Showing posts with label body image. Show all posts
Showing posts with label body image. Show all posts

Wednesday, 21 September 2016

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Review: Holding Up the Universe by Jennifer Niven

Holding Up the Universe by Jennifer NivenReview: Holding Up the Universe by Jennifer Niven (Proof) - Everyone thinks they know Libby Strout, the girl once dubbed 'America's Fattest Teen'. But no one's taken the time to look past her weight to get to see who she really is. Since her mum's death, she's been picking up the pieces in the privacy of her home, dealing with her heartbroken father and her own grief. Now, Libby's ready: for high school, for new friends, for love, and for EVERY POSSIBILITY LIFE HAS TO OFFER. I know the part I want to play here at MVB High. I want to be the girl who can do anything.

Everyone thinks they know Jack Masselin too. Yes, he's got swagger, but he's also mastered the art of fitting in. What no one knows is that Jack has a secret: he can't recognize faces. Even his own brothers are strangers to him. He's the guy who can re-engineer and rebuild anything, but he can't understand what's going on with the inner workings of his own brain. So he tells himself to play it cool: Be charming. Be hilarious. Don't get too close to anyone.

Until he meets Libby. When the two get tangled up in a cruel high school game which lands them in group counselling, Libby and Jack are both angry, and then surprised. Because the more time they spend together, the less alone they feel. Because sometimes when you meet someone, it changes the world - theirs and yours. From Goodreads.
Continue reading Review: Holding Up the Universe by Jennifer Niven

Friday, 4 March 2016

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Review: Dumplin' by Julie Murphy

Dumplin' by Julie MurphyDumplin' by Julie Murphy (review copy) - Self-proclaimed fat girl Willowdean Dickson (dubbed “Dumplin’” by her former beauty queen mom) has always been at home in her own skin. Her thoughts on having the ultimate bikini body? Put a bikini on your body. With her all-American beauty best friend, Ellen, by her side, things have always worked…until Will takes a job at Harpy’s, the local fast-food joint. There she meets Private School Bo, a hot former jock. Will isn’t surprised to find herself attracted to Bo. But she is surprised when he seems to like her back.

Instead of finding new heights of self-assurance in her relationship with Bo, Will starts to doubt herself. So she sets out to take back her confidence by doing the most horrifying thing she can imagine: entering the Miss Clover City beauty pageant—along with several other unlikely candidates—to show the world that she deserves to be up there as much as any twiggy girl does. Along the way, she’ll shock the hell out of Clover City—and maybe herself most of all.

With starry Texas nights, red candy suckers, Dolly Parton songs, and a wildly unforgettable heroine—Dumplin’ is guaranteed to steal your heart.
From Goodreads.
Continue reading Review: Dumplin' by Julie Murphy

Monday, 30 March 2015

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Review: Not Otherwise Specified by Hannah Moskowitz

Not Otherwise Specified by Hannah MoskowitzNot Otherwise Specified by Hannah Moskowitz - Etta is tired of dealing with all of the labels and categories that seem so important to everyone else in her small Nebraska hometown.

Everywhere she turns, someone feels she's too fringe for the fringe. Not gay enough for the Dykes, her ex-clique, thanks to a recent relationship with a boy; not tiny and white enough for ballet, her first passion; and not sick enough to look anorexic (partially thanks to recovery). Etta doesn’t fit anywhere— until she meets Bianca, the straight, white, Christian, and seriously sick girl in Etta’s therapy group. Both girls are auditioning for Brentwood, a prestigious New York theater academy that is so not Nebraska. Bianca seems like Etta’s salvation, but how can Etta be saved by a girl who needs saving herself?

