Pretty Face

Hogan, Mary. Pretty Face. New York: HarperTeen, 2008.

[Book cover credit: www.alibris.com]

Genre: Realistic/Issues

Annotation:
Hayley is a frustrated, overweight girl living in Santa Monica. She feels out of place until she takes a trip to Italy.

Booktalk Review:
Hayley lives in sunny, beautiful Santa Monica and is always surrounded by equally as beautiful people. Not exactly the perfect place for a teenage girl! Hayley is constantly reminded that she is overweight, her mom nags her and she always feels uncomfortable. As the story develops, you are feeling her pain and laughing because of her self-deprecating wit. Hayley is always the funny girl and everybody's friend, but never anyone's girlfriend. As Hayley dips to new lows, she is given the opportunity to spend time in Italy. Will this experience help her to grow and learn that beauty is not just what you see in the mirror? Or will she always feel like just a Pretty Face?

Teen Review:
Hayley is so funny! It's weird that she feels the same way I do about not having a boyfriend and stuff. Julia, 14

Author's Website:
http://www.maryhogan.com/