Belle is convinced she has the wrong name, as she lacks her sisters' awe-inspiring beauty. So she withdraws from society, devoting her time to wood...
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reviews
Dec 29, 2011
Cara
rated it: 
I am totally in "like" with this series. Why do I go all mushy inside every time I read one? I guess I carry way too much estrogen but I'm not ashamed. No way. Part of the reasons fairy tales have been around so long is because they show us something about what the heart can do.
Belle doesn't fit her name. At least she doesn't feel like she does when she is next to her gorgeous sisters. The author doesn't make us feel sorry for Belle in the least, which I thought was odd but More...
Belle doesn't fit her name. At least she doesn't feel like she does when she is next to her gorgeous sisters. The author doesn't make us feel sorry for Belle in the least, which I thought was odd but More...
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Sep 16, 2009
Valerie
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Nothing like true love to make a Fairytale story magical. The book doesn't start that way but the beginning is just supposed to lead up to that.
It starts with Belle saying how beauty is not -as some people would have you believe- in the eye of the beholder. Her two older sisters are considered beauties but for different reasons. The oldest is the dark haired mysterious type and the second is blond with the sunshine just bursting out of her. It's good to see the author show that beau More...
It starts with Belle saying how beauty is not -as some people would have you believe- in the eye of the beholder. Her two older sisters are considered beauties but for different reasons. The oldest is the dark haired mysterious type and the second is blond with the sunshine just bursting out of her. It's good to see the author show that beau More...
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Oct 20, 2010
Ash
rated it:
I've always loved the story of "Beauty and the Beast". Probably from watching the Disney movie when I was really young(Belle was my favorite Disney princess). So I obviously had some high hopes for it. I can't say that I absouletly loved it, but like any fairy tale lover, the happy ending had me smiling.
Quick Overview: Belle feels like her name is a lie. One that you can see quite plainly when you look at her face. Belle means Beautiful and that is a word that describes h More...
Quick Overview: Belle feels like her name is a lie. One that you can see quite plainly when you look at her face. Belle means Beautiful and that is a word that describes h More...
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Nov 28, 2008
Izlinda
rated it:
When I started this book, I smiled at reading the back cover. I believe the Heartwood or a tree similar to its myth featured in another myth in another book of the "Once Upon a Time" series. I don't recall which one it was - a prince carved a flute from it, I believe, while his brother carved a spear or something...
Anyway, back to this book. I decided to pre-order it because I rather liked the books I've read of this series so far, and Beauty and the Beast is one of my l More...
Anyway, back to this book. I decided to pre-order it because I rather liked the books I've read of this series so far, and Beauty and the Beast is one of my l More...
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Jan 19, 2009
Karen
rated it: 
*sigh* It was so close, and yet... no. It was good, i guess, but it was clear that Cameron Dokey had read Robin McKinley's "beauty" dozens of times. There is no rose. I liked that. The whole love-tree with a secret inside of it that only belle,the fabulous wood carver, can unlock... this was new and interesting. And, phew, the part in the boat (read it, you'll like that part) was really sweet. But there were so many moments where I just rolled my eyes. Either she had copied and pasted
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Mar 07, 2011
Kiirsi
rated it: 
I had mixed feelings about this book.
For the first 140 pages, I was getting into the story. I enjoyed the good writing, the descriptions, I even liked all the characters. This was a nice version of "Beauty and the Beast" where Belle still had both her parents and even her sisters are kind and good. Nothing was really happening in the story. We were watching the main character grow up, which was somewhat boring but a little cool since she liked to carve wood and had a m More...
For the first 140 pages, I was getting into the story. I enjoyed the good writing, the descriptions, I even liked all the characters. This was a nice version of "Beauty and the Beast" where Belle still had both her parents and even her sisters are kind and good. Nothing was really happening in the story. We were watching the main character grow up, which was somewhat boring but a little cool since she liked to carve wood and had a m More...
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Dec 28, 2011
Tamra
rated it:
"Unhappy memories are persistent. They're specific, and it's the details that refuse to leave us alone. Though a happy memory may stay with you just as long as one that makes you miserable, what you remember softens over time. What you recall is simply that you were happy, not necessarily the individual moments that brought about your joy.
