Aggie Boyle & the Lost Beauty is an action and adventure fantasy novel for children and preteens written by David Fine. Aggie hated going to school. Well, actually, she didn’t hate school so much as she wished the other students weren’t so mean to her. People loved to trip her as she was walking past, and they seemed to relish making fun of her because her nose was a bit crooked, and her hair was unruly. She had had a best friend once, Timothy; the two of them had had adventures and enjoyed playing make-believe. Then he and his family moved away, leaving Aggie feeling friendless and alone. Aggie had a big secret, a very big one, that she wondered if she should tell the others at school about, but her mother had made her promise never to tell a soul. Abitha, her mother, was, oddly enough, as beautiful as Aggie was unusual looking. She had a straight nose and long golden blond hair. She worked a job and did volunteer work as well, leaving Aggie alone most of the time. But then something really remarkable happened to Aggie one night.

David Fine’s Aggie Boyle & the Lost Beauty may have children and preteens as its target audience, but anyone who enjoys classic epic fantasy will enjoy this imaginative and compelling novel. I loved seeing Aggie transformed from a lonely and bullied child into an epic hero on a most important quest. Along the way, the reader follows Aggie into the strange world she visits, one where she receives the warmth, acceptance, and love denied her in her everyday world. We see her at her best, bravest, and most compassionate, often forgetting that she is only 12 years old, going on 13. Fine’s plot is enthralling and unpredictable, and his characters are credible and finely honed. This epic coming of age story is well-written and hard to put down. Aggie Boyle & the Lost Beauty is most highly recommended.

Aggie Boyle & the Lost Beauty by David Fine is the marvelous story of kindhearted, shy, inquisitive Aggie Boyle and her magical journey of self-discovery. Young Aggie had always promised her mother that she’d never tell her best friend Timothy (or anyone else) the secret of who she really was. So, when Timothy and his family suddenly disappear from Northfields (a small town in Massachusetts) without so much as a warning or farewell, Aggie is left with a lot of questions, a lot of confusion, and not a single true friend to accept her for who she is. One day, Aggie wakes up feeling a little strange and quickly realizes that she has now become a furry mouse and that’s when the adventure begins! Through it all, Aggie learns much more than she bargained for about the magic of friendship, courage, and the meaning of true beauty. Could it really be a possibility that nothing is as it seems? And will there come a day when she knows exactly who she is and where she belongs once and for all?

Aggie Boyle & the Lost Beauty by David Fine is absolutely perfect for those who love an adventurous, mysterious read. And who couldn’t fall in love with Aggie’s curious, selfless nature? I enjoyed reading about this bright, kindhearted character’s journey and all of the lessons she learns about life, her family/friends, the world of magic, and herself. This unique, imaginative tale is full of mystery, history, and colorful personalities (good and evil) that make the book that much more special. All in all, a wonderful book that I highly recommend to anyone wishing to get lost in a magnificent tale of transformation and adventure.

Aggie Boyle & the Lost Beauty is the first book in the series by David Fine. Aggie is used to being lonely. The day she lost her best friend Timothy when he moved away was the last day she was happy. With only a mother who doesn’t love her and no father, Aggie doesn’t have much to hold on to. Her appearance makes it hard for her to make friends so she mostly keeps to herself. However, she is not like other kids her age. You see, she has a secret that she must not share with anyone else. She is a witch and that part of herself becomes glaringly obvious when she wakes up one morning to find herself transformed into a completely different being. That is the start of an adventure for Aggie in which she learns to trust herself, fight her own battle, and become strong enough to protect everyone she loves.

Somehow, author David Fine unlocked my imagination and transported me into a world where Aggie lives and loves with all her heart. Her transformation from a sad and lonely girl to a confident young girl was amazing. The narrative is smooth, flows incredibly well, and made me feel very happy. The author has a gift for storytelling because there wasn’t a single thing lacking in Aggie Boyle & the Lost Beauty. The mystery behind Aggie’s origins, her powers and her destiny are very well explained. Aggie is given many opportunities to grow and she takes each of them with both hands. The pace of the story follows Aggie’s progress, which added to the overall experience of reading this novel. I loved the cover and I loved Aggie’s story. I cannot wait for the next novel in the series!