Princess of Glass by Jessica Day George

I just couldn't help picking up the second Princesses of Westfalin book right after finishing the first!  Princess of Glass by Jessica Day George (Lexile 890; Interest Level: Grades 5-9) picks up the story of Cinderella as Princess Poppy of Westfalin visits a cousin in Breton as part of a diplomatic exchange between her country and those nearby.  Although she refuses to dance (after being forced to dance all night every night for years, she thinks she deserves a break!), she still attends several balls, and breaks tradition by choosing to play cards with the gentlemen instead of dancing!

Soon, her enjoyable time becomes complicated by a new maid named Ellen (who is actually Eleanora, an orphaned daughter of a nobleman), who never seems to get anything right, not even the most simple of tasks.  When the king of Breton decides to throw a ball, hoping to marry a visiting prince to someone in his kingdom, things get even weirder with Ellen, who starts disappearing at night and returning covered in soot.  The mysterious girl who shows up at the royal ball doesn't fool Poppy, though, and she begins to suspect that foul play is at work!  Who is this mysterious "patron" Ellen claims to have?  And why does it seem like Ellen's feet are turning to glass?  Can Poppy help her before it is too late?  (272 p.)

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