"But the memory of something painful does just the opposite. It retains its original shape, all bony fingers and pointy elbows. Every tim More...
"But the memory of something painful does just the opposite. It retains its original shape, all bony fingers and pointy elbows. Every tim More...
Aug 20, 2011
Elise
rated it:
This book is a nice and clever twist to the tale. I like how we see some of her family before her father sees, the Beast. The whole thing with her sister's names, her woodworking talent and her fear that she isn't Beautiful are all neat little tidbits. Honestly, even if the Beast hadn't made an appearance at all, I would have kept reading just because her family was fun to read about.
It took a while before the Beast showed up, though. I would have liked to have read more about the t More...
It took a while before the Beast showed up, though. I would have liked to have read more about the t More...
May 14, 2011
Katie
rated it: 
Halfway through reading this, I realized I was halfway through the book and had yet to meet the Beast. That in itself wouldn't have been a problem if I had liked Belle herself at all.
However, early on, Dokey sets this up as a tale about Belle being Not As Pretty as her sisters and her Issues With That (god, why the hell are heroines clearly described as beautiful always considered "plain"?). This device was gross to me for a couple of reasons. One, she's described as " More...
However, early on, Dokey sets this up as a tale about Belle being Not As Pretty as her sisters and her Issues With That (god, why the hell are heroines clearly described as beautiful always considered "plain"?). This device was gross to me for a couple of reasons. One, she's described as " More...
Dec 16, 2010
Lydia
rated it:
I am finding that there are some things that I really like about Dokey's writing and some things I don't like much at all. This book seems to follow her usual pattern. She takes a long time to set up her main charachter and the majority of the book is more about Belle and her family than anything else. The tradition points of the Beauty and the Beast story don't happen until half way through the book. While this is somewhat annoying I actually enjoy the interesting domestic storyline. I lik
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Nov 30, 2010
Kiera
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Nov 25, 2010
F.
rated it:
I've never read Dokey's work before this, and I recognize I'm guilty of wanting the book to be what I expected rather than what it was. However, despite all that, I still have to say I didn't like it. The prose is beautifully written... but in a style I found tedious. The focus on Belle rather than Belle and the Beast was a complete let down, as I was looking to read a love story and only received four sparse chapters of B & B interaction. Because most of the story concentrated on Belle's family
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Jun 25, 2010
Lady
rated it:
This book was "interesting" for me. Parts of it I was in love with, and then other parts were so flat. I loved the discussion of the difference between "beauty" and "Beauty" and the famliy background, but the actual "Beauty and the Beast" stoyline felt horribly forced. Good, but not great.
Belle is the youngest of three daughters. Her sisters are named after the amazing sights that surrounded their mother when they were born (Celestial Heavens a More...
Belle is the youngest of three daughters. Her sisters are named after the amazing sights that surrounded their mother when they were born (Celestial Heavens a More...
Jan 31, 2010
Emilie
rated it: 
This was an amazing retelling of the classic Beauty and the Beast. It seemed to fill in many of the cracks in the original story that were confusing or not explained well. The story emphisized the phrase "beauty is in the eyes of the beholder" which means that your real beauty will be seen only by your true love. When Belle's family must move from the city to the countryside it is a stressful move for all of them. Then, soon after they adjusted, Belle's father stumbles upon the legen
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Dec 02, 2009
Danielle
rated it:
Really 3.5 stars. I loved reading fairy tales when I was little so whenever I see "retellings", I am nearly always compelled to give them a try. This book did not disappoint because it is a quick read with not too many cliches.
FYI: This book is part of the "Once Upon a Time" series, which includes retelling contributions by various authors including Wild Orchid: A Retelling of the Ballad of Mulan, Golden: A Retelling of Rapunzel, Beauty Sleep: A Retelling of Sle More...
FYI: This book is part of the "Once Upon a Time" series, which includes retelling contributions by various authors including Wild Orchid: A Retelling of the Ballad of Mulan, Golden: A Retelling of Rapunzel, Beauty Sleep: A Retelling of Sle More...
