Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister: The Story Behind Cinderella

I found this book at a used book sale and thought it look entertaining.  I am glad that I picked it up.  It gives a whole new light to Cinderella’s step sisters and actually develops them as characters.  It goes into the history of their family and why the “evil step-mother” is portrayed the way she is.

Clara (Cinderella in the story) is a spoiled brat, who refuses to try and get along with her new family.  The ashes, the hours of chores, all the misery that meets her is actually her fault.  At least, that’s the version told in this story.  It’s a tale of beauty and plainness.  A tale of how you think you deserve to be viewed by society and how you actually are viewed by society.  The story delves deeper into the world and its views, as presented by the youngest step sister.

This adventure shows us a side of Cinderella’s stepsisters that you never knew.  The tale follows Iris, the plain youngest daughter of Margarethe Fisher.  Iris takes care of her mentally-challenged older sister Ruth as well as her newly acquired stepsister Clara.  As Margarethe faces losing everything, she comes up with a plan to send Ruth and Iris to a ball in honor of the Prince of Marsillac.  She leaves out Clara for fear that she will abandon them and leave them poor.  However, out of love for their step sister, Ruth and Iris hatch a plan to bring Clara with them and help her find happiness once again.  However, when the unthinkable happens at the ball, you won’t believe who caused it and what the outcome will be! 

This book is available in regular, book format from Flossmoor, Homewood, Park Forest, and Steger-South Chicago Heights Public Libraries.  It can be ordered in Large Print, Books on CD, and Books on Cassette from other SWAN libraries and sent to the library of your choice, including Chicago Heights Public Library.