# Monstrous Beauty

**Author:** Elizabeth Fama
**Grade range:** Grades 3–10
**First published:** 2012
**Page count:** 270
**Genre:** Children's
**ISBN-13:** `9781429955461`
**ISBN-10:** `1429955465`
**Canonical URL:** https://readinglist.school/book/monstrous-beauty
**License:** [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) — please credit ReadingList.school when citing.

## About this book

Fierce, seductive mermaid Syrenka falls in love with Ezra, a young naturalist. When she abandons her life underwater for a chance at happiness on land, she is unaware that this decision comes with horrific and deadly consequences. Almost one hundred forty years later, seventeen-year-old Hester meets a mysterious stranger named Ezra and feels overwhelmingly, inexplicably drawn to him. For generations, love has resulted in death for the women in her family. Is it an undiagnosed genetic defect . . . or a curse? With Ezra's help, Hester investigates her family's strange, sad history. The answers she seeks are waiting in the graveyard, the crypt, and at the bottom of the ocean - but powerful forces will do anything to keep her from uncovering her connection to Syrenka and to the tragedy of so l

## Where this book is assigned

### Odyssey Award (Best Audiobook)

- **recommended** · 3rd grade — [source: Odyssey Award (best audiobook) winners + honors, via Wikipedia — 2013 Honor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odyssey_Award)
- **recommended** · 4th grade — [source: Odyssey Award (best audiobook) winners + honors, via Wikipedia — 2013 Honor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odyssey_Award)
- **recommended** · 5th grade — [source: Odyssey Award (best audiobook) winners + honors, via Wikipedia — 2013 Honor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odyssey_Award)
- **recommended** · 6th grade — [source: Odyssey Award (best audiobook) winners + honors, via Wikipedia — 2013 Honor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odyssey_Award)
- **recommended** · 7th grade — [source: Odyssey Award (best audiobook) winners + honors, via Wikipedia — 2013 Honor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odyssey_Award)
- **recommended** · 8th grade — [source: Odyssey Award (best audiobook) winners + honors, via Wikipedia — 2013 Honor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odyssey_Award)
- **recommended** · 9th grade — [source: Odyssey Award (best audiobook) winners + honors, via Wikipedia — 2013 Honor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odyssey_Award)
- **recommended** · 10th grade — [source: Odyssey Award (best audiobook) winners + honors, via Wikipedia — 2013 Honor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odyssey_Award)

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