Ever since I was a small child, Disney has shaped my life and perception of the world. I grew up with Ariel, Belle, Cinderella, and Aurora at my side. They were my best friends when I was a small girl. They were princesses who found true love, got married, and lived happily ever after. Well, now that I am all grow up, these princesses and their stories have revisited me. Author Alex Flinn has found a way of rewriting these classic tales into exciting, dramatic, and interactive novels for young adults. Some of her best known works that I have had the pleasure of reading include Beastly, A Kiss in Time, Breathing Underwater, and Cloaked. These books have brought smiles and tears, and thus are some of the best books I have read.
In Beastly Flinn rewrites the classic story of Beauty and the Beast. In the book, the reader is first introduced to a very handsome, rich, and vain young man who uses his popularity to tear down others. The use of this character is excellent because every person has met or interacted with someone who is either exactly like the main character or very close. Anyone familiar with the tale of Beauty and the Beast can guess what happens within the plot, but the way it is transformed by Flinn into a modern day setting is astonishing. She makes the reader able to relate to the "Beast" so well that you will feel his pain and heartache. One thing I will suggest to all those future readers of this book is do not skip over the internet chats put in between the chapters. It is through these chats that the development of the characters can be most greatly seen. After the book is finished, you must then watch the movie. Alex Pettyfer plays the Beast and he devotes his whole self into the character and the part making the movie only that much better. Mary-Kate Olsen also takes on the part of the enchantress, which is a very different role than what we are used to seeing her play. It is captivating.
Another Flinn book worth the note is A Kiss in Time. This book follows the story of Sleeping Beauty. Within the story, a common boy from America finds a hidden kingdom while touring Europe with his school. After awakening the sleeping princess, the teenage couple goes through an interesting journey to America. Within this journey some of the biggest obstacles teenagers face, like popularity, body image, and sticking to your lifelong dreams are highlighted and examined by the main characters. This award winning novel is a must read not only for teenagers, but for anyone who went through a hard time growing up.
Another award winning book by Flinn that cannot be overlooked is Breathing Underwater. This book focuses on two teenagers who are in a relationship and have to face problems not only with their relationship, but also with their family. This book concentrates on the effect that an abusive family can have upon a child. Even if it is not talked about by the child, the aftereffects can still be present. I also adore this book because it takes different perspectives into account. This allows for a more holistic understanding of the issues presented within the plot. I think that many young adults would benefit from reading this book because it would show how common the obstacles that they may face are. Thus it would give the readers someone to relate to and find strength in.
Lastly, Cloaked is an excellent, adventurous novel that focuses on a poor boy who works at a shoe store during the summer in order to help his mom make ends meet. This is something he was used to until, one day, a beautiful princess approaches him with the request to find her brother, who is a frog. From there, the young poor boy's adventure turns into something you only read about in children's books with flocks of animals who talk and the need to travel across the state. Love is involved, but not in the way you would think. This novel turns out to be a fairy story that you have never heard of. Thus, this book becomes a story that any person who enjoys and mystery and adventure would cling onto until it is finished.
From these reviews I think I have made it very apparent that I am a huge Alex Flinn fan, but I also wanted to convey how just because you surpass the age of seven doesn't mean you have to give up your fairytale. The Flinn books make it possible for you to hold onto the idea that every girl gets to live with her prince charming happily ever after.
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