Beastly (Alex Flinn)

EN “Beastly” is a book that tells a slightly teenage and more modern version of the classic "Beauty and the Beast". This book was published in 2007, developed by the American writer Alex Flinn, recognized for her writing books for young adults. Flinn researched several versions of the classic in order to build a more complete story into its concept. The background focuses on New York from the perspective of the beast, with strong emotions involved such as love, loneliness, abandonment, among others.

Kyle Kingsbury is a handsome and wealthy young teenager who uses his popularity at school to justify his arrogance and cruel attitudes. The worst happens when he decides to make a cruel joke with Kendra, a shy girl and outcast, inviting her to the prom with no intention of escorting her. Kendra was, in reality, a witch who suspected Kyle's intentions and when confirmed them, cursed him, turning him into a beast on the outside, so it could be identical to the inside. Still, and after Kyle showed a gesture of kindness to a girl who sold the prom tickets, Kendra showed him a pious act, giving him the opportunity to break the spell in two years or stay a beast forever.

After this event, several stories unfold, and we will understand more deeply Kyle's attitudes in the past, and we will also observe his changes over time. Lindy, the girl to whom he showed a kind gesture, begins to be part of his life and in there he sees an opportunity to break his curse, even if, at the beginning, something may prevent that outcome.

The history of "Beauty and The Beast" has always been one of my favorites, and so I had very high expectations regarding this book. And I admit that I enjoyed it, although I was confused with some events that I think could have been better explained or developed. But that may also have been because of the translation of the book. I can't explain it very well, but I feel like something's missing. I was able to get a lot more excited about the film version than the book itself.

However, it is a book that reads very well, and the author's writing is very easy to follow. Although we have an adaptation here, Flinn was quite creative in the way she modernized the classic we know so well, without ever neglecting the true value of the story:

“Love has no eyes for outer ugliness, only seeks inner beauty.”

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