All summer-long, seventeen teens (ranging from grades 6th- 9th) competed in the program entitled "Battle of the Books." They read as many of the eight, pre-selected titles and completed various trivia tests and activities based on the books. It required a lot of hard work and dedication on their part. Based on the scores they achieved, the six participants with the highest scores are going to represent Hauppauge Public Library in a county-wide competition on August 15th at Stony Brook University. Congratulations to our final six team: Robert, Varun, Reah, Maria, Jocelyn, and Daniel.
Below is the first of eight sets of reviews that the whole group contributed to. Enjoy reading them!
Beastly by Alex Finn
Reviewed by Robert, Gr. 9
Beastly adds a modern twist to the classic tale of Beauty and the Beast. The Beast is the narrator and we see the events in his point of view. Unlike the fairy tale or movie we see what the Beast is feeling and the reasons behind his behavior. This book is a great read and I would recommend this book to anyone who likes love, fantasy and suspense rolled into one book!
Reviewed by Varun, Gr. 8
This book was horrible! I really hope it doesn't come in for battle of the books next year because it is really boring. It’s only a modernized version of beauty and the beast. Anyway, I hate romantic stories. There is absolutely no excitement and adventure. The whole book is told from a very pessimistic point of view. It was only pessimism and romance. I don't recommend this book at all.
Reviewed by Erika, Gr. 8
First, I just want to say that I am very sorry to all of my Twilight friends. This book is by far better than the Twilight series. This book is basically Beauty and the Beast from the Beast's point of view with a little twist. This book takes place in present day New York City. It is the perfect romance story. This is the best book I have ever read, and I highly recommend this book to everyone.
Reviewed by Reah, Gr. 6
Beastly is a book about friendship, true love, and a runaway beast in the subway. I really, really, really, really liked this book. Once you start reading it, you can't put it down, ever. If you like a really good book, pick up Beastly on your next visit to the library.
Reviewed by Jocelyn, Gr. 8
Beastly is the story of a classic fairytale with a modern day twist. Based on the story "Beauty and the Beast," Beastly follows the story of a handsome but arrogant boy named Kyle Kingsbury. Kyle has always lived a charmed life of luxury with his stuck up father until a curse set upon him by a witch turns him into a horrible beast. Now Kyle is desperate to find a girl who could love him despite his awful looks. The only things that he has to console himself with are blogs to other mystical creatures, books, and his beloved roses. Beastly is a wonderful tale of romance, magic, and the struggle of one boy to realize life is about more than just looks. I highly recommend it.
Reviewed by Maria, Gr. 6
Beastly is a modern version of Beauty and the Beast. I really enjoyed it. I think that anyone who likes fantasy books would love it, too. I think what makes it more unique from regular Beauty and the Beast is that is from the Beast's point of view.
Reviewed by Sarah, Gr. 8
This book puts a modern day twist on Beauty and the Beast. It makes the almost impossible fairy tale come to life in present day way. Kyle Kingsbury is a popular rich boy in the 9th grade. When it is time for him to learn to grow up, respect, and be nice to others, Kendra the witch casts a spell on him. She turns him into a beast. Kyle has only two years to find a girl who will love him for who he is, despite his beastly looks.
Additional thoughts by Miss Catherine:
I enjoyed this book tremendously! My favorite thing about this story was the Beast’s internal transformation. I absolutely hated this character in the beginning of the story (exactly the author’s intention) and was so happy to see that his change of heart wasn’t an overnight experience. The author took his time with the character, causing me to hate the Beast a little less with each chapter, and making me believe his transformation was indeed real. I thought all of the characters were well drawn and the story was solid. The only parts I didn’t like were the chat-room sessions. I’m not really big on instant messages in real life, or reading them in a book, but I understand the importance of using this mode of communication for the storyline and appreciate how it added a more modern touch to the book.
Reviewed by Robert, Gr. 9
Beastly adds a modern twist to the classic tale of Beauty and the Beast. The Beast is the narrator and we see the events in his point of view. Unlike the fairy tale or movie we see what the Beast is feeling and the reasons behind his behavior. This book is a great read and I would recommend this book to anyone who likes love, fantasy and suspense rolled into one book!
Reviewed by Varun, Gr. 8
This book was horrible! I really hope it doesn't come in for battle of the books next year because it is really boring. It’s only a modernized version of beauty and the beast. Anyway, I hate romantic stories. There is absolutely no excitement and adventure. The whole book is told from a very pessimistic point of view. It was only pessimism and romance. I don't recommend this book at all.
Reviewed by Erika, Gr. 8
First, I just want to say that I am very sorry to all of my Twilight friends. This book is by far better than the Twilight series. This book is basically Beauty and the Beast from the Beast's point of view with a little twist. This book takes place in present day New York City. It is the perfect romance story. This is the best book I have ever read, and I highly recommend this book to everyone.
Reviewed by Reah, Gr. 6
Beastly is a book about friendship, true love, and a runaway beast in the subway. I really, really, really, really liked this book. Once you start reading it, you can't put it down, ever. If you like a really good book, pick up Beastly on your next visit to the library.
Reviewed by Jocelyn, Gr. 8
Beastly is the story of a classic fairytale with a modern day twist. Based on the story "Beauty and the Beast," Beastly follows the story of a handsome but arrogant boy named Kyle Kingsbury. Kyle has always lived a charmed life of luxury with his stuck up father until a curse set upon him by a witch turns him into a horrible beast. Now Kyle is desperate to find a girl who could love him despite his awful looks. The only things that he has to console himself with are blogs to other mystical creatures, books, and his beloved roses. Beastly is a wonderful tale of romance, magic, and the struggle of one boy to realize life is about more than just looks. I highly recommend it.
Reviewed by Maria, Gr. 6
Beastly is a modern version of Beauty and the Beast. I really enjoyed it. I think that anyone who likes fantasy books would love it, too. I think what makes it more unique from regular Beauty and the Beast is that is from the Beast's point of view.
Reviewed by Sarah, Gr. 8
This book puts a modern day twist on Beauty and the Beast. It makes the almost impossible fairy tale come to life in present day way. Kyle Kingsbury is a popular rich boy in the 9th grade. When it is time for him to learn to grow up, respect, and be nice to others, Kendra the witch casts a spell on him. She turns him into a beast. Kyle has only two years to find a girl who will love him for who he is, despite his beastly looks.
Additional thoughts by Miss Catherine:
I enjoyed this book tremendously! My favorite thing about this story was the Beast’s internal transformation. I absolutely hated this character in the beginning of the story (exactly the author’s intention) and was so happy to see that his change of heart wasn’t an overnight experience. The author took his time with the character, causing me to hate the Beast a little less with each chapter, and making me believe his transformation was indeed real. I thought all of the characters were well drawn and the story was solid. The only parts I didn’t like were the chat-room sessions. I’m not really big on instant messages in real life, or reading them in a book, but I understand the importance of using this mode of communication for the storyline and appreciate how it added a more modern touch to the book.
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