From School Library Journal Gr 8-10–Privileged, popular, and proud, high school student Kyle Kingsbury knows he can get away with virtually anything because of his good looks and his father's money. But Kyle goes too far when he sets out to humiliate a mysterious and unpopular girl at the school dance. The girl turns out to be a witch who casts a spell on Kyle, turning him into a beast who is now as ugly on the outside as he is on the inside. The only way for Kyle to break the curse is to fall in love with someone who will look past his appearance and love him in return. Alex Flinn's modern retelling (HarperTeen, 2007) of Beauty and the Beast is performed by Chris Patton whose believable, youthful voice helps listeners identify and sympathize with the Beast as he starts to transform from arrogant, selfish, and cruel to caring and kind. His nuanced narration gives the main characters individual personalities, including the occasional beastly growl he adds to Kyle's voice and the chat room conversations with other victims of magical transformations. Listeners will be satisfied with this tale of personal growth and love that also addresses the larger issues of society's fixation on beauty and popularity.–Amanda Raklovits, Champaign Public Library, ILα(c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title. Review “Teens will race to see if the beast get his kiss, lifts the curse, and lives happily ever after.†(Kirkus Reviews)“[An] engrossing tale that will have appeal for fans of fantasy and realistic fiction†-- VOYA. (Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA))“a must-read for fairy-tale fans.†(School Library Journal)