The latest powerful, original novel from Hannah Moskowitz is the story about living in and outside communities and stereotypes, and defining your own identity.
From Goodreads.
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Wednesday, 28 July 2010

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Review: My Big Nose and Other Natural Disasters by Sydney Salter

 My Big Nose and Other Natural Disasters by Sydney Salter My Big Nose and Other Natural Disasters by Sydney Salter (review copy) - It’s the end of junior year, and summer is about to begin. The Summer of Passion, to be exact, when Jory Michaels plans to explore all the possibilities of the future--and, with any luck, score a boyfriend in the process. But Jory has a problem. A big problem. A curvy, honking, bumpy, problem in the form of her Super Schnozz, the one thing standing between Jory and happiness. And now, with the Summer of Passion stretched before her like an open road, she's determined for Super Schnozz to disappear. Jory takes a job delivering wedding cakes to save up for a nose job at the end of the summer; she even keeps a book filled with magazine cutouts of perfect noses to show the doctor. But nothing is ever easy for accident-prone Jory--and before she knows it, her Summer of Passion falls apart faster than the delivery van she crashes. In her hilarious and heartbreaking debut novel, Sydney Salter delivers a story about broadening your horizons, accepting yourself, and finding love right under your nose. From Amazon US

This is such a brilliant book! I really loved it! Such a sweet novel! I really loved it!

Jory has two goals for the summer. Find her passion, and get a job so she can save her money for a nose job, so she can nab the gorgeous Tyler Briggs. Her passion goal is half-hearted, as that's what her friends are doing, but she is obsessed with the rest; nose jobs and Tyler - or any other cute guys who happen to be around at the time.

It's really quite sad how badly she thinks about her nose. She keeps a Nice Nose Notebook, where she keeps pictures of models with nice noses to show to the surgeon when she gets her nose job. Everything that goes wrong in her life, is down to her big nose. Her mother is constantly on a diet, and trying to get Jory to wear beauty enhancing make-up. It's just really sad.

But there is more to this book than just Jory's nose. There's friendship, family, and boy issues that go a lot deepers than a squabble and an unrequited crush. But they're all dealt with in such a brilliant way.

I don't know what else I can say about this book. So much goes on in it, and I don't want to spoil it. It really is a brilliant book, one that is right up there with my favourites! I absolutely loved it, and can't recommend it enough! I will definitely be checking out more of Sydney Salter's novels.

Thanks to Sydney for sending me a review copy.

Published: 6th April 2009
Publisher: Graphia Books
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Sydney Salter's Website
Continue reading Review: My Big Nose and Other Natural Disasters by Sydney Salter

Monday, 26 July 2010

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Review: Artichoke's Heart by Suzanne Supplee

Artichoke's Heart by Suzanne SuppleeArtichoke's Heart by Suzanne Supplee (review copy) - Blubber meets Steel Magnolias in this funny and honest story about body image and family.

Rosemary Goode is smart and funny and loyal and the best eyebrow waxer in Spring Hill, Tennessee. But only one thing seems to matter to anyone, including Rosemary: her weight. And when your mom runs the most successful (and gossipy) beauty shop in town, it can be hard to keep a low profile. Rosemary resolves to lose the weight, but her journey turns out to be about everything but the scale. Her life-changing, waist-shrinking year is captured with brutal honesty and humor, topped with an extralarge helping of Southern charm. A truly uncommon novel about an increasingly common problem.
From Amazon US

This was such a great story! Oh, I loved it on so many levels! Just so sweet and uplifting! Such an amazing story!

Reading the blurb, you would think that Artichoke's Heart is just about Rosie losing weight, and while that is what it's about, it's about so much more too! There are so many layers to this novel! It's also about friendship, romance, family, community, expectations... I could go on! Each of the layers does link to Rosie's weight issues in some way, but they also stand on their own. Will Rosie's unlikely friendship with a popular girl end up turning sour? Is there any chance the new jock could ever look at her? Will her aunt ever get off her back and stop being so insulting? Will her mother allow someone to help her take on the world? Will her mother's clients stop looking at her in that way? Will she end up making decisions for the right reasons, rather than because of other people? A lot goes on in this novel, but it's never chaotic. It all adds to the story, it all effects the main plot, and you're invested in finding out the answers to all the questions.

