Beastly

Fairy tale retellings are becoming more and more mainstream lately, especially in middle grade (8-12, roughly) fiction. In this respect, Beastly, by Alex Finn, is a common book. In all other respects, it’s not.

You can tell Finn has a great love for the story Beauty and the Beast, for the plot line doesn’t stray much from the original. However, these characters of hers shine. Set in a familiar place like New York City instead of a faraway castle, it allows the reader to feel more relatable to each character, from spunky Adrian to clever Will to cheerful Linda.

The best part of the entire book is the character development that skews the tale, turning it into something new. Beastly is set in the perspective of Adrian, “the beast”. With this, we learn in greater detail how he earned the curse and fell in love with Linda, the “beauty”. Indeed, almost every character’s personality twists the story, from the father who isn’t so innocent to Linda who isn’t so selfless to the evil witch that regrets the curse she created.

The entire novel is refreshing and insightful and creates a new perspective on truth, beauty, and teen love.

“That’s when Magda said--in perfect English, by the way--’I am not frightened of you, Kyle. I am frightened for you.’ …’Whatever.’”

Recommended for anyone who takes the beast’s side in Disney’s story.

--Grace Nask