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1. Bibliographic Information
Flinn, A. (2007). Beastly. New York: HarperTeen.
304 pages
ISBN: 978-0-06-087417-9
2. Plot Summary
Kyle Kingsbury, seventeen, is considered to be the most popular boy at Tuttle School in New York. He dates Sloane Hagen, and his father is a television anchor. However, not everything in Kyle’s life is perfect. Kyle, like Sloane, is vain, manipulative, and mean. For prom, he decides to ask this ugly girl named Kendra as a joke and plans on standing her up. At the prom Kendra finds out that Kyle had no intention of being her date, and she cryptically plans her revenge. Kendra, instead of a sixteen year old, is a witch, and turns Kyle into his true form: a beast. Kyle is frantic, and his father fearful of his own reputation. They go to every doctor, but to no avail. Finally, Kyle is ostracized in a five story apartment building in Manhattan where he stays help of his maid, Magda and his blind tutor, Will. Kyle has two years to break his spell with true love’s first kiss, but how can he show his face in public let alone meet his true love?
3. Critical Evaluation
Alex Flinn’s novel Beastly is a modern retelling of the fairy tale of Beauty and the Beast with elements of Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre. Flinn does a good job implementing aspects of other fairy tales within the book with a chat group which focuses others who are also cursed. However, overall the novel succeeds because it stays within the confines of the fairy tale, while making the protagonist appear to be an average teen. Flinn seems to understand her audience, knowing how an egotistical teen might act compared to a humble teen. She does try to tackle some issues of abandonment and isolation in her novel, but this seems to be used more as characterization than an actual commentary. The use of New York City allows her novel to feel more contemporary than fairy tale, and she uses humor to explain some of the more corny aspects of the story. Ultimately, the novel is a light and entertaining read.
4. Reader’s Annotation
Kyle Kingsbury has two years to find his true love. A beast is loose within New York City.
5. Information about the Author
Alex Flinn was born in New York but moved to Miami when she was in Middle School. She is the author of six other young adult fiction novels. She currently lives with her husband and children in Miami, Florida.
She has sold the rights to her novel, and the movie Beastly, which appears to be only loosely based, is being released in July 2010.
6. Genre
Fantasy: Fairy Tale
7. Curriculum Ties
This novel might be good for an English class if they studied Fairy Tales and modern rewrites.
8. Booktalking Ideas
- How is this retelling of Beauty and the Beast different from the other versions you’ve seen or read?
- How does the author implement other classic tales/novels within the story?
9. Reading Level/Interest Age
I would recommend this novel for teens that like fairy tale fantasies aged 15-17.
10. Challenge Issues
There is some minor violence in this book, but overall I do not think that people would be offended by this book. Overall it has the same morals as the original story. However, if anyone did wish to challenge this book I would refer them to the ALA’s website on guidelines and challenge forms found at:
http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/challengeslibrarymaterials/index.cfm/
Flinn, A. (2007). Beastly. New York: HarperTeen.
304 pages
ISBN: 978-0-06-087417-9
2. Plot Summary
Kyle Kingsbury, seventeen, is considered to be the most popular boy at Tuttle School in New York. He dates Sloane Hagen, and his father is a television anchor. However, not everything in Kyle’s life is perfect. Kyle, like Sloane, is vain, manipulative, and mean. For prom, he decides to ask this ugly girl named Kendra as a joke and plans on standing her up. At the prom Kendra finds out that Kyle had no intention of being her date, and she cryptically plans her revenge. Kendra, instead of a sixteen year old, is a witch, and turns Kyle into his true form: a beast. Kyle is frantic, and his father fearful of his own reputation. They go to every doctor, but to no avail. Finally, Kyle is ostracized in a five story apartment building in Manhattan where he stays help of his maid, Magda and his blind tutor, Will. Kyle has two years to break his spell with true love’s first kiss, but how can he show his face in public let alone meet his true love?
3. Critical Evaluation
Alex Flinn’s novel Beastly is a modern retelling of the fairy tale of Beauty and the Beast with elements of Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre. Flinn does a good job implementing aspects of other fairy tales within the book with a chat group which focuses others who are also cursed. However, overall the novel succeeds because it stays within the confines of the fairy tale, while making the protagonist appear to be an average teen. Flinn seems to understand her audience, knowing how an egotistical teen might act compared to a humble teen. She does try to tackle some issues of abandonment and isolation in her novel, but this seems to be used more as characterization than an actual commentary. The use of New York City allows her novel to feel more contemporary than fairy tale, and she uses humor to explain some of the more corny aspects of the story. Ultimately, the novel is a light and entertaining read.
4. Reader’s Annotation
Kyle Kingsbury has two years to find his true love. A beast is loose within New York City.
5. Information about the Author
Alex Flinn was born in New York but moved to Miami when she was in Middle School. She is the author of six other young adult fiction novels. She currently lives with her husband and children in Miami, Florida.
She has sold the rights to her novel, and the movie Beastly, which appears to be only loosely based, is being released in July 2010.
6. Genre
Fantasy: Fairy Tale
7. Curriculum Ties
This novel might be good for an English class if they studied Fairy Tales and modern rewrites.
8. Booktalking Ideas
- How is this retelling of Beauty and the Beast different from the other versions you’ve seen or read?
- How does the author implement other classic tales/novels within the story?
9. Reading Level/Interest Age
I would recommend this novel for teens that like fairy tale fantasies aged 15-17.
10. Challenge Issues
There is some minor violence in this book, but overall I do not think that people would be offended by this book. Overall it has the same morals as the original story. However, if anyone did wish to challenge this book I would refer them to the ALA’s website on guidelines and challenge forms found at:
http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/challengeslibrarymaterials/index.cfm/
11. Why was it selected?
I wanted to give an example of a fairy tale rewrite that I thought was well done.
12. Citation
Challenges to library materials. (2010). In American Library Association. Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/challengeslibrarymaterials/index.cfm
I wanted to give an example of a fairy tale rewrite that I thought was well done.
12. Citation
Challenges to library materials. (2010). In American Library Association. Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/challengeslibrarymaterials/index.cfm
Flinn, A. (2010). About Alex. Retrieved from http://www.alexflinn.com/html/bio.html
Flinn, A. (2010). Beastly. Retrieved from http://www.alexflinn.com/html/beastly.html
13. Awards
ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers
VOYA Editor’s Choice
IRA/CBC Young Adults’ Choice
New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age
Texas Lone Star Reading List
Detroit Public Library Author Day Award
Utah Beehive Award Master List
Missouri Gateway Award Master List
Volunteer State Book Award Master List
Nevada Young Readers Award Master List
South Dakota Young Adult Book Award Master List
New Hampshire Isinglass Award Master List
Woozles (Canada) Teen Battle of the Books list
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