I loved how Rosie's attitude changed as the book progressed. I can't really go into this without spoiling the book, but there's a number of times where Rosie would realise something just doesn't matter, or she'd see things a different way, or someone would say something to her that opened her eyes. In some of these instances, even my attitude was changed. There is nothing more fantastic than reading a novel and having it change your perspective for the better and make you view yourself differently. This has happened a number of times for me over the course of Body Image and Self-Perception Month and I just love it! Even though I can't relate to Rosie's weight issues, I can relate to her general insecurities, and it's just wonderful to have been "helped" by Rosie's story.

I also loved the language! This story is set in the south, and being from the UK, at first the language was a bit odd to read Rosie refering to her mum as Mother all the way through the book, calling a woman she was close to Miss Bertha rather than just Bertha, and the colloquial spellings for the southern twang. However, the more I read, the more I loved it! I do love a southern accent, and it just ended up sounding really cute in my head.

There is so much I could say about this book, I could gush on forever, but I think a lot of it would be better discovered in your own reading - I really don't want to spoil this fantastic book for you! I do absolutely love it, and I will be reading more novels by Suzanne Supplee in future. You definitely need to pick this book up.

I'm going to leave you with one quote from the book that has stuck with me, "Well... when you look at a person's eyes or her smile, you can't tell how much she weighs..." (p253)

Thank you to Suzanne for sending me a review copy.

Published: 14th May 2009 (reprint edition)
Publisher: Speak
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Suzanne Supplee's website
Continue reading Review: Artichoke's Heart by Suzanne Supplee

Tuesday, 20 July 2010

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Review: Fat Kid Rules the World by K.L. Going

Fat Kid Rules the World by K.L. GoingFat Kid Rules the World by K.L. Going (review copy) - When Troy (a hugely overweight social leper) befriends Curt (a skinny homeless punk guitar genius), they both get much more than they bargained for. Troy's macho brother and ex-Marine father think Curt is just a junkie loser - but as Curt stopped Troy's suicide attempt, Troy can't just forget him. Curt recruits Troy as the new drummer in his punk band - but Troy has never played the drums in his life. When Curt's around, though, almost anything seems possible. An outstanding, heart-warming, funny, edgy, debut novel. From Amazon UK

This book is absolutely amazing! I can't tell you how much I enjoyed this book. This book is so good, I just feel so light right now, high. It's just awesome!

The book starts off with Troy actually at the tube station, considering jumping in front of a train. But then Curt, who is sleeping rough on the platform, opens his mouth. From Troy's point of view, everything he does is funny to other people. He only has to sit down in the cafeteria and people laugh. While standing at the end of the platform, he tries to work out if his suicide would be funny. He imagines how he think it would be, and laughs. And then this homless guy says "You laughing at me?"

Four words. If Curt, the character, didn't utter those words, Troy would have probably jumped. There would have been no story. We wouldn't have seen how Troy's complete and utter lack of self-confidence and self-worth could have been turned around.

In the comments of Luisa Plaja's guest post, I commented on how I on't like how in some stories, girls' opinion of themselves changes because of a guy's interest. In a way, I still feel like that, but this book has changed that. Forget the girl is female and the guy is male, and they're attracted to each other. Someone is helping out someone else. In Angela Morrison's interview, she mentions how sometimes all people need is a good friend to gently help. In this book, that is exactly the situation. Curt helps Troy. Not by telling him he looks fine, or by changing the way he looks. But by asking him to join his band as a drummer. Now this is not just some random homeless person inviting him to join his band, it's Curt, Curt MacCrae, only the legendary guitarist who went to his school, who inspires awe in everyone who looks at him. And he has just asked Troy to just his band!

What ensues is a brilliant, brilliant story of Troy's change in attitude. He sees himself differently. Because of the belief and encouragement of people he has the utmost respect for, the way he sees himself changes; his weight, the way he looks - he realises, in the great scheme of things, it doesn't matter.

