Becoming Beauty

Gr 8 Up—Bella has one goal in life—to marry a wealthy man and live the rest of her days in luxury. That's easier said than done, especially since her father isn't rich and her sister, Cassie, is considered the beauty of the family. Bella's desire for the finer things in life comes with a hefty price tag when her father is imprisoned by a beast of man while obtaining a sizable jewel for her. Once her father escapes and returns home, Cassie and her brother, Aaron, decide that Bella must pay the price for her selfishness and return to serve their father's less-than-gracious host. The teen finds herself playing housemaid to a man she dubs "Beast" and his friend/servant, Jack. Readers may think they know what happens next, but this time Beast is not the victim of a spell, but a broken heart, and Bella finds remnants of a mysterious woman who used to live in the house, and begins to experience this woman's memories. This retelling of "Beauty and the Beast" has some flaws. The writing is overdone and flowery in some places, and the Beast comes off less as someone to save and more like someone to avoid. An additional purchase where fairy-tale reimaginings have a strong audience.—Heather Webb, Worthington Libraries, OH