Reading list for Cinderella
This curated reading list, developed by the Liverpool Public Library, offers a selection of books that deepen the themes, history, and magic of Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella. These titles explore fairy tales, adaptations, and the timeless appeal of transformation, providing rich context to enhance your experience of the beloved musical.
JUVENILE/MIDDLE GRADE FICTION
Ella Enchanted
by Gail Carson Levine
In this novel based on the story of Cinderella, Ella struggles against the childhood curse that forces her to obey any order given to her.
Tuesdays at the Castle
by Jessica Day George
Eleven-year-old Princess Celie lives with her parents, the king and queen, and her brothers and sister at Castle Glower, which adds rooms or stairways or secret passageways most every Tuesday, and when the king and queen are ambushed while travelling, it is up to Celie to protect their home and save their kingdom.
The Land of Stories: The Wishing Well
(series) by Chris Colfer
Through the mysterious powers of a cherished book of stories, twins Alex and Conner leave their world behind and find themselves in a foreign land full of wonder and magic where they come face-to-face with the fairy tale characters they grew up reading about.
YOUNG ADULT FICTION
Geekerella
by Ashley Poston
A devoted fan of a classic sci-fi television series risks the ire of her evil stepsisters by entering a contest to win an invitation to a ball where she would meet her favorite actor, a teen star who would prove he is more than just a dumb heartthrob.
Cinder
by Marissa Meyer
As plague ravages the overcrowded Earth, observed by a ruthless lunar people, Cinder, a gifted mechanic and cyborg, becomes involved with handsome Prince Kai and must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect the world in this futuristic take on the Cinderella story.
Stepsister
by Jennifer Donnelly
Isabelle is one of Cinderella's ugly stepsisters, who cut off their toes in an attempt to fit into the glass slipper; but there is more to her story than a maimed foot, for the Marquis de la Chance is about to offer her a choice and the opportunity to change her fate--there will be blood and danger, but also the possibility of redemption and triumph, and most of all the chance to find her true self.
ADULT
The Princess Bride
by William Golding
A classic swashbuckling romance retells the tale of a drunken swordsman and a gentle giant who come to the aid of Westley, a handsome farm boy, and Buttercup, a princess in dire need of rescue from the evil schemers surrounding her.
A Princess in Theory
by Alyssa Cole
Mistaken by his betrothed as a pauper instead of a prince, Prince Thabiso, the sole heir to the throne of Thesolo, decides to keep his real identity a secret as he experiences life and love with Naledi Smith--until the truth comes out, which changes everything.
Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister
by Gregory Maguire
Iris Fisher, her mother, and her sister Ruth work as servants in the 17th-century Dutch home of an artist. Iris' mother ingratiates herself with the painter's patron and later marries him, making plain-looking Iris and Ruth stepsisters of the man's lovely daughter, Clara.