There exists a particular species of young reader—perhaps you know one—who can devour a delightful book like Ella Enchanted in a single breathless afternoon and emerge, blinking, to wonder immediately, “What shall I read next?”
These are the children who find ordinary books too thin, too simple. They require stories with substance and wit, tales that respect their intelligence whilst sprinkling sufficient magic upon every page. They are, in the parlance of teachers and librarians, “advanced readers” or “gifted readers,” though we might simply call them hungry readers.
If you find yourself guardian to such a voracious creature, take heart. The shelves overflow with fairy tale retellings worthy of young minds who have outgrown simpler works but not outgrown the wonder. Here, then, are the very finest books like Ella Enchanted for your advanced young reader.
The Wendy by Erin Michelle Sky and Steven Brown
For the child who loved Ella’s spirit and determination, The Wendy presents a heroine quite unlike any they have met before. This is not, one must understand, the Wendy Darling you think you know—the gentle child who merely visited Neverland for a spot of adventure before sensibly returning home.
No, this Wendy is an orphan with dreams of captaining her own ship in an era when women were expected to darn socks and little else. When she discovers a path to join England’s secret service in their fight against the magical Everlost, she seizes it with relish. What follows is a swashbuckling adventure that appeals to readers of all ages, without any content to give cause for concern.
The writing style shall delight advanced readers particularly, for it echoes the whimsical narration of classic fairy tales whilst telling an entirely new story. The narrator addresses readers directly with wonderfully dry observations, and the humour is the sophisticated sort that rewards careful attention. Young readers of sharp wit will find themselves laughing aloud.
Better still, this is the first book in the complete Tales of the Wendy trilogy, so when your reader finishes (which shall happen rather quickly, one suspects), two more await—worlds in which magic tastes like pickles, dogs possess remarkable opinions, and nothing is quite as it seems. Perfect for readers age 10 and up who crave adventure with intelligence.
Princess Academy by Shannon Hale
High upon Mount Eskel, where folk have quarried stone for generations, young Miri discovers that her humble village has been chosen as home to the future princess. Every girl must attend an academy to learn proper royal deportment—though the lessons prove far more dangerous and wonderful than mere curtsying.
This Newbery Honor book weaves themes of education, friendship, and community into a tale that never preaches yet speaks profoundly to young hearts. Miri, like Ella, is resilient and clever, using her wits rather than magic to overcome obstacles. The fantasy element—a telepathy-like ability called “quarry speech”—unfolds gradually and delightfully.
Advanced readers shall appreciate how the story examines what education truly means and how knowledge transforms communities. The book works splendidly for middle grade readers seeking substance beneath their sparkle.
The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale
Crown Princess Anidori-Kiladra Talianna Isilee (Ani for short) possesses an unusual gift: she can speak with birds. When treachery strips away her crown and her very identity, she must find work as a humble goose girl whilst plotting to reclaim her throne.
This retelling of the Brothers Grimm tale expands magnificently upon its source material. The New York Times praised its “layer upon layer of detail” creating “a beautiful coming-of-age story…a tale about learning to rescue yourself rather than falling accidentally into happily-ever-after.”
Here is a princess who earns her crown through courage and cleverness rather than birthright alone—just the sort of heroine to capture an advanced reader’s imagination.
Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
Sophie Hatter, eldest of three sisters and therefore doomed to failure according to fairy tale logic, is transformed by a witch’s curse into an old woman. Rather than despair, she marches straight into the moving castle of the notorious Wizard Howl and becomes his cleaning lady.
This modern classic strikes reviewers as “an excellent first fantasy book for a young reader.” The stakes remain real throughout, yet the tone stays wonderfully whimsical rather than threatening. Sophie’s wit and the deliciously bantery found family she discovers within the castle’s walls shall enchant readers who appreciated Ella’s spirit.
Diana Wynne Jones writes with a charm that rewards rereading—advanced readers often return to this book throughout their lives.
Beauty by Robin McKinley
Robin McKinley’s debut novel retells Beauty and the Beast with such exquisite prose that it established the standard for modern YA fairy tale retellings. Beauty (who finds her childhood nickname increasingly ill-fitting as she grows plain whilst her sisters become lovely) ventures to the Beast’s enchanted castle to save her father.
The writing style here is McKinley at her most gorgeous—lush descriptions and patient character development that trust readers to appreciate slow-burning magic. This is the book for the advanced reader who savours language itself, who likes to pause and reread particularly beautiful sentences.
Clean and appropriate for ages 10 and up, yet sophisticated enough that many adult readers count it among their favourites.