I have to say, I have the biggest lit-crush on Curt, even if he is a smelly homeless person. His life is complicated, and not something I can go into without spoiling the story. He talks in this strange way that is just so awesome and amusing, I grin whenever he speaks - it's complete nonsense most of the time, but it's brilliant! And he's deep, in this way I can't even explain, because I only barely just got what he meant myself, but it's amazing! And on top of that, he can play guitar and - I know it's a book, and so I can't technically hear him play - he's absolutely unbelievably good! And, well, I've always kind of had a thing for a guy who can play guitar (it's a failing I have, I'm trying to get over it ;)). I just love this guy! Simply because you need to see how amazing it is when Curt speaks, here's a quote:

'"You see, technically, and this is only in the technical sense, legal court orders and all, so, yes, technically I live with my father, but that's hard to do, really, so I don't. You know, mostly 'cause he kicked me out a couple times. And left. But that doesn't mean it's out of the realm of possibility that I could be living with my father..."' (p16)

I just love it! And you know what also helps? It's a book that has a lot to do with music. I'm a music fan, I'm a live music fan, I'm a huge fan of gigs at venues with new bands - and this book was full of it all! It's just brilliant! You can feel the vibrations, you can smell the sweat, you can feel the buzz! It's just amazing!

If you read my review yesterday of King of the Screwups, also by K.L. Going, you'll know that although I absolutely loved it, I had a bit of trouble getting motivated to pick it up once I put it down. I did not have this trouble in the slightest with this book! I always wanted to read it! I was hooked from the first words, and further hooked from the moment Curt speaks, and just dying to see what happened with the two of them and the band. Absolutely awesome!

I cannot recommend this book enough! It's six years old now, but one you should all definitely try to get your hands on! It's awesome, and it's going to stick with me for a while, just how deeply the two guys effect each other. It's now up there with my favourites, and I am just so glad I chose to read this book! I will definitely be checking out more of the novels by K.L. Going!

Thanks to Random House for the review copy.

Published: 1st July 2004
Publisher: Corgi Children's Books
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K.L. Going's Website
Continue reading Review: Fat Kid Rules the World by K.L. Going

Saturday, 17 July 2010

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Review: The Earth, My Butt and Other Big Round Things by Carolyn Mackler

The Earth, My Butt and Other Big Round Things by Carolyn MacklerThe Earth, My Butt and Other Big Round Things by Carolyn Mackler - Fifteen-year-old Virginia Shreves has a larger-than-average body and a plus-size inferiority complex, especially when she compares herself to her slim, brilliant, picture-perfect family. But that’s before a shocking phone call — and a horrifying allegation — about her rugby-star brother changes everything. With irreverent humor and surprising gravity, Carolyn Mackler creates an endearingly blunt heroine who speaks to every teen who struggles with family expectations, and proves that the most impressive achievement is to be true to yourself. From Goodreads.

Continue reading Review: The Earth, My Butt and Other Big Round Things by Carolyn Mackler

Friday, 16 July 2010

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Review: Queen of Teen - Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others by Sarra Manning

Queen of Teen AnthologyQueen of Teen Anthology - Nine stories by top authors, in aid of the charity Kids Company. Discover nine fabulous short stories from the finalists of the Queen of Teen Award, selected by their readers and their fans. It’s an irresistible chance to read something new by these alltime favourite authors – or discover an amazing writer you’ve been missing up to now!

All the stories focus on the realities of being a teenager and gaining independence.
From Amazon UK

Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others my Sarra Manning

The wonderful Luisa Plaja sent me a copy of the Queen of Teen anthology just for this one story, which she thought would be brilliant for Body Image & Self-Perception Month - though, of course, I will read and review all the others too.

