Beastly (by Alex Flinn)

common sense media says

Contemporary Beauty-Beast tale curses shallow rich kid.

parents & educators say

75% say sexual content is an issue
75% say there are positive messages

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that the movie version of this book, starring Vanessa Hudgens, comes out in July 2010, so teens will be seeing trailers and ads. This contemporary Beauty and the Beast retelling is told from the beast's viewpoint, and before he turns into a beast, Kyle is one mean, shallow rich guy who delights in verbally kicking the nerds until they hurt. Other violence includes characters getting shot and a broken arm, plus a main character is almost the victim of an apparent rape. There's also plenty of kissing with an inference of sex.

Educational value: Not applicable.

Positive messages: The traditional message of The Beauty and the Beast is the central theme of this retelling: beauty is skin deep. Kyle and his friends are rich, shallow, and obsessed with beauty. Even his father abandons him after he is cursed and loses his physical beauty, although he was already an absent father. Kyle finds true love after he completely rejects his former superficial ways; of course his life depends on it.

Positive role models: The witch, of all people, reveals her altruism in the end: She had cursed Kyle out of love for him. Kyle becomes compassionate in the end; he cares for his friends and supports them. His father remains distant and shallow. Linda is intelligent, strong, and is the caretaker for her junkie father despite his abuse. She falls in love with the beast, but his money and wish fulfillment probably don't hurt.

Violence: The beast accidentally breaks a girl's arm; he threatens to throw a thief off of a roof; a girl is threatened by her father; an assailant is shot; the beast is shot. A main character is almost the victim of an apparent rape.

Sex: Kyle makes out with his girlfriend; it is suggested that they have had sex. In one scene her hand "goes for his crotch." Kyle must be kissed by his true love to break the spell.

Language: Single usage of "pissed," "bastard," "asshole," "bitch," and "hell."

Consumerism: Much discussion of the superiority of rich people but little mention of brand names other than Cheetos, Blackberries, and Evian.

Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Kyle and his date drink Vodka after a school dance; Linda's father is a heroin junkie.

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What to talk about

Talk to your kids

Families can talk about the Kyle's transformation. Did he deserve to be cursed? What was the witch's intention? Was a different intention revealed at the end?
Kyle and Linda had both been basically abandoned by their parents. In the end Linda returns to her father, but Kyle does not. What was different in those families?
Did Kyle think LInda was attractive when he met her? Did she become more attractive to him as he fell in love with her? Or was he seeing a different type of beauty?
Our society puts a high premium on physical beauty. Do Kyle and his friends simply say out loud what most people really think? Or are they truly more superficial than normal?

What's the story?

In a comtemporary retelling of the Beauty and the Beast, Kyle Kingsbury has the perfect life in NYC. He's rich, beautiful, and adored by everyone except his parents. He's also conceited, mean, and shallow, just like his father. So mean that a witch curses him by turning him into a beast, with only two years to find someone who will love him without his beauty. His father travels the globe to find a cure but fails, so he sets Kyle up with a blind tutor and a maid and hides him away. Although Kyle finds solace in gardening and the friendship of his captive staff, when he encounters a thief willing to trade his daughter for freedom, he jumps at the chance to convince a girl he is lovable before his time runs out.

Is it any good?

There are no surprises for readers familar wth the Beauty and the Beast, but teens will enjoy the setting and some of the characterizations. The central theme is still transformation and the beast has the same motivations for finding love. Both the main characters (the beauty and the beast) have basically been abandoned emotionally if not physically by their parents, and they attended the same school, so they start off with some common ground.

The use of the chat room sessions for "transformation survivors" adds some entertainment value to a well known story (participants include a mermaid, a frog, and other beasts). Kyle is so mean that it is hard to like him even after he finds true love and the understanding that pretty is as pretty does.

Book themes & details

Book Details

Author: Alex Flinn
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication date: October 20, 2007
Number of pages: 320
Hardcover price: $16.99
Paperback price: $6.99
Read Aloud: 13
Read Alone: 14

This review was written by Debra Bogart

Review It

What parents & educators say

Based on 4 parent & educator reviews:

75% say sexual content is an issue
75% say there are positive messages
50% say language is an issue
50% say there's too much drinking, drugs, or smoking

Read the reviews

Most useful reviews by all members

vic-vickie
teen, 14 years old

Perfect for 12 and +

if you want to read it to the little on get the regular one "Beauty and the Beast". I loved the book anyways! :)

What other families should know

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Beastly (by Alex Flinn)

common sense media says

parents & educators say

What parents need to know

More on Beastly

What to talk about

Talk to your kids

What's the story?

What's the story?

Is it any good?

Is it any good?

Book themes & details

Book Details

Review It

Review Beastly

What parents & educators say

Most useful reviews by all members

Perfect for 12 and +

great- but... sappy

Read the book before you see the movie!

It's appropriate for older tweens, but teens will get more enjoyment out of it

pretty good book

Romance Book for Teens!

Cheesy but a good Read

good for ages 12 and up

Good idea, but has some iffy content.

the booook was AWSOMEE.

Amazing Book!

Great Romance :)

It's rated PG 13 for a reason...not appropriate for tweens...not yet.

i love it

Awesome Book!

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