Book Review: Beastly

Beastly by Alex Flinn

(Click on the cover to see which libraries own it.)

SUMMARY: A beast. Not quite wolf or bear, gorilla or dog but a horrible new creature who walks upright—a creature with fangs and claws and hair springing from every pore. I am a monster. You think I'm talking fairy tales? No way. The place is New York City. The time is now. It's no deformity, no disease. And I'll stay this way forever—ruined—unless I can break the spell. Yes, the spell, the one the witch in my English class cast on me. Why did she turn me into a beast who hides by day and prowls by night? I'll tell you. I'll tell you how I used to be Kyle Kingsbury, the guy you wished you were, with money, perfect looks, and the perfect life. And then, I'll tell you how I became perfectly...beastly. (from the inside flap)

OPINION: The teen section is full of fairytale retellings, whether the versions are just moved to another setting or completely reimagined. Beastly is definitely of the genre, but I really liked the retelling from Beast's point of view. Rich-kid Kyle certainly deserves to have his good looks and freedom taken away, but he also has his own demons to confront in his new-found spare time as a beast. What makes this book work is the way Flinn updates the story to modern NYC, while still working in the key elements of the traditional Beauty and the Beast story. The way he meets "Beauty" is particularly appropriate, although sad. Guys and girls alike, check out this quick read for a contemporary take on a classic.