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Before Midnight: A Retelling of "Cinderella" (Once upon a Time) Mass Market Paperback – March 6, 2007

by Cameron Dokey (Author)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 115 ratings
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In this swoony reimagining of the classic Cinderella fairy tale, a girl with no name and a boy with no history grow up together in isolation until the arrival of La Cendrillon’s stepfamily disrupt their quiet existence and bring long-kept secrets to light.

Etienne de Brabant is brokenhearted. His wife has died in childbirth, leaving him alone with an infant daughter he cannot bear to name. But before he abandons her for king and court, he brings a second child to be raised alongside her, a boy whose identity he does not reveal.

The girl, La Cendrillon, and the boy, Raoul, pass sixteen years in the servants’ care until one day a very fine lady arrives with her two daughters. The lady has married La Cendrillon’s father, and her arrival changes their lives.

When an invitation to a great ball reaches the family, La Cendrillon’s new stepmother will make a decision with far-reaching effects. Her choice will lead La Cendrillon and Raoul toward their destiny—a choice that will challenge their understanding of family, test their loyalty and courage, and, ultimately, teach them who they are.
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Previous page
  1. Reading age
    12 years and up
  2. Part of series
    Once upon a Time
  3. Print length
    208 pages
  4. Language
    English
  5. Grade level
    7 - 9
  6. Lexile measure
    770L
  7. Dimensions
    4.19 x 0.5 x 7 inches
  8. Publisher
    Simon Pulse
  9. Publication date
    March 6, 2007
  10. ISBN-10
    9781416934714
  11. ISBN-13
    978-1416934714
  12. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 6–10—Here are answers to the age-old questions that have plagued so many for so long: What was Cinderella's father thinking? And where was he while his new wife and the stepsisters had their way with her? Not only does Dokey deal with these issues, but she also turns the oft-told story on its head in many unexpected, intriguing, and satisfying ways. When Cendrillon's mother dies after giving birth to her, her father, Etienne de Brabant, blames his newborn daughter. Wishing never to see her again, he disappears from her life for the next 15 years. The fairy godmother in the original tale here is simply the wise housekeeper who delivers Cendrillon and raises her. The stepmother is not wicked, just understandably unhappy at being forced to marry Etienne, who uproots her from her life at court and sends her off to live at his remote estate without even telling her that he has a daughter. The stepsisters are differentiated, dimensional characters as well. In fact, the entire book is filled with strong women who exert their influence on a fairy-tale world and—delightfully—with sensitive and clever young men who recognize their worth. This expanded Cinderella story is a fine addition to the canon including Gail Carson Levine's Ella Enchanted (HarperCollins, 1997), Donna Jo Napoli's Bound (S & S, 2004), and Margaret Peterson Haddix's Just Ella (S & S, 1999).—Miriam Lang Budin, Chappaqua Public Library, NY
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

About the Author

Cameron Dokey is the author of nearly thirty young adult novels. Her other fairy tales include The Storyteller’s Daughter, Sunlight and Shadow, and Golden. She has also written the #1 bestselling How Not to Spend Your Senior Year. She lives in Seattle, Washington, with her husband and four cats.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ 1416934715
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Simon Pulse; Reissue edition (March 6, 2007)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Mass Market Paperback ‏ : ‎ 208 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9781416934714
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1416934714
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 12 years and up
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 770L
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 7 - 9
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 4.5 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 4.19 x 0.5 x 7 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 115 ratings

