Bella at Midnight by Diane Stanley

I have been meaning to get around to this review, since I finished the book weeks ago, but real life in the form of wedding plans and house-buying plans has intervened. Anyway, this book is an interpretation of the Cinderella story. It is told from the point of view of mostly the Cinderella character (Bella). It is very well written – the kind of book I was picking up every spare moment to read a little more. In this retelling, Bella is sent away when her mother dies to be raised by nursemaid, and grows up believing she is a peasant. She befriends the prince, who was nursed by Bella’s foster mother, who (of course) turns up later in the book for the Prince Charming character. There are some twists that liven up the familiar story, especially in the gender role area. Bella is a strong, smart female character who is a joy to read. Even the stepsisters and mother are given voices in the book, which make the reader empathize more with their situation. Excellent book. Now I can return it to the library so I stop getting overdue notices.