The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley
Aerin, the awkward, red-haired daughter of the king of Damar, is feared and ostracized by her own people. But through stubborn determination (and quite a lot of dragon-slaying), she becomes the hero her kingdom needs.
This Newbery Medal winner offers something rather rare: a heroine who is genuinely imperfect. She makes mistakes. She gets hurt. She struggles. And she triumphs not through magical convenience but through hard work and courage.
McKinley wrote that she “wished desperately for books like Hero when I was young, books that didn’t require me to be untrue to my gender if I wished to fantasize about having my sort of adventures.” Advanced readers, particularly those who sometimes feel like outsiders, shall find a kindred spirit in Aerin.
East by Edith Pattou
When an enormous white bear appears at Rose’s door and offers to restore her ailing family’s fortunes in exchange for her companionship, the adventurous girl agrees. What follows is a sweeping retelling of the Norwegian folk tale “East of the Sun and West of the Moon.”
At over 400 pages, this is a substantial read—but advanced readers shall find it worth every page. The story unfolds through multiple narrators, each with a distinct voice, creating a rich tapestry that rewards attentive reading. ALA named it a Top Ten Best Book for Young Adults.
The atmospheric Scandinavian setting and cozy fairy tale feeling make this perfect for readers who want to sink deeply into another world.
The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy
What if all those Prince Charmings from various fairy tales were actually rather hopeless at heroics? This hilarious middle grade novel introduces four princes—from Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Rapunzel, and Snow White—who band together to prove they are more than cardboard cutout heroes.
Kirkus gave it a starred review, praising its “pitch-perfect accuracy” and “inventive and hilarious” plot. Comparisons to The Princess Bride abound—high praise indeed.
For the advanced reader who loved Ella Enchanted‘s humour, this book delivers similar wit whilst gently skewering fairy tale conventions. The princesses, notably, are strong and capable—when the princes get in trouble, they do the rescuing.
Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier
Jena and her four sisters live an idyllic life in Transylvania—with one magical secret. Every full moon, they slip through a hidden portal into the Other Kingdom, where they dance all night with the fey creatures of that enchanted realm.
This retelling of “The Twelve Dancing Princesses” transforms a simple fairy tale into something rich and complex. Marillier weaves in elements of “The Frog Prince” as well, creating a story that explores love, loyalty, and the courage to do what is right.
Though technically young adult, reviewers praise it as “one of the most fascinating and maturely written plots” they have read—perfect for advanced middle grade readers ready to stretch their wings.
Spindle’s End by Robin McKinley
In this Sleeping Beauty retelling, the cursed princess is spirited away by a young fairy and raised as ordinary Rosie in a village called Foggy Bottom. But curses have a way of finding their targets, and Rosie must face her destiny with courage, cleverness, and the help of many animal friends.
McKinley was dissatisfied with the traditional Sleeping Beauty—a princess so passive she actually falls asleep. Her Rosie is stubborn, intelligent, and determined to fight her own battles. One reviewer declared the first chapter “one of the most beautiful pieces of prose ever written.”
This is a longer, more leisurely-paced read, but for the advanced reader who appreciates beautiful language and strong heroines, it is absolute treasure.
Summers at Castle Auburn by Sharon Shinn
Corie spends most of her life in a remote village learning herbs and healing, but her summers are spent with royalty at Castle Auburn. Over several years, we watch her transform from a child with an idealistic view of the world into a young woman who sees its imperfections—and chooses to act anyway.
This coming-of-age fantasy explores themes of class, slavery, and moral courage wrapped in a tale of gentle romance and political intrigue. It is perfect for the reader who has matured beyond simple fairy tales but still craves magic and wonder.
Sharon Shinn writes with warmth and intelligence, and this standalone novel rewards thoughtful readers who enjoy character development as much as adventure.
Finding the Perfect Next Read
The voracious young reader who has consumed Ella Enchanted and emerged hungry for more is, in truth, on a wonderful journey. Each book on this list offers something slightly different—humour or beauty, adventure or introspection, familiar fairy tales or entirely new worlds.
One might begin with The Wendy for its wit and wonderful heroine, then venture to Princess Academy for its Newbery-honored depth, then perhaps to The Hero and the Crown for its dragon-slaying glory. The path matters less than the walking of it.
For these are the books that shape readers, that lodge in hearts and memories, that get passed from older sibling to younger, from parent to child. They teach that women can captain ships and slay dragons and rescue themselves. They teach that cleverness and courage matter more than beauty or birthright.
And they teach, perhaps most importantly, that there is always another wonderful book waiting to be discovered.
