Beauty

Charlotte Parry's performance brings out the charm of this older children's rendition of this timeless fairy tale. Parry lends a dainty yet spirited voice to the young protagonist who, although plain, is nicknamed Beauty. Parry's down-to-earth narration captures Beauty's innocence as well as her determination to take her father's place as the beast's prisoner. By doing so, Beauty will also live up to her given name, Honor. Through pacing and inflections Parry highlights Beauty's wide-eyed, and sometimes fearful, astonishment at the luxuries and magic of the castle. Slight tweaks to Parry's English accent and deeper tones help differentiate the men's voices, and she offers a hint of gentlemanly eloquence to the Beast's gruff demeanor. M.F. (c) AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine

August 1, 2013

Gr 7 Up-Honour, called Beauty from a young age, thinks she is plain compared to her two older sisters and thus misnamed. Living in the city with her family, Beauty enjoys reading and studying until her father's business is ruined when all of his ships are presumed lost at sea. Though forced to move to a small house in the north, the family is happy together. Word comes that one of the ships has returned to port and Beauty's father goes to the city, promising to bring back rose seeds for his youngest daughter. Instead, he returns with a frightening story of a Beast in an enchanted castle who has demanded his life in exchange for the stolen rose. However, her father will be spared if Beauty volunteers to live with the Beast. Beauty is determined to save her father's life and sets out to discover whether the Beast can be tamed. McKinley's novel (HarperCollins, 1978) is ably narrated by Charlotte Parry, whose youthful voice is perfectly pitched for the titular character. She successfully differentiates supporting characters-a slight deepening of her voice for the Beast or changing her accent for the invisible servants-but this is Beauty's story, and Parry's steady narration guides listeners on her journey. McKinley's novel remains fairly true to the plot of the original fairy tale, but fully develops Beauty's character, making this a true coming-of-age story as well as a romance that will find a new generation of fans.-Amanda Raklovits, Champaign Public Library, IL

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