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Cameron Dokey

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Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
115 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Not4alltheteainChina
5.0 out of 5 stars Cameron Dokey A+ author for Once Upon series!
Reviewed in the United States on December 20, 2023
Verified Purchase
I love how the author deeply thought about and researched this book to give both a fairytale-enchanting and very human plausible tale. There is much human heart understanding in this book and I enjoyed it in the shall we say -over 39 age range?
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Ruth Anderson
4.0 out of 5 stars Thoroughly enjoyable addition to the series...
Reviewed in the United States on February 22, 2009
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I am an absolute sucker for retold fairy tales, and even though the Once Upon a Time series is targets teen readers, I look forward to see what new spin each installment brings to old familiar stories. Cameron Dokey is the most prolific and - in my opinion - best author contributing to the series. In order to craft her own version of the Cinderella story, Dokey went back to the Grimm and Perrault versions of the tale. In a nod to the Grimms, there is a tree planted on the grave of Cendrillon's mother, a symbol of her mother's love and influence even after her death. Dokey also retains the French setting & names found in Perrault's tale. And, as found in both versions, Cinderella's father is alive, and plays a much bigger role in her life than modern readers are accustomed to seeing. Dokey then asks two questions - one, what if the father lives and is a negative influence on Cinderella's life, and two, what if her stepmother and stepsisters were not the wicked ones? Dokey's writing has a lyrical style and rhythm that immediately makes me feel like I'm reading an original fairy tale, and in a nod to modern audiences her Cendrillon is smart, assured, compassionate, and not afraid to speak her mind. Before Midnight doesn't take top honors as my favorite retelling, but it's a solid & enjoyable entry in the series.
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Omar Herrera
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book!
Reviewed in the United States on April 19, 2024
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Great story from the traditional Cinderella, I enjoyed the plot and how it ties in together very well. Lots of good plot twists too. Recommend to all
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navyblue
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful retelling of Cinderella
Reviewed in the United States on October 15, 2012
Verified Purchase
Warning: Spoilers ahoy!

I absolutely loved this. After finishing another Cinderella rewrite that left me wanting, I decided to download the kindle version of Before Midnight. The first chapter absolutely drew me in, and I couldn't put the book down until I'd finished. It's a quick read, but the prose is beautiful. The plot is well thought out, and the characters are well fleshed.

Like the author, I too wondered what kind of father would allow a step mother to come in and turn his daughter into a servant, and because of this always rather liked the Disney cartoon version (first movie I ever saw in a theater as a child) that left Cinderella an orphan.

Before Midnight leaves the father alive, like many of the original stories do, but fills in his story. You are left with understanding for the father, even if you still don't like him very much. I really liked how the step mother and two step sisters were written, the love interests, and Old Mathilde (the stand-in for the fairy godmother).

My only complaint is that nearly everyone seemed to fall in love at first sight, I think it might have been nice to have the step sisters take a bit longer. I also would have liked to see the father stick around and try to make up for lost time rather than simply disappearing.

But overall, I really enjoyed it and will be reading more from this author. 4 3/4 stars.
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Katharine
5.0 out of 5 stars Cinderella
Reviewed in the United States on May 26, 2023
Verified Purchase
It’s Cinderella but much more fun and for once the stepmother and stepsisters aren’t evil and entitledness incarnate. I enjoyed the emotional journey each of the main characters went through. It trumps all the movies.
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Edward's Girl
4.0 out of 5 stars Different... but just as good.
Reviewed in the United States on November 24, 2009
Verified Purchase
I enjoyed this tell of what one might think is Cinderella. Different in the characters however you do enjoy them. Great for anyone who'd just like to spend sometime in a romance.
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Kara Grant
5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible Version of Cinderella
Reviewed in the United States on July 26, 2011
Verified Purchase
This book starts out very sad and mysterious, but as the story unfolds it pulls you in. This version is unlike any cinderella story you've ever read. When you meet the stepmother and stepsisters in the story, you're really not sure how the plot will go and you think you already know the story.....YOU DON'T. Cameron Dokey did her research for this book and the way her version goes is the most enjoyable and delightful cinderella story ever done. The story isn't too long or too short, it's just enough to satisfy and show that not only does Cinderella get her happy ending, but so does everyone else around her. I am now eager to read other books by Cameron Dokey; this one is one of the most enjoyable books I've read in 2011 and I look forward to more.
One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

marilyn h.
1.0 out of 5 stars One Star
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 2, 2016
Verified Purchase
Did not come with the advertised cover.
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