It's summer, and Cath has got herself a job at the ice-cream parlour on the pier in her town, where she'll be working with Rosie. Both girls are chalk and cheese; Rosie is quiet, Cath is loud; Rosie likes reading, Cath likes fashion and boys; Rosie has huge boobs, Cath's boobs are practically non-existant. Cath instantly dislikes Rosie. How is it fair that this mousey, quiet, boring girl has such big boobs, when all she has is a pair of well-used chicken fillets? But through discovering Rosie's complete lack of self-confidence and experience with boys, Cath sets out to help her bag the the guy she likes.


I'm not much of a short story reader - I haven't read that many, and those I have are about characters in series I've been reading - so I wouldn't have thought a short story could really say all that much on a topic such as this, but I was so wrong! Through their uneasy friendship, we see that both girls have self-esteem issues. Rosie is self-concious of the fact that all people see are her boobs, where as Cath is self-concious of the fact that she doesn't have any when that's all guys are interested in. It's great to see how Cath makes it her mission to instill Rosie with confidence, and actively does her bit to help her get her guy.

'"Look, Rosie, you might read a lot of books but they're not teaching you important boy-getting life skills. Twenty-five per cent of your problem is obviously low self-esteem and the other seventy-five per cent of your problem will disappear if you let me work on your wardrobe, grooming and getting you a bra that actually fits."' (p128)

'"You are not fat,' I interrupted angrily because at least she didn't go straight up and down like me. 'You're curvy. Big diff. And you're really smart and funny and you should stop judging yourself on what you think you look like. It's pathetic. And don't you forget it.'" (p135)

Yet it's so sad to see she has her own issues, when she seems to be so confident, and that her attitude on what matters is what causes her issues.

'"But all I want is to have super-shiny hair and actual breasts so I can attract a really cute boy with lots of money who'll take me away from this crappy little place".' (p148)

But then Rosie takes Cath in hand, and helps her as she knows best, getting right to the matter.

'"You have to figure out who you really want to be, and then make sure the people in your life are going to help you achieve that. Like you helped me see beyond my 36Fs."' (p148)

It's a really quite a sweet story, and one that strikes a chord with me especially. I am Rosie, but with Cath's figure. I understand Rosie's shy and awkward behaviour around guys, and I understand Cath's disappointment with her lack of a chest. And I can completely understand her mortification when a certain event happens - just awful! But it's a sweet story well worth reading! I'm really looking forward to the other stories in the anthology.

Published: 1st May 2010
Publisher: Piccadilly Press
Queen of Teen Website
Sarra Manning's Blog
Continue reading Review: Queen of Teen - Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others by Sarra Manning

Thursday, 15 July 2010

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Review: Fairest of Them All by Jan Blazanin (#Ad)

Fairest of Them All by Jan BlazaninFairest of Them All by Jan Blazanin

I was sent this review copy for free by Jan Blazanin for the purpose of providing an honest review.

Oribella Bettencourt has the world at her feet. She's won the Crowning Glory pageant title, due in part to her lustrous blonde mane of hair, and has just snagged a role in an upcoming movie opposite a hot young star. Sure, she doesn't really have any friends at school, but that's okay - she has her mother, a frustrated beauty queen herself, and she has her brilliant pageant and acting career. She doesn't need anything, or anyone, else. At least, that's what she tells herself. Then clumps of her beautiful blonde hair start falling out every time she brushes. Or showers. Or does just about anything. The horrifying word comes down: she has alopecia, a rare condition resulting in hair loss. She loses her movie role. The Crowning Glory title is taken away from her. And her mother can barely bear to look at her. Now, outcast and alone, all Oribella has is herself - and that simply isn't enough. When, to her surprise, she begins to develop an unlikely friendship with a tomboy classmate, she realizes that for the first time in her life she may just figure out who Oribella Bettencourt really is without her crown - and what truly matters in the end. From Amazon UK
Continue reading Review: Fairest of Them All by Jan Blazanin (#Ad)

Sunday, 11 July 2010

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Review: North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley

North of Beautiful by Justina Chen HeadleyNorth of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley - As he continued to stare, I wanted to point to my cheek and remind him, But you were the one who wanted this, remember? You're the one who asked-and I repeat-Why not fix your face?

