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I was the youngest of three daughters. Our literal-minded mother named us Grace, Hope, and Honour. ... My father still likes to tell the story of how I acquired my odd nickname: I had come to him for further information when I first discovered that our names meant something besides you-come-here. He succeeded in explaining grace and hope, but he had some difficulty trying to make the concept of honour understandable to a five-year-old. ... I said: 'Huh! I'd rather be Beauty.' ...
By the time it was evident that I was going to let the family down by being plain, I'd been called Beauty for over six years. ... I wasn't really very fond of my given name, Honour, either ... as if 'honourable' were the best that could be said of me.
The sisters' wealthy father loses all his money when his merchant fleet is drowned in a storm, and the family moves to a village far away. Then the old merchant hears what proves to be a false report that one of his ships had made it safe to harbor at last, and on his sad, disappointed way home again he becomes lost deep in the forest and has a terrifying encounter with a fierce Beast, who walks like a man and lives in a castle. The merchant's life is forfeit, says the Beast, for trespass and the theft of a rose—but he will spare the old man's life if he sends one of his daughters: "Your daughter would take no harm from me, nor from anything that lives in my lands." When Beauty hears this story—for her father had picked therose to bring to her—her sense of honor demands that she take up the Beast's offer, for "cannot a Beast be tamed?"
This "splendid story" by the Newbery Medal–winning author of The Hero and the Crown has been named an ALA Notable Book and a Phoenix Award Honor Book (Publishers Weekly).
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Release date
April 15, 2013 -
Formats
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OverDrive Listen audiobook
- ISBN: 9781470360252
- File size: 204347 KB
- Duration: 07:05:43
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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Charlotte Parry's performance brings out the charm of this older children's rendition of this timeless fairy tale. Parry lends a dainty yet spirited voice to the young protagonist who, although plain, is nicknamed Beauty. Parry's down-to-earth narration captures Beauty's innocence as well as her determination to take her father's place as the beast's prisoner. By doing so, Beauty will also live up to her given name, Honor. Through pacing and inflections Parry highlights Beauty's wide-eyed, and sometimes fearful, astonishment at the luxuries and magic of the castle. Slight tweaks to Parry's English accent and deeper tones help differentiate the men's voices, and she offers a hint of gentlemanly eloquence to the Beast's gruff demeanor. M.F. (c) AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine -
August 1, 2013
Gr 7 Up-Honour, called Beauty from a young age, thinks she is plain compared to her two older sisters and thus misnamed. Living in the city with her family, Beauty enjoys reading and studying until her father's business is ruined when all of his ships are presumed lost at sea. Though forced to move to a small house in the north, the family is happy together. Word comes that one of the ships has returned to port and Beauty's father goes to the city, promising to bring back rose seeds for his youngest daughter. Instead, he returns with a frightening story of a Beast in an enchanted castle who has demanded his life in exchange for the stolen rose. However, her father will be spared if Beauty volunteers to live with the Beast. Beauty is determined to save her father's life and sets out to discover whether the Beast can be tamed. McKinley's novel (HarperCollins, 1978) is ably narrated by Charlotte Parry, whose youthful voice is perfectly pitched for the titular character. She successfully differentiates supporting characters-a slight deepening of her voice for the Beast or changing her accent for the invisible servants-but this is Beauty's story, and Parry's steady narration guides listeners on her journey. McKinley's novel remains fairly true to the plot of the original fairy tale, but fully develops Beauty's character, making this a true coming-of-age story as well as a romance that will find a new generation of fans.-Amanda Raklovits, Champaign Public Library, IL
Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
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