Beastly

October 29, 2007
Flinn (Diva
) delivers a lighthearted and contemporary twist on Beauty and the Beast, and while there is nothing shocking nor any striking departure from the original, her retelling is eminently satisfying. Kyle Kingsbury is a gorgeous high school freshman, spoiled rotten by his famous anchorman father, a man who’d rather dole out cash than affection. Kyle attends the exclusive Tuttle School in New York City and torments those poor unfortunates who lack his looks and wealth. When he humiliates a girl at school, she transforms him into a horrific-looking creature. Kyle’s only hope for breaking the spell lies in finding true love—as he reports online in meetings of the Unexpected Changes chat group (other members include Froggie and the mermaid Silent Maid). Flinn follows the fairy tale’s original plot points closely, but falters in her depiction of the story’s bad guys, over-the-top caricatures that simply ring false in her up-to-date setting. Kyle’s father, for example, spends literally three minutes with him each day, the time it takes him to heat his dinner in the microwave. Even so, the happily-ever-after ending is rewarding, if not surprising. Ages 14-up.

November 1, 2007
Gr 8 Up-Flinn is known for her gritty novels that openly address serious issues such as peer pressure and domestic abuse. This spin-off of "Beauty and the Beast" is no exception. Kyle Kingsbury is good looking, rich, a ladies man, and one of the most popular students at Tuttle High School. He's the type who everyone wants to be or be around. However, while he might be beautiful on the outside, he is selfish, arrogant, and cruel on the inside. Kendra, an unattractive and unpopular girl who Kyle never noticed before, refers to his behavior as "beastly." To get even with her for that remark, he publicly humiliates her at the school dance, sealing his fate. Later that night, Kendra reveals to Kyle that she is a witch, and that she is going to teach him the most important lesson of his life. The author explores important values through the depiction of Kyle and the people who are there for him (and those who are not) after his transformation. The story is well written and grips readers right from the beginning with an online chat session with Kyle/Beast and other fairy-tale characters. And, since it's told from the Beast's point of view, it will appeal to boys who otherwise might not pick it up. "Beastly" has romance, true love, tragic circumstances, magic, action adventure, and hope. It's a must-read for all fairy-tale fans, and has a knockout cover to boot."Donna Rosenblum, Floral Park Memorial High School, NY"

Copyright 2007 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 1, 2008
In this unusual foray into fantasy by an authorbest known for gritty realism, a wealthy, narcissistic ninth-grader, Kyle, plans a mean trick right out of Stephen Kings Carrie; less than 24 hours later, he has been transformed byhis victim (an undercover witch) into ahairy beast and given two years to break the spell.The remainder of Flinns Beauty and the Beast retelling chronicles Kyles redemption from his own, rapidly evolving point of view, culminating in his sensitively forged relationship with houseguest-hostage Lindy, whose presence inthe beasts Brooklyn mansionis explained in a manner befitting the contemporary setting.Flinns storytellingis least convincingwhenever the reality beyond the mansion intrudes, with comic chat-room interludes seeming especially jarring. Some readersmay alsoquestion whya publicoutburst of violence committed by Kyle has no consequences.Butthroughher characters psychological transformation, Flinn finds ways to addresssome larger, painful truthsabout male adolescence, making thisa rare fairy-tale-inspired novel with equallystrong appeal for boys and girls.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)