It's hard not to notice Terra Cooper.

She's tall, blond, and has an enviable body. But with one turn of her cheek, all people notice is her unmistakably "flawed" face. Terra secretly plans to leave her stifling small town in the Northwest and escape to an East Coast college, but gets pushed off-course by her controlling father. When an unexpected collision puts Terra directly in Jacob's path, the handsome but quirky Goth boy immediately challenges her assumptions about herself and her life, and she is forced in yet another direction. With her carefully laid plans disrupted, will Terra be able to find her true path?

Written in lively, artful prose, award-winning author Justina Chen Headley has woven together a powerful novel about a fractured family, falling in love, travel, and the meaning of true beauty.
From Amazon US

I am sitting here now quite literally speechless. As I type this, I have just finished this book, and I have tears in my eyes over just how wonderfully uplifting it was. North of Beautiful is just magical in how beautiful this story is in itself. I am just completely bowled over by how completely... light and hopeful this book has left me feeling. I am well and truly wowed.

Terra was born with a port-wine stain birthmark that covers most of her right cheek. For most of her life she has undergone different laser surgery treatments to try to remove it, been on the receiving end of her father's disgust, and her mother's hope that one day she will be beautiful one day. Her self-esteem is just so low. She covers up with thick layers of make-up, is with a so-so guy because she doesn't believe she'd be able to get anyone else, and tries hard to be invisible.

'For all adults go on and on about beauty being skin deep, let's be honest here. When your dermis is filled with rogue bloodvessels that have been herded under the thin skin of your face, you get mighty suspicious whenever anyone mentions anything that sounds remotely like Inner Beauty.' (p13)

Her father is controlling beyond belief. I think labelling him a "bully" would be more accurate. He dictates everything in the house. Her mother has become this frail woman who comfort eats because of how unhappy Terra's father makes her. He snipes at every little thing. He is lord and master in his house, and no-one will dare have an opinion that's different from his, nor will get away with being less than perfect, or fulfill dreams he feels aren't good enough. All anyone wants is escape.

'"When are you going to accept that nothing you do will make you look normal?"...
"You know," he mused, "I've seen run-over deer look better than you."' (p87)

Which comes in the chance meeting with Jacob, in the the literal and metaphorical sense. Jacob sees Terra. He gets her so completely. He brings up things she keeps buried. And with his cleft-lip scar, he understands how Terra feels about her birthmark, yet sees only a beautiful girl. It takes a trip to China with her mother, Jacob and his mother, Norah, and the experiences she has over there to finally start seeing herself for the beautiful girl she is.

There are so many passages I could pull out and share with you, but this review would go on forever, and I can't choose. I really can't do this book justice. It is absolutely amazing to go along with Terra on her journey to self-acceptance. As I said, this story is just beautiful, and some of the passages in it are just so touching. It's hard to read a book like this and not reflect on yourself, and it's just left me feeling so... good about myself. I was completely unprepared for how finishing this book has made me feel, but it's absolutely wonderful! I challenge anyone to finish this book, and not feel good about themselves afterwards.

This is a book every girl should read! I'm not saying boys shouldn't, but I do feel it would touch girls more. I can't recommend this book enough. An unbelievably powerful and wonderful book, another one to add to my list of favourites.

Published: 17th February 2010
Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers
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Justina Chen Headley's website
Continue reading Review: North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley

Monday, 5 July 2010

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Review: Pretty Face by Mary Hogan

Pretty Face by Mary HoganPretty Face by Mary Hogan (review copy) - That's what I am.
A funny girl.
A
friend.
Nobody's girlfriend.
The girl with the pretty FACE.

Hayley wishes she could love living in Santa Monica, blocks from the beach, where every day—and everybody—is beautiful and sunny. But she just doesn't fit in with all the blond, superskinny Southern California girls who have their plastic surgeons on speed dial. Hayley is smart and witty and has such a pretty . . . face. Translation: Don't even think about putting on a bikini, much less dating superhot Drew Wyler. A bikini will never be flattering, and Drew will never think of her as more than a friend.

