Beasts and Beauty by Julia Iredale, Soman Chainani
Published by HarperCollins on September 21, 2021
ISBN: 006265263X
Pages: 336
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Fiction
Goodreads

Fans of fractured fairy tales will be intrigued by these classic stories with more modern twists. Chainani includes topics of race, immigration, and LGBTQ relationships along with other current issues within familiar stories such as “Snow White”, “Beauty and the Beast”, and “Sleeping Beauty.” While these stories are intense, they are also refreshing. Many readers will rejoice as the Sea Witch tells the Little Mermaid the honest truth: That she does not know the name of her supposed true love, nor ever spoken to him, yet she is willing to mutilate herself when for all she knows “he could be a psychopath or a philanderer or a prince who prefers the company of men.”

There is a noticeable absence of quotation marks, which could throw some readers off a bit but is not enough of a hindrance to interfere with comprehension. 

Black and white as well as color illustrations adorn the pages throughout. 

Recommended for grades 6+

Kerrie Lattari, York Middle School, York