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3.98 AVERAGE
3.98 AVERAGE
The Beast and the Bethany is a sweet story about a naughty child and the redemption of an old man. It speaks to themes of greed and friendship. We follow a 511 year old man named Ebenezer who has a beast residing on the top floor of his mansion. The beast grants Ebenezer's wishes in exchange for food. He has eclectic palette and demands exotic beings to eat. When the beast demands to try a child, Ebenezer goes looking for the naughtiest child that he can find. That is how he meets Bethany. But soon Ebenezer learns that there are many sides to a child and naughtiness hides many deep feelings.
Overall, this was an engaging story. It was funny, at times silly, and I bet my 10 year old brother would like it very much. It has illustrations that add to the story well! Personally for me, the plot was predictable. This book has a lighter tone than many other Middle Grade books that I have read. For a 511 year old, I did not find Ebenezer wise. But I guess his obsessions with youth has something to do with that.
Many thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, part of WriteReads blog tour. Full review and reading experience coming September 13.
Overall, this was an engaging story. It was funny, at times silly, and I bet my 10 year old brother would like it very much. It has illustrations that add to the story well! Personally for me, the plot was predictable. This book has a lighter tone than many other Middle Grade books that I have read. For a 511 year old, I did not find Ebenezer wise. But I guess his obsessions with youth has something to do with that.
Many thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, part of WriteReads blog tour. Full review and reading experience coming September 13.
Thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing for the digital ARC of this book.
Ebenezer Tweezer is 511 years old. In exchange for keeping it fed, the beast he keeps pukes out a serum that keeps him alive, beautiful, and young. This year, though, the beast demands something new. He wants to eat a child, and not just any child, a plump, juicy child. Ebenezer is a little reluctant, but faced with aging and dying, he’ll do what he must to appease the beast. The zoo is a bust, but the local orphanage is always trying to get rid of children. Ebenezer meets a few really great children that he likes, so he knows they are out. None of them deserve to be the beast’s dinner, but then he meets Bethany. Contrary, trouble-making Bethany. Yes, she’ll do just fine. There’s only one problem, she’s too skinny. The beast demands Ebenezer fatten her up first. During the time that takes, however, Ebenezer grows a little attached to her, and even dreads feeding her to the beast. Perhaps they’ll become friends after all.
This middle-grade, fantasy adventure was a ton of fun, and just what I needed this week. Between personal life and what’s going on in the country, I didn’t have the brain space for too much “realness.” This book provided a welcome distraction. The stakes are very high, and it’s a little scary, but it’s also a fun adventure about misjudging people, digging below their surface, and friendship.
The characters are dynamic, and I loved growing with them, because Bethany isn’t the only one who needs to do some growing and learn a little compassion. Ebenezer is 511 but still hasn’t managed to care much about anyone other than himself, and I loved how the characters grew on each other, and ultimately, me. I’d definitely give this one to my niece in a couple of years when her reading level is a tad higher. I think she’d love it.
It’s still a pretty new release, so check it out at your favorite, local bookstore or request it from your library.
Did I listen to this just because it had my name in the title? Absolutely!
A fabulous book filled with just the right amount of rudeness and ickiness kids will love!
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
I have to admit, “The Beast and the Bethany” is different than what I had expected. Of course, by now I’m not even sure anymore what I expected. The book has sweeped me off my feet and now I could not imagine it any different from what I got.
The main character Ebenezer Tweezer is a self-centered, egoistical and unlikable protagonist and it was great fun seeing him cope with his own emotions and conscience and the unruly orphan Bethany who is just as unlikable, egoistical and misbehaving like Ebenezer.
It was great to see how Ebenezer changes during the course of the book. Even though he is pretty obnoxious and oblivious to anything but his own selfish needs, I still found him very likable.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t say the same thing about Bethany. While I know the whole purpose of the book was that Bethany was mean and misbehaved and just bratty, I still couldn’t bring myself to care too much about her.
I did understand why Ebenezer started to care for her, though, and I was very pleased with the ending of the book. You can watch the character development unfold as the story progesses and that was very satisfying.
The titular beast was mean and gross and I loved it. It was delightfully nasty and it was so much fun watching it slobber and sweat and be gross.
The book itself was fast-paced and fun. I basically flew through the pages and was sad when it was over. I could have read so many more pages of Ebenezer and Bethany’s highjinks. The writing style was quirky and had the right kind of flow. The themes and topics of the book were rather clear and straightforward but I didn’t feel preached at.