Just when Hayley feels doomed to live her life in the fat lane, her parents decide to send her to Italy for the summer—not for school, not for fat camp, just for fun. It's there, under the Italian sun, that Hayley's vision of herself starts to change. She's curvy, not fat. Pizza isn't evil. And life is so much more than one-size-fits-all. Who knows? Once Hayley sees herself in a new light, maybe the girl with the pretty face will finally find true amore.
From MaryHogan.com

I can't tell you just how sweet this book is! This really is such an amazing book! It's quick, it's light, and it's completely uplifting!

As the blurb suggests, Hayley is overweight, and unhappy about it. Her mother is pretty obsessive about Hayley losing weight, and kind of nasty with it - to the point where I wanted to strangle her. Hayley battles all the comments, and her own thoughts, with witty, hilarious comebacks. Her humour almost seems to be a shield she hides behind, which is so sad, but just so funny! Really, I was cracking up for most of the book.

But Pretty Face is also heartbreaking. Hayley is the girl with the pretty face, the comment always sounding as if that's supposed to be a consolation for her weight. Hayley feels so bad about the way she looks, and what that means for her socially and with guys really gets her down. Which leads to comfort eating, gorging when she's feeling down, yet ashamed of what she's doing.

'Flipping open my phone, I pretend to make a call. I wait for my pretend friends to pretend to pick up.

"Hi," I say into my dead phone. "I'm at the pizza place. What kind do you want?"' (p41)

It's just so heartbreaking! But then Hayley goes to Italy and is changed by the lifestyle there. The easy living, the culture, the buildings, the beauty. She slows right down, and discovers what really matters. The descriptions of the buildings, the landscape and the food are just awesome! You really feel like you're there with her, and it's just gorgeous!

'Something is happening to me. I'm accepting myself more. Maybe it's seeing the ruins of Rome and realising how briefly we're on this planet. Or maybe it's just Italy itself. From here, Southern California seems like a mirage. Why have I spent so many years obsessing over fitting into a mirage?' (144)

Then she meets a boy, Enzo. One of the great things I love about this book is that it's a book about body image that includes a romance, rather than a romance that covers issues of body image. Hayley already started to change her atitude and start to accept herself before Enzo came along, and I think it's brilliant of Mary to write the story this way; Hayley's issues are mental, it's her attitude and opinion that need to change, and she does this herself, without the positive opinion of others sparking the change. But Enzo's opinion of Hayley is a nice bonus, and the romance is just the sweetest thing ever! Really, this sweet young boy with his broken English had me sinking into my sofa, "aww"-ing.

'"Vespa?" I ask.

"Little motorcycle."

"How little?" I ask. "I have a Harley-sized butt."

You idiot! I scream in my head. No jokes!

Laughing, Enzo says, "You're funny," and my heart sinks. Here we go again. How could I have slipped back into being my old self?!

Reaching up to run one finger along my warm cheek, Enzo quietly says, "You have beautiful body of woman."

My eyes instantly flood with tears.

"I sorry," he says. "I say wrong thing?"

I shake my head no. For the first time, a boy's words are exactl right.' (p165)

'When I nervously asked if my body was okay, he answered, "No. It is perfect because it is the only house of you."' (p190)

Swoon-worthy or what? Pretty Face really is the sweetest story! It's just so cute, and just perfect in that Hayley's realisation comes about because of her own change in attitude. She sees herself differently through her own making, an it's just wonderful to see the change in her, and makes me hope this can happen for other other teenagers too. It's sweet and lovely, and at 202 pages it's a quick read everyone should pick up!

Thanks to Simon & Schuster for the review copy.

Published: 4th February 2008
Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK
Buy on Amazon UK
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Mary Hogan's Website
Continue reading Review: Pretty Face by Mary Hogan