This book is a unique twist on the Cinderella tale. It focuses on the fairy godmother, named Bess in this interpretation. Bess is the youngest daughter in a family of cold and cruel glassmakers. Young readers will enjoy many aspects of this story, including the fascinating way magic works and very likable talking animals. The book’s biggest flaw is its brevity. We get glimpses of characters' motivations and the worldbuilding, but things move very quickly, leaving very little time to flesh these details out. The ending especially feels quite rushed. I’d have appreciated another 50 or so pages to explore all these concepts. Still, this story will appeal to readers looking for a short fantasy with a dash of romance.

The premise of the story was quite fun. It provided a back story to Cinderella and more importantly her fairy godmother. Bess is kind and hardworking. She recognizes the evil of her family. Estrella is a girl who loves the stars and astronomy. Together they work to escape their evil family. Loved the found family the two girls had in their hour of need. Loved the idea of magic being the result of hard work and planning. A fun take on a classic tale for younger readers.

Bess is the odd one in her family. She loves animals and living plants. She takes after her Grannie who loved the druids. Her family are glassmakers who seek fame and riches. When a Estrella’s grandfather dies she is sent to live with her cousins, who treat her as a servant and order her around. Bess helps Estrella survive and find happiness.

This was just okay for me. I feel like this one could be a hard sell just because I find the kids who want something fairytale/princessy want it to be the typically happily ever after thing, even if it's a retelling. This doesn't really have the same story beats that fit within that genre.

I'm always up for a Cinderella retelling, and I loved that this one delved into the fairy godmother's origin story. Unfortunately, I was left wanting more than this book delivered. I felt like it started too slowly and wrapped up far too quickly. I didn't like the family portrayals and when I really thought about different aspects of the plot, it felt incredibly dark for a middle grade novel.

3.5 stars, rounded down. Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for giving me an advanced copy to review. I was not required to post a positive review, and all opinions are my own.

This was a really cool take on the Cinderella story. One of the most creative I have seen, although I did think the ending was a bit rushed.

Bess Wickham comes from a long line of glass makers. Bess, however, longs to grow flowers and work with animals. Animals are drawn to her, respond to her and she can communicate with them. Her family takes advantage of this and asks her to bring animals to them for "sketching" so they can create glass figures from them.

There is something much more sinister going on and Bess flees the family. They in turn paint her to be a witch. Her cousin, Estrella, comes to live with the Wickham family and here we enter our Cinderella. The Wickhams refuse to call her Estrella and just call her Ella, give her chores and expect her to take over the garden and bring them animals like Bess did. They keep her in the cellar where it is cold and she is underfed.

It is the last 50 or so pages that the Cinderella story unfolds, though with a few twists. Not quite the Disney ending with happily ever after but not as horrific as a proper Grimm Fairy Tale.

An excellent spin on an old story. I'd love to see what else Ms. Lasky can do with other fairy tales.

My thanks to Harper Collins and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are my own.

Glass: A Cinderella Tale by Kathryn Lasky presents an imaginative prequel to the classic Cinderella story, offering a unique perspective through the eyes of a young fairy godmother, Bess Wickham. Set in a grand glass house, the narrative introduces Bess as a member of a family of extraordinary glassblowers. Despite feeling like an outcast, Bess discovers an immense, magical power within herself, one that has been dormant in her bloodline. This newfound power becomes crucial as she uncovers a sinister turn in her family's business and must face dark magic to save the future Cinderella.

Lasky crafts a rich and enchanting world, filled with magical elements and a deep sense of family heritage. The glassblowing craft, woven into the fabric of the story, adds a unique layer to the fairy tale genre, making the setting both intriguing and vibrant. Bess's journey from feeling insignificant to embracing her magical abilities is compelling and adds depth to her character. The story's focus on Bess’s internal struggle and growth is well-developed, giving readers a strong, relatable protagonist.

However, the book occasionally falters in its pacing and complexity. Some plot points feel rushed, and the development of secondary characters could have been more fleshed out. The dark magic element, while intriguing, sometimes overshadows Bess's personal journey, making it challenging to fully invest in her character. Despite these shortcomings, Glass: A Cinderella Tale remains an enjoyable read, offering a fresh and creative take on a beloved fairy tale. It captures the essence of magic, family, and courage, making it a worthwhile addition to the Cinderella mythos.

