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A Different Me
Allie Johnston's secret wish since the day she was twelve is to have her nose done. But she hasn't told anyone--not her parents, or even her best friend, Jen. But when she starts visiting a plastic surgery discussion board on the Web, she finds people who get her, for the first time in her life. Her new friends, including two girls her age with vastly different backgrounds who share her obsession with changing their faces--but for very different reasons. A sharply written, insightful book about learning to be happy with who we are.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2014
8 people are currently reading
459 people want to read
About the author
Deborah Blumenthal
41 books142 followersDeborah Blumenthal is an award-winning journalist and nutritionist who now divides her time between writing children's books and adult novels. She has been a regular contributor to The New York Times (including four years as the Sunday New York Times Magazine beauty columnist), and a home design columnist for Long Island Newsday. Her health, fitness, beauty, travel, and feature stories have appeared widely in many other newspapers and national magazines including New York’s Daily News, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, Bazaar, Cosmopolitan, Woman's Day, Family Circle, Self, and Vogue.
Blumenthal lives in New York City.
Blumenthal lives in New York City.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
July 23, 2014
I got a copy of this from netgalley in exchange for an honest review
What I liked: This book takes a normal teenage girl and her insecurities and guides us through her journey to self discovery. I really understood and enjoyed the MC. Her thoughts about her flaws seemed spot on. The exploration of what plastic surgery does to you as a person was well done and Allie's slow realization of who she wanted to be was realistic. The book is well written and thought provoking.
What I didn't like: I thought the parents would have talked to Allie a little more about the pros and cons to rhinoplasty before consenting to it. I wanted more input from them or more tension around that...but the book was still fantastic.
What I liked: This book takes a normal teenage girl and her insecurities and guides us through her journey to self discovery. I really understood and enjoyed the MC. Her thoughts about her flaws seemed spot on. The exploration of what plastic surgery does to you as a person was well done and Allie's slow realization of who she wanted to be was realistic. The book is well written and thought provoking.
What I didn't like: I thought the parents would have talked to Allie a little more about the pros and cons to rhinoplasty before consenting to it. I wanted more input from them or more tension around that...but the book was still fantastic.
September 25, 2014
"For years, Allie Johnston has wanted something she rarely discusses outside of an online chat group: a nose job. For her, a nose job could mean becoming beautiful, which in turn, would equal great self-esteem and happiness. When she meets two girls online who also want nose jobs, the three team up to support each other as they face the procedure. As Allie begins to seriously face the surgery and not just dream of it, she will have to decide if fixing her nose is what she is really after." Full review at Fresh Fiction: http://freshfiction.com/review.php?id...
February 4, 2023
The book "A Different Me" by Deborah Blumenthal is a young-adult realistic fiction that tells the story of a teenage girl named Allie. The story's theme is teenagers' insecurities in the world today. In particular, Allie, on her birthday, said, "This year, I want the surgery. This year, I want to turn into a different me" (Blumenthal 4). Firstly, I like the genre of Blumenthal's story. For example, Allie says, '"... How it would feel to be Amber Augusta Bennington. You think she wakes up every morning and looks into the mirror and knows she's one of the best-looking people on the planet?'" (Blumenthal 6). This book talks about a girl who is insecure about how she looks and compares herself to her classmates, which is relatable to many readers, especially me. Additionally, I like the character Allie and how she is depicted. For Instance, "I have a life, only sometimes it doesn't feel like I'm the right size for my own skin" (Blumenthal 24). Blumenthal captured insecurities in a way that shows others they are not alone in what they feel, and this story gives insight to everyone that shows that imperfections are perfect. Furthermore, I like the crisis when Allie decides to do the surgery, or so it seems. To illustrate, '"It's done. Decision made. I have their support"' (Blumenthal 150). This shows that the decision was hard to make, especially for her parents to give their support. From experience, it is a hard decision, especially if it is medically necessary. Moreover, I like the story's turning point, where Allie decides to cancel her surgery. Such as when she calls the doctor to say, "Dr. Miller…please…I want to cancel the surgery… I just need more time(Blumenthal 258). This illustrates the minor maturity in Allie as she comes to terms with learning that everyone's nose is different and surgery is most likely not necessary. Lastly, I like the resolution in which Allie begins to feel confident in her appearance. Such as, when her friend says, "'The camera showed you something new…' 'What?' 'Confidence,' he says. 'You were there. There was this light in your eyes. You owned your face'" (Blumenthal 261). This indicates that Allie is slowly gaining confidence in her facial appearance without even realizing it, which suggests that her inner insecure child self is healing.
December 23, 2020
A Different Me is a young adult contemporary fiction by Deborah Blumenthal. I thought this was a good read. It deals with a very common theme of teenage insecurities and I think that Deborah Blumenthal does a fantastic job giving us great insight into our main character, Allie's head. I really enjoyed getting to know Allie and seeing her inner dialogue, and watching her go on this journey of self discovery, self acceptance and coming of age. If you are a fan of realistic coming of age stories that deal with some of our societal pressures to look a certain way, then I think you will really enjoy A Different Me.
I loved Allie. I found her to be very relatable and I found her story to be an important one for teens to hear. Allie, just like everyone, has deal with insecurities growing up. In her case, Allie is insecure about her nose. She mentions early on that she has always wanted a nose job. The topic of teenage plastic surgery is such an intense topic that people have very different opinions on. Setting aside personal opinions, I thought it was fascinating to see everything from a teenagers perspective. My only wish for this story is for Allie's parents to have been a little more involved in the decision making process for the nose job. I think more could have been done in that regard with their conversations.
