The Stepsister's Tale - Hardcover

"This clever and sensitive retelling of "Cinderella" takes the viewpoint of the supposedly evil stepsisters and turns the story inside out....Highly imaginative as well as insightful, this outstanding revision has the power to entrance and provoke thought." -Kirkus Reviews (starred review)"Barrett offers a provocative inversion of the tale of Cinderella....cleverly upends traditional notions of happily ever after." -Publishers Weekly (starred review)"The Stepsister's Tale is a pleasant Cinderella adaptation. Barrett's writing shines with an ethereal otherworldliness that enhances the fairy tale origins." -School Library Journal"In the tradition of Robin McKinley's Beauty (1978), this does fans of fairy tales an enormous favor by revisiting and twisting the story of Cinderella. Clever plotting and character development are complemented by rich descriptive passages, and by flipping the tale around, the familiar becomes an unpredictable read." -Booklist"Dazzling and enchanting, The Stepsister's Tale is a finely tuned story that breathes new life into the classic Cinderella tale....With a sweet romance and hints of the fantastical, this is an inventive must-read!" -RT Book Reviews"Tracy's stories are always unique, her prose always lovely. The Stepsister's Tale is no exception. A brilliant and innovative retelling of a classic that gives entirely new meaning to the term 'Cinderella story.'" -Ruta Sepetys, New York Times bestselling author of Between Shades of Gray"An intriguing twist on a classic story, The Stepsister's Tale is a captivating tale of resilience and hope." -Aimée Carter, author of The Goddess Test"Cinderella has bad manners, and, presto, Tracy Barrett reinvents the fairy tale-a magical book to devour late at night under the covers, flashlight in hand." -Maria Tatar, Chair, Program of Folklore and Mythology, Harvard

What really happened after the clock struck midnight? 

Jane Montjoy is tired of being a lady. She's tired of pretending to live up to the standards of her mother's noble family—especially now that the family's wealth is gone and their stately mansion has fallen to ruin. It's hard enough that she must tend to the animals and find a way to feed her mother and her little sister each day. Jane's burden only gets worse after her mother returns from a trip to town with a new stepfather and stepsister in tow. Despite the family's struggle to prepare for the long winter ahead, Jane's stepfather remains determined to give his beautiful but spoiled child her every desire. 

When her stepfather suddenly dies, leaving nothing but debts and a bereaved daughter behind, it seems to Jane that her family is destined for eternal unhappiness. But a mysterious boy from the woods and an invitation to a royal ball are certain to change her fate.... 

From the handsome prince to the evil stepsister, nothing is quite as it seems in Tracy Barrett's stunning retelling of the classic Cinderella tale.