The Souls of Her Feet

Book excerpt: Ashley St. Helens doesn’t feel like she belongs in her own home anymore. With constant criticism by her perfectionist stepmom and stepsisters, she finds refuge in cleaning and dreams of the day she can break free and go to college. Her life really takes a Cinderella turn when her estranged gay “fairy” godfather appears. Harry empowers her to find her voice and embark on a journey of self-expression as her high school days come to an end. On prom night, Harry reveals the secrets of Ashley’s family, and she gets a drag queen makeover—with just the right shoes. Transforming from shy misfit to a beauty worthy of sharing the spotlight with the boy she’s loved since second grade, she realizes that self-discovery and creating meaningful relationships are her right and responsibility. But when her stepmother interferes with prom politics and comedic drama erupts, Ashley realizes she can’t expose her secret identity. Running barefoot through the creek path under a benevolent moon, Ashley loses a shoe but gains something far more valuable – the strength to choose her own path and stand on her own two enormous feet in the face of adversity. Brimming with heart and nostalgia, "The Souls of Her Feet" tackles universal themes of growing up, transformation, self-discovery and self-creation. It’s a funny, empowering contemporary fairy tale that reminds us of the importance of embracing our uniqueness. This updated fourth edition includes bonus materials such as essays by the main characters and songs from the musical.