Belle by Cameron Dokey

Dokey, Cameron. Belle. New York: Simon Pulse, 2008.

Belle thinks her name is a misnomer. Belle means beauty and she’s certainly not, especially when compared to her gorgeous sisters Celeste and April. Belle withdraws from society. Content to be a recluse, she finds solace in her wood carving. Her talent with a knife leads to adventure in the heart of the forest. There resides a Beast who wants to be freed.

What I thought: The changes Dokey made to the original fairy tale are inspired. A beauty who doesn’t think she is. Belle’s reclusive nature is quite intriguing. I also love that Dokey gave her a talent. Belle is not the typical fairy tale heroine. She has a depth of thought and feeling that is absent from the original tale.