The book Cruella Hello, Cruel Heart by Maureen Johnson is a fascinating explanation into Cruella De Vil’s life before she became Cruella De Vil. The book is about Estella, a poor teenage girl, just trying to survive with her friends Horace and Jasper. They live in an abandoned building that was bombed during the war and was never rebuilt. Estella, an aspiring fashion icon, pickpockets to get money or things she can sell to survive. Everything is fine for her and her friends, until she meets Magda and Richard, who are filthy rich and obsessed with Estella’s clothes. After being introduced to a life of luxury, wanting for nothing, Estella finally feels like she can make something of herself in the fashion world. She even meets Peter, the brains behind a hugely successful band, and finds something in him she didn’t know she needed. After deserting Horace and Jasper, Estella quickly finds out that her rich “friends” may not actually care, and the luxury may not be all that luxurious. This abrupt realization is one of the key points that leads Estella to become Cruella. 

I really liked Horace and Jasper because even after Estella was horrible to them and basically abandoned them, they still welcomed her back when she was having a hard time. They forgave her for leaving them and were not mad at her for it. That shows how loyal they are to Estella and how they’re a family, and rely on each other. I would recommend this book to any fan of 101 Dalmatians, the origins of villains, or just villains in general. 

*see our other review here