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chelsbels 's review for:

Beastly Beauty by Jennifer Donnelly
4.0

Beastly Beauty by Jennifer Donnelly

Is enchanting

We meet Beau, a young thief and his band of criminals as they try to scratch out a living and pleasures in the romanticized past, where workhouses, social betters and enchanted castles still exist. Soon he is trapped in Arabella's castle, with no way of escaping. There he finds a dangerous monster that creeps in the dark, and something even more dangerous - the people that hide secrets and their emotions.

This novel plays on fairy tales, the lessons, the gendered roles, the morals, and the place in our collected culture. Most of us will know the story from Beauty and the Beast but not all is as it seems.

It’s a lovely novel. I think it would be best however for pre-teens. Its themes and plot are perfect for those not used to in-depth reading, many parts are explained so the reader can follow. That’s not to say it’s not entertaining, just most beneficial for those readers and those who need the lessons.

This book is for anyone who enjoys fairytales, retelling, juvenile literature, and morality plays.