Beauty and the Beast, the Only One Who Didn't Run Away: Wish Novel (Twice Upon a Time #3): A Wish Novel (3)

Grades 4-7: Wendy Mass's take on the Beauty and the Beast tale is quite different from the Disney-fied Belle version with enchanted teapots and wardrobes. 12-year-old Beauty (who is actually on the plain side) enjoys a comfortable life with her bookseller father and older sister until their house

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accidentally burns down and they are left destitute. Meanwhile, across the kingdom, Prince Riley putters around in his lab with various science experiments to the amusement of his older brother and the consternation of the king and queen. As the royal family is on their way to a neighboring kingdom for a dance, they meet a witch who is disguised as a beautiful lady. The witch casts her spell, turning Riley into the Beast and the rest of the family invisible, and telling them that the only way the spell will be broken is if Riley manages to find a girl who falls in love and kisses him over the next several months. Chapters alternate between Beauty and Riley-- Beauty as she tries to help her family financially and joins a friend on a quest; Riley as he tries to adjust to life as a Beast and figure out another way to break the spell since the chances of a girl falling in love with him are remote--and it's not until the last third of the book that the more traditional storyline begins to come through and the two meet. Mass's gift for engaging characters and dialogue serves her well here, and short chapters keep the pages turning right to the happily-ever-after ending. A solid addition to the "Twice Upon a Time" series, and a good choice for students who like "Ella Enchanted," "Princess Academy," and similar titles with spunky heroines.

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