Jul 27, 2009
Loralee
rated it:
Emily finished this book and said, "Mom, you MUST read this!" Considering that my 15 year old daughter rarely tells me I must read anything, I picked up the book and began reading.
This book retells the story of Beauty and the Beast from a little different angle. Belle hates her name which means beauty. She does not feel as beautiful as her older sisters and wishes her family would call her by her given name of Annabelle because that would fit her better. She struggles More...
This book retells the story of Beauty and the Beast from a little different angle. Belle hates her name which means beauty. She does not feel as beautiful as her older sisters and wishes her family would call her by her given name of Annabelle because that would fit her better. She struggles More...
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Jan 18, 2011
Tiffany
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"'I suppose,' I heard a deep voive say. 'That you are quite real.'
I gasped, for I felt his voice pass through my skin, through muscle and flash, until it came to rest in the marrow of my bones. Papa had said the Beast had the voice of a man, but this was not quite accurate, I thought.
For no human being I had ever met spoke in a voice like that, sounding heart and mind together, at once, as one. A Beast may have the ability to camouflage its skin. Men are better at More...
I gasped, for I felt his voice pass through my skin, through muscle and flash, until it came to rest in the marrow of my bones. Papa had said the Beast had the voice of a man, but this was not quite accurate, I thought.
For no human being I had ever met spoke in a voice like that, sounding heart and mind together, at once, as one. A Beast may have the ability to camouflage its skin. Men are better at More...
Jan 10, 2010
Jenny
rated it:
This is another book in the clever "Once Upon a Time" series. I like the series because of the way the authors take the fairy tales and give them a "real" retelling.
This one is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast.
Things I liked..
1) The characters are well written and interesting.
2) Emotions run high throughout the book.
3) The author easily captures the way in which girls (especially teens) tend to not see themselves More...
This one is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast.
Things I liked..
1) The characters are well written and interesting.
2) Emotions run high throughout the book.
3) The author easily captures the way in which girls (especially teens) tend to not see themselves More...
Jun 11, 2009
Kelly
rated it:
I liked this book a lot. It wasn't great but it was enjoyable.
Good:
The characters were lovable and original. I loved the beginning, I thought it was a lovely start and had just enough background information. It was thoroughly engaging. I like Cameron Dokey's style, I find it humorous and endearing.
Bad:
It was a bit too much like Robin McKinley's Beauty. There were some parts that I wished were changed up a bit. Dokey has the talent, she has written s More...
Good:
The characters were lovable and original. I loved the beginning, I thought it was a lovely start and had just enough background information. It was thoroughly engaging. I like Cameron Dokey's style, I find it humorous and endearing.
Bad:
It was a bit too much like Robin McKinley's Beauty. There were some parts that I wished were changed up a bit. Dokey has the talent, she has written s More...
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Jul 10, 2011
Belle by Cameron Dokey is a retelling of “Beauty and the Beast” and is a part of the Once Upon a Time series.
Annabelle Evangeline Delaurier, Belle, is the youngest of three daughters. Her other sisters are Celeste and April Dawn. Their Maman is very organized and makes the daughters walk into rooms in order of oldest to youngest as well as when being introduced to someone. Belle feels that she isn’t as pretty as her sisters. One incident in particular makes her think this. Mons More...
Annabelle Evangeline Delaurier, Belle, is the youngest of three daughters. Her other sisters are Celeste and April Dawn. Their Maman is very organized and makes the daughters walk into rooms in order of oldest to youngest as well as when being introduced to someone. Belle feels that she isn’t as pretty as her sisters. One incident in particular makes her think this. Mons More...
Aug 20, 2009
Marie
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Oct 31, 2011
Mckenzie
rated it:
This retelling of Beauty and the Beast, although short, is very beautiful. The author Cameron Dokey developed the character of Belle beautifully. She took it down a road that Belle rarely goes down, the plain road. This version of Belle can be said as a sort of Tom-Boy. She is not very pretty as she tells us herself and her passion is wood carving, something her father is very fond of as well. In walks the beast in the form of a myth. There are rumors of a heartwood tree and star crossed lovers.