Tender hearted Bess has always felt she was born into the wrong family. When her parents and sisters begin a horrible endeavor to help their business make money, Bess runs away. No longer welcome at home or even in her own village, Bess creates a shelter for herself in the forest with some animal friends.

Meanwhile, in another part of the country, young Estrella, recently orphaned, comes to live with her distant relatives, Bess’s family. Treated like a servant, Estrella, now with her name shortened to Ella, finds herself banished to the cellar, along with her beloved telescopes.

When Bess’s owl friend, Ulli, hears Ella sobbing, Bess comes to Ella’s aid, although in secret. Will there be a happy ending for Ella, Bess, and Bess’s new friend, Will? Find out in this engaging, clever retelling of the Cinderella story with a twist.

What an interesting twist to the Cinderella story. There were quite a few things I loved about this story. I loved Bess. I thought that her character was super strong, and I loved how she was able to reject what her family was doing to follow her heart. I also loved having her grandmother’s spirit to guide her as she tried to figure out how to navigate the grandmother’s loss, and what her family was doing. I also enjoyed Estrella. She also is another strong character whose love of science shines through the pages. What I didn’t love was the ending. It felt super rushed and a little bit disjointed. The story jumped around so much at times it was hard to keep track of who was doing what.
Thank you so much to HaperCollins Books and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

I love this author's books since I've read Guardians of Ga'Hoole, I also love Tangle in Time. Was very excited to see this one with such an amazing cover. A Cinderella story, I am always drawn to retellings of this one.

This prequel to the Cinderella story is done so well, with a fairytale mood, and respect for life, nature, and magic from druids. The book is divided into parts introducing Ella later. Bess first discovers that she is very different from her family and their greedy and evil perspective of the world. She learns their terrible secret and decides for the sake of the animals to seek refuge among them and be good like her grandmother was but they brand her as a witch.
Later, we also have Estrella appear. Their stories will cross awesomely with a focus on learning and knowledge as positive. The scenes and voices are easy to visualize.

I enjoyed the ending very much. It was a great balance between beauty and evilness.

Thank you, publisher and Netgalley for this e-arc.

This story was intriguing for 2 reasons - first, I love any fairy tale reimagining, and second, Lasky wrote the popular Guardians of Ga'hool which I read with my daughter many years ago. Not all of this story flowed well for me, but the plot itself was very interesting. In this prequel, Cinderella is the orphaned niece of a strange glassblowing family. But before we meet her, we meet the family's daughter, Bess. She does not fit in with her family who only want to create glass figurines and be considered the best. They have no love for the natural world. Bess, on the other hand, has a way with animals and gardening and feels like her family's glass creations are cold and lifeless. Bess is the only decent member of the family and becomes a fairy godmother of sorts. The book itself felt jumpy and perhaps could have been edited a bit better. I still enjoyed it and can see it being liked by those who like both fairy tales and fantasy.

My thoughts:
Such a unique way to reimagine the story of The Little Cinder Girl. Intelligent, kind main characters. Magic, and animals. Make this a fun read. There is human death, but nothing is described. Animals also are transformed by dark magic. How can good overcome if there is no bad to defeat it right? This is a children's book. Ages 8-12 is what is recommended by the publisher. I think that is a good age group as long as parents know what their kids are reading and can talk to them if they are scared. I enjoyed this read very much. There is just something about discovering new books for kids that are exciting to read. It makes me happy to think that new titles are being added every day to foster a love of reading for kids. Not only did I enjoy this read, I would recommend, and purchase it for gifts.



I received this book from NetGalley for this review. I was under no obligation to leave a review. All opinions are on my own. I am disclosing this per the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The Wickhams are a family of glassblowers, providing glass trinkets to nobles and royals. Unlike the rest of her family, Bess prefers the living vibrancy of nature to the cold 'perfection' of glass, longing for a garden of real plants to the glass flowers that decorate the grounds. After her beloved Grannie's death, things change in the family and Bess makes her escape upon learning the cruel truth of her family's glass animal figurines. With a magical legacy her Grannie left behind for her, will Bess be able to right the wrongs of the family trade? Can she help the distant cousin her parents brought in to replace her?

I once took a. Glass blowing class. I loved this book so much because of that experience. Great premise. Fun characters. A delight.