Some praise must be sung for the illustrations as well. The images are funny and lovely and I loved looking out for little details.
All in all, this book was a great and fast read. It had a ton of nasty characters with bad manners and bad attitude but that was one of the things that made this book so much fun. It’s just something new and different in my opinion. The plot didn’t feel like something I’ve read so many times before which made it wonderfully refreshing as well.
I am already looking forward to the sequel and this book is not even out yet. In the end, I’ve had a great time reading it, no matter how I felt about some smaller things and although it’s a book for younger children, I’ve had some very grown-up ponderings about it. That’s one more reason to love it.
The main character Ebenezer Tweezer is a self-centered, egoistical and unlikable protagonist and it was great fun seeing him cope with his own emotions and conscience and the unruly orphan Bethany who is just as unlikable, egoistical and misbehaving like Ebenezer.
It was great to see how Ebenezer changes during the course of the book. Even though he is pretty obnoxious and oblivious to anything but his own selfish needs, I still found him very likable.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t say the same thing about Bethany. While I know the whole purpose of the book was that Bethany was mean and misbehaved and just bratty, I still couldn’t bring myself to care too much about her.
I did understand why Ebenezer started to care for her, though, and I was very pleased with the ending of the book. You can watch the character development unfold as the story progesses and that was very satisfying.
The titular beast was mean and gross and I loved it. It was delightfully nasty and it was so much fun watching it slobber and sweat and be gross.
The book itself was fast-paced and fun. I basically flew through the pages and was sad when it was over. I could have read so many more pages of Ebenezer and Bethany’s highjinks. The writing style was quirky and had the right kind of flow. The themes and topics of the book were rather clear and straightforward but I didn’t feel preached at.
Some praise must be sung for the illustrations as well. The images are funny and lovely and I loved looking out for little details.
All in all, this book was a great and fast read. It had a ton of nasty characters with bad manners and bad attitude but that was one of the things that made this book so much fun. It’s just something new and different in my opinion. The plot didn’t feel like something I’ve read so many times before which made it wonderfully refreshing as well.
I am already looking forward to the sequel and this book is not even out yet. In the end, I’ve had a great time reading it, no matter how I felt about some smaller things and although it’s a book for younger children, I’ve had some very grown-up ponderings about it. That’s one more reason to love it.
dark
funny
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal death, Death, Grief
Imagine if you could live forever, in a huge house as wide as 12 elephants. And you could eat whatever food you wanted and have all the expensive art and anything else you heart desired. All you have to do is feed the beast whatever he wants. Easy enough when you have limitless wealth. Even the Beast's latest request, a child, doesn't actually bother Ebenezer that much. He doesn't particularly like children and anyway, one little child isn't as important as himself, is it?
The Beast is a huge, smelly, slimy thing with two tongues, Ebenezer Tweezer is an evil little man who cares for absolutely no one but himself. But probably the worst monster of all is Bethany. The naughtiest, rudest, meanest of them all! Ebeneezer picks Bethany as the Beast's next meal but unfortunately for him, things don't go smoothly at all. It's hard to say much without being spoilery, but over time Ebenezer and Bethany start an uneasy relationship. Grudgingly, they both find that they don't want to be quite as horrible to each other any more. The problem is how can they both survive the Beast?
This was so much fun to read, with just a touch of the ridiculous in the way of Alice in Wonderland. Apparently you only get 10 worms for a backpack, a flip-flop, a ruler and a half eaten biscuit. Not that you have much choice when the frog market is only open on Wednesdays. The characters are all well thought out, even the side cast who only get a few paragraphs. The illustrations are wonderful, really adding to the story.
The Beast is a huge, smelly, slimy thing with two tongues, Ebenezer Tweezer is an evil little man who cares for absolutely no one but himself. But probably the worst monster of all is Bethany. The naughtiest, rudest, meanest of them all! Ebeneezer picks Bethany as the Beast's next meal but unfortunately for him, things don't go smoothly at all. It's hard to say much without being spoilery, but over time Ebenezer and Bethany start an uneasy relationship. Grudgingly, they both find that they don't want to be quite as horrible to each other any more. The problem is how can they both survive the Beast?
This was so much fun to read, with just a touch of the ridiculous in the way of Alice in Wonderland. Apparently you only get 10 worms for a backpack, a flip-flop, a ruler and a half eaten biscuit. Not that you have much choice when the frog market is only open on Wednesdays. The characters are all well thought out, even the side cast who only get a few paragraphs. The illustrations are wonderful, really adding to the story.
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes