Sunday, May 17, 2009

North of Beautiful by Justina Headley - ESSENTIAL


Headley, Justina Chen North of Beautiful, 373 p. Little, Brown, 2009. $16.99.

Content: G

MS, HS – ESSENTIAL

Everyone thinks that Terra is beautiful, until they see the large port wine stain on her face, then the odd glances and whispering begins. Her father’s verbal abuse towards Terra and her mother is almost unbearable, and her brothers rarely come home because of it. Then Terra meets a Goth boy who challenges her very ieas about herself, her family and everyone around her. Mom and Terra take a bold step and join the boy, Jacob, and his mother for a once in a lifetime trip to China – mapping out a whole new future for everyone.

Fans of Sarah Dessen will eat this book up. Girls will choose it just by its cover and then want more. Personally, I love that Headley makes her point without resorting to gratuitous language or sexual content.

Cindy, Library-Teacher.

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