I hesitate to call The Amaranth Enchantment a Cinderella retelling, because as soon as I do, some of you will think it’s some tired out story makeover that can’t possibly hold a candle to what was done with Ella Enchanted.  And you’d be wrong.  What Ms. Berry has created isn’t so much Cinderella dressed up in new clothes as it is her Great-niece and Goddaughter, who of course has some of the family traits but is very much her own person.

I went looking for it because friends recommended it, but I couldn’t find it at our library.  I asked the librarians about it and they said it sounded like a YA, not a middle grade, but also fell between the two.  However, they were sweet enough to get it at my request.  Our librarians are awesome like that.

After so much anticipation it didn’t take me long to settle in and read…but I actually had a bit of trouble in the middle continuing.  I’d gotten interrupted at a low point in the book, and couldn’t see how the story would come around to a satisfactory ending, so I let distractions keep me from it for a few days.  However, I’m very glad I picked it up again and kept reading, as it turned out beautifully!  Lovely weaving of the story possibilities, and resonance of story truths echoing throughout that really sing strong at the end.  Pick it up, and see if you don’t agree with me!

“Yeah, it was pretty good.  The sparkly stone sounds like something I could curl up around, and that goat named Dog would be worth getting to know.  The girl had nice pluck, too.  Rather like a cat.  I give you leave to like this one.”

Praise from the cat–it doesn’t get any better than that.  I should add a warning you that if you have a love of gardens and flowers, like me, the Amaranth flower will seem intoxicating.  It also made me want to choose a representative flower–one that captures who I am.  Not a rose, I haven’t the grace for it.  Perhaps a lily.  What flower would you choose?

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