McKinley, Robin. (1997). ROSE DAUGHTER. Greenwillow Books: New York. ISBN: 0-441-00583-7
Plot Summary
In this fantasy book, Robin McKinley tells the story of
Beauty and the Beast again. Throughout
the entire story, roses are the central theme.
The narrative takes place in imagined Old English cities. The family of Beauty, the youngest of three
daughters, loses their mother, and their father loses his successful
company. The world of sorcery is slowly
revealed to them after they miraculously inherit a cottage in the
countryside. The classic fairy tale is
given a new spin by McKinley, who also adds her own ideas and visuals, and she
gives it an ending I've never heard before.
Critical Analysis
Because Beauty and the Beast is one of my favorite fairy
tales, I was fascinated to read this fantasy book. I'll be honest and say that after reading it,
I felt quite conflicted about it.
Readers are given a lovely description of the characters and places by
Robin McKinley. Sometimes she gives you
the impression that you can smell the roses.
The novel's protagonists go through a wide range of emotions, and the
language allows the reader to feel those emotions alongside the
characters. Character names can be both
amusing and descriptive. Examples are
the names of the sisters, Lionheart and Jewel tongue. The story had me totally engaged up to the
point where I started to lose interest in the reading as we drew closer to the
conclusion. Every event was thoroughly
described by McKinley, to the extent that I had to read over paragraphs—and at
one point, a full page—until I realized that it was all done. Beauty entered a pitch-black tunnel beneath
the earth, but the description went on for several pages, making her dazzled by
the gloom. By the time she arrived, I
was fully prepared for her to track down the Beast and assist him. I struggled to remain interested as the
descriptions started to drag from the tale.
Although I'm happy I read it through to the end, the finale didn't have
the same impact on me. I loved learning
the author's justification for making the roses such a central theme of the
novel when I read the Author's Note at the conclusion. Her first Beauty and the Beast retelling was
BEAUTY, and this was her second. This story is recommended for readers who are
at least 12 years old and older.
Review Excerpts
KIRKUS REVIEW - “While sticking to the tale’s traditional outlines,
this version by turns rushes headlong and plows to a stately pace, is full of
asides and surprises, and is suffused with obsession for the rose and thorn as
flora, metaphor and symbol.”.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY - “Action - minded readers may wish for more
narrative zip: dazzling though they are, the novel’s lavishly imagined
descriptions can be fairly slow going.:.”.
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - “... The telling is layered like
rose petals with subtleties, sensory descriptions, and shadow imagery.
Every detail holds significance, including the character names: her sisters,
Jeweltongue and Lionheart, the villagers, Mrs. Trueword, Mrs. Bestcloth, and
Mrs. Words-Without-End. Mannerisms of language and intricacies of writing
style are key in this exposition. The convoluted sentences ramble like a
rose and occasionally prick at the smoothness of the pace..”.
Connections
*Compare ROSE DAUGHTER to the original Beauty and the Beast
fairy tale and/or Robin McKinley’s first book retelling the same fairy tale
called BEAUTY.
*Study of fairy talks and their characteristics.
Other Fairy Tale Retells by Robin McKinley
McKinley, Robin. (1978). BEAUTY:A RETELLING OF THE STORY
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. Greenwillow Books: New York, ISBN: 978-0060241490
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