'Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast' by Robin McKinley is a classic fairy tale retelling that adds depth and complexity to the beloved story of Beauty and the Beast. The book follows the journey of Beauty, a strong and pragmatic heroine, who sacrifices her own freedom to save her father and ends up living in an enchanted castle with the mysterious Beast. The writing style is described as quiet, gentle, and straightforward, focusing on the interior journey of Beauty and the growing relationship between her and the Beast.
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Has Romance?
The romance in Beauty is a central element, as it portrays the gradual development of love between Beauty and the Beast, highlighting emotional and relational depth.
From The Publisher:
Beauty has never liked her nickname. She is thin and awkward; it is her two sisters who are the beautiful ones. But what she lacks in appearance, she can perhaps make up for in courage.
When her father comes home with a tale of an enchanted castle in the forest and the terrible promise he had to make to the Beast who lives there, Beauty knows she must travel to the castle, a prisoner of her own free will. Her father insists that he will not let her go, but she responds, "Cannot a Beast be tamed?"
Newbery Medalist Robin McKinley's beloved and acclaimed novel has been delighting readers for more than forty years. ALA Booklist called Beauty "A captivating novel."
"A reader feels as though it's all unfolding for the very first time."-The Guardian
An ALA Notable Book for Children
A Best Book for Young Adults
Horn Book Fanfare
ALA Best Fiction for Young Adults
ALA Best of the Best Books for Young Adults
New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age
ALA Notable Children's Book
Ratings (42)
Incredible (10) | |
Loved It (20) | |
Liked It (9) | |
It Was OK (3) |
Reader Stats (89):
Read It (44) | |
Currently Reading (1) | |
Want To Read (24) | |
Not Interested (20) |
3 comment(s)
I absolutely LOVE fairytale retellings, so I began this book with high expectations. I was so surprised and pleased when it exceeded my hopes!
The entire cast of characters were interesting and filled with personality, and the story itself was absolutely beautiful. One of my favorite Beauty and the Beast retellings!
I loved this. Beauty and the Beast is my favourite fairytale and this retelling is simply magic. Beauty was an extremely loveable character who is genuine and hardworking and honest and fair and practical. She is smart and caring and adaptable to bad circumstances. But it's not just her, her entire family are the stars of this book. All of the secondary characters are well drawn and fully developed. Hope and Grace and Ger and Father are all fierce and caring and loveable characters in their own right. All that besides, it was so nice to see a family portrayed as loving and caring and loyal and defensive of each other. There was no real bickering or animosity between them, they all supported and cared for each other and the amount of love was perfect.
Although a fairytale of love and acceptance, the romance itself is of little importance. Mainly the author focuses on developing the friendship between Beauty and Beast and showing how they come to care about each other.
Something about this book screamed more. As in more than anything else. I can't place my finger on what the more is but it's there. It just felt more fleshed out and emotive than many retellings.
Beauty was my first exposure to retellings at age 8, and it has held up wonderfully as I've grown! Gorgeous story.
What can you read after
Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast?
About the Author:
Robin McKinley has won various awards and citations for her writing, including the Newbery Medal for The Hero and the Crown and a Newbery Honor for The Blue Sword. Her other books include Sunshine; the New York Times bestseller Spindle's End; two novel-length retellings of the fairy tale Beauty and the Beast, Beauty and Rose Daughter; and a retelling of the Robin Hood legend, The Outlaws of Sherwood. She lives with her husband, the English writer Peter Dickinson.
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