Stepsister by Jennifer Donnelly

STEPSISTER
By Jennifer Donnelly

Genre: Young Adult Fiction | Fantasy | Fairy Tale Retelling | Historical Fantasy | Coming-of-Age
Recommended Age: 14–18 years

What if the villain of the fairy tale was simply a girl who had lost her way?

Isabelle is the stepsister who cut off her toes to fit into Cinderella's glass slipper. She sacrificed pieces of herself trying to become beautiful, sweet, and worthy of a prince. Instead, she became bitter, jealous, and lost. But Isabelle's story doesn't have to end there.

Inspired by the darker origins of Cinderella, Jennifer Donnelly reimagines the classic fairy tale through the eyes of its overlooked character. As Isabelle confronts the expectations that have defined her life, she discovers the courage to challenge her fate, reclaim her identity, and rewrite her own story.

Bold, empowering, and filled with magic, Stepsister explores beauty, self-worth, sisterhood, and the power of choosing who you want to become.

A powerful fairy tale retelling that reminds us we don't need to be perfect to be brave—and our endings are ours to write.