One of my favorite elements of this novel, however, is Beauty’s own internal and external transformation. The relationship between Beauty and the cursed Prince is intricate, tender, and perfectly paced. It’s a tale I continue to return to: a delightful, dazzling read. From the very first chapter, I found myself rooting for the plucky heroine, who, despite the tremendous odds stacked against her, continues to face the world with courage and curiosity. I was immediately drawn in by its first-person narrative, and the way it fleshed out and breathed new life into the familiar story. I first “discovered” this novel as a young teenager, after having exhausted the entire fairytale section of my library. Fairytale novelizations have enjoyed tremendous popularity in recent years, but McKinley (an American now living in England) was one of the pioneers of the genre. First published forty years ago, it’s a classic that has stood the test of time. Then, if you are only able to read one of the novels I mention here, let it be Robin McKinley’s Beauty. It’s a visual and literary feast that fits perfectly into a 15-minute coffee break or quick bedtime read. My favorite is Max Eilenberg and Angela Barrett’s exquisite Beauty and the Beast.

If you’ve never read it, please do yourself a favor: go to your local library this week and find a re-telling of the original tale. With Disney’s live-action version hitting cinemas this month, I thought it would be fun to review several novel-length versions of this classic tale. Although there are other folk tales and myths with similar themes, the first published version of the story was written by a woman–Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve–in mid-18th century France.

It’s a gripping story of courage, compassion, and the transforming power of sacrificial love. Beauty and the Beast has always been one of my favorite fairytales.

Beauty by Robin McKinley