Fairest is a solid middle-grade fantasy with a genuinely good message: you don't have to be conventionally pretty to be worthy, capable, or loved. Aza's journey from self-loathing to self-acceptance is handled with care, and Levine's fairy-tale world-building is competent if not revolutionary.

That said, this book is nearly 20 years old, and it shows. The pacing feels slower than contemporary MG fantasy, and the prose style is a bit more earnest and old-fashioned. Kids who devour modern fantasy series might find it a little dated. But if your tween loves retellings, enjoys introspective heroines, or needs a book that tackles appearance anxiety head-on, this is a safe, enriching pick.

It's not a must-read, but it's a good one—especially for kids navigating the brutal middle-school years when everyone's suddenly obsessed with looks.