Billed as a modern day retelling of Beauty and the Beast this novel is told by the two main characters Lucius and Aurora who meet on the school bus their first day at a new school. Aurora is instantly accepted into the popular crowd while Lucius' only friend is the security guard at school.
Lucius has hooks where his hands should be. He lost both his arms in an explosion which he caused while experiemtning making a bomb in the basement of his house. His whole family lost thier home and, like Lucius, almost lost their lives. Now they are starting over - in a new town.
Aurora too has expereinced loss - her mother recently died of cancer. Now she and her father, the school librarian, are starting afresh in a new school. Her tragedy has softened her and she is determined to view the world through sympathetic eyes despite what others might say or do.
This novel explores so many themes and so well. I recommend it for teens - to make them think and understand.