This is one of my favorite books of all time. Like, maybe #2 behind Pride and Prejudice? I love it so much. I first read this when I was 8, and I've read it every 1-2 years in the 19 years since then. This time around, I specifically noticed the efficiency in Gail Carson Levine's writing. She communicates so much in brief sentences just by choosing the most descriptive but simple words (somehow). I love the character development in this - Ella, Char, Mandy, Ella's mother are all so beautifully shaped as the story unfolds. Even Sir Peter is so interestingly fleshed out so as to not make him too one-dimensional. Reading this as an adult, there are a couple things I find annoying and unnecessary, the most important being the fatphobia with regards to Ella's stepmother and stepsisters. But overall, I still love this book so much.