Donnelly, Jennifer. Beastly Beauty. Scholastic, 05/2024. 336pp. Fiction. Trade $18.99. 978-1-3388-0944-2. GRADES 9–12. HIGH ADDITIONAL.
A young thief, trapped inside a cursed castle, is the unwilling guest of a beautiful, yet distant noblewoman, her creepy ladies-in-waiting, and her loyal servants. Confident in his good looks and braggadocious ways, Beau is certain he can escape and make off with loot to rescue his brother, until he encounters both the fearsome beast that roams the night, and the luminous little girl locked in the cellar. A reimagined, baroque Beauty and the Beast gets a comprehensive update that will resonate with modern readers. Allegories tend to the didactic, and some clunky anagrams and anachronistically modern attitudes may irk fairy tale purists, but the romance, drama, and on-point introspection will engage readers looking for a thought-provoking love story. Set in a fantasy medieval Spain. All characters read as white. LGBTQ diversity included. Review based on an ARC.
Melissa McAvoy—Retired