Review Detail

Penelope should have it all. Shes the accomplished only child of a wealthy, aristocratic family. She has tutors to teach her anything she wants to learn. A matchmaker whos only job is to find Penelopes own personal Prince Charming.

But Penelope is also suffering under the family curse. She was born with the nose of a pig and the way to break the curse is for her to marry another blue blood. At least, thats what she has been told all of these years by her mother. Thats all Penelope has ever heard, that shell be her true self once the curse has been broken.

Meanwhile, an endless stream of suitors flows through the door. But each one runs as soon as her disfigurement is revealed. Does Penelope have any chance of finding true love? What about finding herself?

Things are starting to look up when Max arrives and doesnt run away screaming. But is there more to Max than meets the eye (readers know there is!). Will the reporter that has been trying to break her story for years be the catalyst for her downfall&or for her happiness?

The story truly starts going when Penelope has had enough and strikes out on her own. She and readers as well is surprised by what happens next. In the end, she finds out that really living your life leaves you little time to dwell on the bad. And maybe, just maybe, happiness isnt too far away.

This book is the novelization of the movie which stars Christina Ricci and Reese Witherspoon and is coming out later this year. The book, in fact, features an introduction by Reese. While theres a bit of a fairytale feel to it, theres a lot to learn from this little story. Theres a good message here; one about learning to love yourself and also to depend upon yourself. And Penelope is definitely a heroine you can root for (no pun intended). Recommended for readers aged 9 and up, though even younger readers could potentially enjoy this one.