Somehow I missed discovering the treasure that is McKinley's Beauty until my Children's Lit classes in college - but the genius of McKinley's retelling lies in its timelessness and ability to speak to the reader no matter their age. I adore fairy tales and retellings in all forms, from novels and short stories to films.

But unable to shake the pull of her former life, Beauty must decide if she possesses enough faith in herself to follow her heart and change the course of her life forever.

Ensconced in the Beast's castle, Beauty grows to flourish with the Beast's companionship. Relocating to a humble cottage on the edge of a mysterious forest where all is not as it seems, and the competent Beauty leads her family in adapting to their new surroundings - until her father crosses a Beast, leaving Beauty with no choice but to sacrifice her freedom for her father's life. She takes great satisfaction in being the brains of the family, immersing herself in her studies, enjoying an idyllic, privileged life until her father's sudden reversal of fortunes sends the family reeling. Beauty, you see, is convinced that she's anything but - a drab sparrow when compared to the ethereal beauty of her older sisters.

The youngest of three daughters of a prosperous merchant, Beauty was christened Honour at her birth, and dissatisfied with that moniker, she adopted the name of Beauty - and the childish joke stuck. In McKinley's hands Beauty's adventures are transformed into a gorgeously rendered coming-of-age tale, anointing the familiar story beats with a depth and emotional resonance that have made Beauty a modern-day classic. For her first novel, Robin McKinley took as her basis the traditional French fairy tale and breathed fresh life into the bones of the familiar story. Here is the unusual love story of a most unlikely couple: Beauty.and the Beast.Įveryone knows the story of Beauty and the Beast, right? A beautiful girl agrees to live as an unspeakable monster's prisoner in order to save her father's life - and an unlikely friendship blossoms into a transformative romance. She must go to the castle and tame the Beast - if such a thing is possible.

When her father comes home one day with the strange tale of an enchanted castle in the wood and the terrible promise he has made to the Beast who lives there, Beauty knows what she must do. But what she lacks in looks, she makes up for in courage. Thin, awkward, and undersized, with big hands and huge feet, she has always thought of herself as the plainest girl in her family - certainly not nearly as lovely as her elder sisters, Hope and Grace. Sixteen-year-old Beauty has never liked her nickname.

Beauty and the beast robin mckinley