working and want a little help. The mother isn't evil, either--maybe she's a little out of her mind, actually. The prince is not the kind of man a self-respecting girl wants to marry. The ball isn't glittering and immaculate. And even our Cinderella isn't the cinder maid left out from the ball out of spite. Happily ever after just may not include a royal wedding. I thought it was such fun wondering how Tracey Barrett was going to make things work out, because I knew I couldn't just expect the ending the fairy tale gives. From the first page you can tell this isn't that kind of book.

And what worked really well for me, too, is that the story is slow and rather uncomplicated. There aren't bunches of bells and whistles added to the retelling to make it different, instead making it simply a look at the story from a new perspective, one we never thought we'd sympathize with. It is slower in plot, but it worked for me because there's a lot of development of the world and life of the family, weaving smaller interactions and moments into the larger story. Jane is a no-nonsense kind of girl who gets things done and takes care of people without them asking.

Jane and Maude's mother is obsessed with their lost wealth and fallen status, insisting that they are ladies and should act as such, even though the girls know they're far from the stations they were born into. Isabella (our Cinderella) believes she's above the girls because of their appearance and manners. Their neighbors believe the Montjoys all think they're above the common people because they formerly had wealth. But the story shows time and time again that those born into wealth and power aren't better than those born with nothing and that the prejudices people form based on these circumstances are flawed.

AND, the romance is adorable. And every word that means cute and sweet. It's one of those with moments that made my heart beat faster and left my face with the stupidest grin. It's all the more endearing for its innocence and its optimism. All books need this romance, because I don't often find myself reacting to scenes like I did here.

If you like (or can stand, at least) stories that take a while to work into the action, The Stepsister's Tale is really a lovely retelling. It's simple in form and in execution, but all the lovelier for it, allowing the story and themes to speak for themselves. It retains a fairy tale tone, even as it comes and contradicts its source over and over. I really enjoyed reading it, all the way through.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I loved this story. It was interesting and sweet. Near the end I started to cry a bit. I also cried the first time she visited the cabin. Who know if that was reason able but I still loved it. Short easy read that if I was a teacher and had student I would have them read.
I felt the girls' pains and joys, sadnesses and excitements. Such a wonderful reimagining of a beloved classic! All of the pieces of the Cinderella story we know were there, but when told from another perspective each element got a new, satisfying meaning. Such a fun read!
I love fairy tale retellings and Barrett's twist on Cinderella is amazing! I haven't read one from the stepsister's POV before and when I stumbled upon this story, I decided to check it out. I'm so glad I did!

Without giving away too much of the plot, I can say that I loved the main character, Jane, who works so hard to keep her mother and sister (and, later, her stepfather and stepsister) from starving--they may live in a grand house, but it's falling down around their ears and there's little food to be had. Despite all the hardships they face, Jane keeps fighting to make things work out.

And work out things do, though not the way you might expect...

The story is a light read, easy to inhale in an afternoon with a cup (or three) of tea. I highly recommend it to lovers of Cinderella retellings and fairy tales in general.