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Jan 03, 2012
Sanalith
rated it:
I hardly know what to say about this book. For the first half - maybe even the first three-quarters - I was spell-bound. I thought I'd finally done the impossible and found a Beauty and the Beast re-telling that rivaled Robin McKinley's Beauty. The characters are unique and perfectly written, and the story managed to be inventive while still keeping to the basic story. It also tackled the nature of Beauty itself, and what it truly meant to be Beautiful and recognized as such. It took a stab at t
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Jun 20, 2011
Sue
rated it:
I love the story of Beauty and the Beast - I really love the idea of finding true love right in front of your eyes when you realize after time and searching for it, it's always been right there. I also love a good story that centers around a well grounded, strong person that isn't afraid to make their own decisions. This tale combines both and is the better for it, but has afew twists on the original that make it a pleasure to read. It incapsulates all the elements of the original - the encha
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Jun 09, 2010
Sally
rated it:
Loved it. One of the better (if shorter) versions of the French fairy-tale that is so dear to me. In this story, there are a few key differences Dokey uses to make it her own - Belle's talents, parents, sisters, and even her reasons for leaving the Beast have all been altered slightly to make for a fresher version of the story while still maintaining the plot and points that make the original tale beautiful.
I read this quickly, in the space of a few hours, and especially liked that m More...
I read this quickly, in the space of a few hours, and especially liked that m More...
Feb 28, 2009
Ruth
rated it:
Considering that Robin McKinley has written what I consider to be the definitive retellings of Beauty and the Beast (her novels Beauty and Rose Daughter are both excellent), I enjoyed Dokey's version way more than I expected. Annabelle, or Belle as she's more commonly known, has spent most of her life feeling inferior to her spectacularly beautiful older sisters - when in their presence, she's so overshadowed by their beauty she's been known to disappear. For one whose very name means "beau
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Sep 26, 2011
SarahC
rated it:
I seldom write anything on a book that I did not complete, but I must say this effort is a bit disappointing. I know this is a fairly-known series of classic retellings, but I can't see as this retelling does anyone any favors.
The writing is uninteresting and flat. I believe young people deserve a well crafted piece of writing. The use of modern language in a classic story I suppose has been incorporated so that a modern audience can better relate, but it seems to have sacrificed More...
The writing is uninteresting and flat. I believe young people deserve a well crafted piece of writing. The use of modern language in a classic story I suppose has been incorporated so that a modern audience can better relate, but it seems to have sacrificed More...
Aug 01, 2011
I have a weakness for retellings of old tales... particularly ones about Beauty and the Beast. This is the best I have come across thus far. It was short and sweet. Where we are all used to a Belle who is beautiful and in love with books, this one is average looking and interested in whittling.
While I thoroughly enjoyed it, I felt the part about Belle and the Beast was entirely too short. We barely get a few chapters with the both of them in it... when (as any person picking up this book would) More...
While I thoroughly enjoyed it, I felt the part about Belle and the Beast was entirely too short. We barely get a few chapters with the both of them in it... when (as any person picking up this book would) More...
Jun 27, 2011
Angie
rated it:
Synopsis: "Belle is convinced she has the wrong name, as she lacks her sisters' awe-inspiring beauty. So she withdraws from society, devoting her time to wood carving. Secretly, Belle longs to find the fabled Heartwood Tree. If carved by the right hands, the Heartwood will reveal the face of one's true love.
During a fierce storm, Belle's father stumbles upon the mysterious Heartwood—and encounters a terrifying and lonely Beast. Now Belle must carve the Heartwood to save her fat More...
During a fierce storm, Belle's father stumbles upon the mysterious Heartwood—and encounters a terrifying and lonely Beast. Now Belle must carve the Heartwood to save her fat More...
May 20, 2011
Molly
rated it:
This retelling of beauty and the beast was ok. maybe 2 1/2 stars. I'm only familiar with the disney version, but we all know the ending. I walked away from this story confused. I could see that the beast loved belle, I guess, but when Belle realizes that she loved the Beast it seemed more like she loved him because he loved her enough to let her go before she completed his demands. Stockholm syndrome is not romantic. There was no development of any feelings between the two. I thought the ver
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