ENTERTAINMENT: BOOK REVIEW

Beastly, by Alex Flinn

Reviewed by Julia, age 15, New York
Sweet Designs Featured Writer


Featured Gold Star Writer Bio

Valentine's Day may be over, though Beastly, a modern twist on the classic tale "Beauty and the Beast," captures the hearts of teenagers regardless of the season. The book sat on my desk for a month before I got to reading it, and I'm thankful my school's librarian tolerated all my renewals of the book.

The story premise is rather predictable: Kyle Kingsbury, a popular, attractive young man, upsets a witch (thought to be a classmate at his private school), and as a result is transformed into a beast through a curse. Kyle has two years to break the spell by finding a girl to fall in love with him. Having an animal-like appearance, Kyle is exiled from his home and school by his prideful father. He is sent to a private apartment where he tends to a rose garden and learns to enjoy literature. One day, a man breaks into Kyle's residency. He is found and frightened when encountering Kyle. In exchange for not being harmed, the man gives his teenage daughter Lindy to Kyle. There, Kyle and Lindy create friendship and explore the meaning of love.

If you recall, a film adaption of Beastly came to theaters a few years ago. Having only seen trailers of the movie, I was generally pleased with the novel and I am looking forward to seeing the film. However, I caution those who have already seen the film. After experiencing the scenery and atmosphere of the story portrayed, Flinn's novel may seem dry. Lacking are eloquent descriptions and a thorough use of vocabulary. This is realistic when speaking through an adolescent male narrator, though the writing is unadventurous. Flinn takes no risks in sculpting dimensional characters and plot.

I give Beastly three of five possible stars.



What did you think about this article? Tell us!


First Name:
Age:
Email or MySpace:
Subject:
Message:



Sweet Advice
Staff
Downloads
Reader Feedback
Alerts

February & March Magazine Issues

March 15, 2012

The February and March issues of Sweet Designs Magazine are now online, featuring a combined 53 new articles and features!!

- Cover: Stephanie Lynn reflects on 5 years
- Cover: India (of Darn-licious knitwear)
- Life in the dumps (moving in with my bf)
- The difference between men and women
- Angels among us (parts 1 and 2)
- Arts graduates & the dark night of the soul
- Triple threat (how I survived my teen yrs)
- Dating isn't easy (my true story)
- How to turn not-so-great gifts ... (fashion)
- Ten reasons to love being single
- Taking the big leap (college)
- Valentine's Day (not what you'd expect!)
- The last of the cold (hopefully) (fashion)
- A month full of love
- Ten tips for successful airline travel
- Reasons I love writing for SDM
- Who needs love?
- They're not all the same
- The life I'm glad I don't have (fiction)
- Professional dress/ finding Fendi (fashion)
- An airport anniversary: a true story
- Inappropriate Facebook photos
- The perks of a big city (college)
- A night(mare) to forget (part 2)
- The Anita Blake series (book review)
- Saving June by Hannah Harrington (book)
- Under the Mesquite by GG McCall (book)
- The Lullaby by Sarah Dessen (book)
- If I Stay by Gayle Foreman (book review)
- My sweetheart (original poetry)
- Isn't it funny (original poetry)
- The stranger (original poetry)
- A winter wonderland (original poetry)
- One night valentine
- The thick envelopes (college acceptance)
- Southern love
- Healthy hair and vitamins
- It's a date (dating idea alternatives)
- The 30 hour famine
- School's out forever!
- Marching right back into spring? (fashion)
- Dear John
- When TV shows depict your life
- 3 Fun ways to rock spring's hottest trends
- Neglected teeth
- Starting something new
- Guy movies
- To hesitate or dive in?
- Deadly, by Julie Chibbaro (book review)
- Beastly, by Alex Flinn (book review)
- I don't care (poetry)
- Together, alone (poetry)

Sweet Designs Magazine
The Magazine You Can Write For
The Voice of a New Generation

Search

Your Ad Here