Beauty and the Beast: Lost in a Book by Jennifer Donnelly

Belle has traded her freedom for the freedom of her father, leaving her a captive in the Beast’s enchanted castle. Belle has grown to care for the many inhabitants of the castle, from Lumiere the candelabrum to Chip the teacup. After the Beast gifts her the castle’s marvelous library, Belle is thrilled; reading can grant her some of her freedom back, in its own way.
When Belle stumbles upon a book titled Nevermore, she is pulled through its pages to a glamorous world she has only ever imagined being a part of. While there, Belle meets charming and intriguing new friends and the opportunity to live out her dreams. Dreams she thought she had given up forever. In the pages of Nevermore, Belle can have the life she has always dreamed of, but is any of it real? Is Nevermore really what it claims to be and can Belle really trust its charming characters? Will Belle choose a life inside Nevermore’s pages over that of the Beast’s castle? Can Belle discover the truth behind Nevermore’s enchantment before it is too late and she becomes trapped in its world forever?
Many girls grow up dreaming of becoming one of Disney’s Princesses. I am no different. Of all of Disney’s Princesses, my favorite has always been Beauty and the Beast. So, of course, when my stepdaughter told me about this book -- surprisingly I hadn’t heard of it -- I knew I had to read it.
Beauty and the Beast is my favorite Disney Princess movie for many reason’s but one of the most important was that Belle was such a strong female character and she was willing to sacrifice herself for someone she loved. Belle’s strong character is apparent in this novel and Donnelly captured her fierce fighter spirit as well as her love of books perfectly.
The fantastical characters who live in the Beast’s castle are also present in this novel. Chip is the most amazing little teacup in the original movie, with an innocence that effects everyone around him. I was pleased to discover that his character was also maintained, as well as, the characters of Lumiere, Mrs. Potts, and Cogsworth.
The world of Nevermore is rich with detail and extravagant settings. Belle’s appearance is even transformed when she enters its pages. The characters inside Nevermore are interesting with loads of charm and interesting personalities.
I loved this unique side-story to the Beauty and the Beast tale and am so very glad that I was able to read it.
I would recommend this novel to fans of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, and to book lovers everywhere.
I received my copy of this novel as a Christmas gift from my husband and three beautiful children. I am currently seeking permission from the publishers at Disney Press to use an image of the cover artwork above. 
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