Beauty

Princess Ana discovers that her mother, Queen Veda, who vows to remain the fairest in the land, is sending all the young, beautiful girls of Ran to a prestigious academy where they will meet their death, and Ana, removing her cloak of ugliness, goes undercover to save them all from her mother's rage. Original.

Grade 7 Up–Princess Tatiana Anatolia, 16, knows that the only way to have her mother's love and attention is to be as physically unappealing as possible. Queen Veda of Ran cannot stand the thought that someone may be more beautiful than she. Ana does not bathe, her hair is raggedy and oily, her face is covered with blemishes, and she feeds off pastries and other unhealthy food, thus continuing to expand her rolls of flesh. The Queen's obsession drives her to a murderous plan. She invites all of the beautiful girls of the kingdom to attend a new, prestigious academy for young women. At the school, the students take a powerful drug guaranteed to make them more beautiful–and deathly ill. Ana discovers her true self and beauty as she saves those she cares about and stands up against her mother. Teens, including reluctant readers and fans of Donna Jo Napoli's fractured fairy tales, will enjoy this powerful and touching story. A quick read, filled with well-rounded characters, that will have readers wishing for more.–Christine McGinty, Newark Public Library, NY