I also felt like this book was a little slow at times. I thought it either could have been a little shorter, or that there should have been a little more meat added to the action events of the story. But other than that, I did enjoy this book. I found it to be interesting and very thought provoking. I enjoyed seeing Allie interact with the other kids at her school and seeing whether her decision was going to have the results she wanted it to. Overall this was a super interesting peek inside of teen's mind. If you are a fan of journey's of self discovery and coming of age stories, A Different Me is a modern take on the classic coming of age tale.
I loved Allie. I found her to be very relatable and I found her story to be an important one for teens to hear. Allie, just like everyone, has deal with insecurities growing up. In her case, Allie is insecure about her nose. She mentions early on that she has always wanted a nose job. The topic of teenage plastic surgery is such an intense topic that people have very different opinions on. Setting aside personal opinions, I thought it was fascinating to see everything from a teenagers perspective. My only wish for this story is for Allie's parents to have been a little more involved in the decision making process for the nose job. I think more could have been done in that regard with their conversations.
I also felt like this book was a little slow at times. I thought it either could have been a little shorter, or that there should have been a little more meat added to the action events of the story. But other than that, I did enjoy this book. I found it to be interesting and very thought provoking. I enjoyed seeing Allie interact with the other kids at her school and seeing whether her decision was going to have the results she wanted it to. Overall this was a super interesting peek inside of teen's mind. If you are a fan of journey's of self discovery and coming of age stories, A Different Me is a modern take on the classic coming of age tale.
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November 1, 2020Hello yes where is the rest of this book? That has to be one of the most abrupt endings I've seen......
March 6, 2022
Such a nice book
April 30, 2024
This was great! the ending was really read and rough. Quite short! Really well written! Looking for a short read? This is great for you! Happy Reading!!
January 6, 2021
This is an amazing book about a girl who hates her nose and wants to get plastic surgery to change it. It definitely shows all of the ups and downs in friendships and loving who you are. Recommended to anyone who likes books ;)
November 3, 2015
I'm sorry, but I didn't enjoy this book.
*******************************************spoilers**********************************************************
I take notes with post-its as I go, and I go in order of the book. Enjoy.
Prologue:
You read it right. The motherf-ing prologue. A. Typo. WHAT?! A typo?! Seriously? And I quote: "Violins are playing in the background. At least I think I they are, but it's hard to hear because everything's getting floaty and fuzzy."
Did you catch it? "I think I they are"
I read it over and over and thought, maybe it's me. Maybe I'm not an advanced reader, but I had a couple of my friends read it and we agree. It's a damn typo. What a way to start off the book.
That's the first page by the way.
By page 70, I wrote "Bored." And that I was! I for the life of me could not get through this book! It took me almost two weeks! There are other factors that I believe play a part in this, but I will elaborate on that later.
Page 99. A quote I didn't appreciate. First line. "I think of the high I get when I've aced a test I've killed myself for." I understand what the author meant, I'm not stupid. But this book is about an insecure girl, and I mean EXTREMELY insecure, so much so that she feels plastic surgery is the only thing that will help. Don't you think something else would've fit better?
Something I noticed that I personally struggled with was skimming. I found that I would read the words, but not actually read them. You know what I mean. I kept having to go back multiple times to reread what I read. I did notice however, that when I sat down in complete silence, I flew through it.
Page 186. WHAT IS UP WITH THE QUOTATION MARKS? Did I miss something in English class that said it was okay to not put an ending quotation? Proof: ("A girl who is thinking of having her nose done says for her surgery isn't really about how she looks, it's about how she feels. She says her surgeon told her, "If you're expecting a nose job to change your life, don't do it.) WHY. Also, I noted that the speeches are very awkwardly written. Don't ask.
Page 231. Another. Typo. Quoted: "Florence never looks nervous. She looks prepared. I have no doubt that if someone swiped the cards off her desk, if wouldn't matter." GAG.
Sorry to say, but I have another typo to torment you with. Page 243. Quoted: "She turns to me for a millisecond and pretends to barf. The she looks at Harry..." Just... no.
The end? Predictable. As predictable as it gets.
There were some good characteristics about this book however. For starters, I personally love short chapters. LOVE. Another, it was pretty spot on and realistic. I don't relate to wanting a nose job, which is probably why it was so boring for me, but it was still an interesting read. Good blend of growing into the person you are, while having obvious life things happen in the process. My problem with this book was NOT the story. My problem was how it was written.
Do not recommend.
*******************************************spoilers**********************************************************
I take notes with post-its as I go, and I go in order of the book. Enjoy.
Prologue:
You read it right. The motherf-ing prologue. A. Typo. WHAT?! A typo?! Seriously? And I quote: "Violins are playing in the background. At least I think I they are, but it's hard to hear because everything's getting floaty and fuzzy."
Did you catch it? "I think I they are"
I read it over and over and thought, maybe it's me. Maybe I'm not an advanced reader, but I had a couple of my friends read it and we agree. It's a damn typo. What a way to start off the book.
That's the first page by the way.
By page 70, I wrote "Bored." And that I was! I for the life of me could not get through this book! It took me almost two weeks! There are other factors that I believe play a part in this, but I will elaborate on that later.
Page 99. A quote I didn't appreciate. First line. "I think of the high I get when I've aced a test I've killed myself for." I understand what the author meant, I'm not stupid. But this book is about an insecure girl, and I mean EXTREMELY insecure, so much so that she feels plastic surgery is the only thing that will help. Don't you think something else would've fit better?
Something I noticed that I personally struggled with was skimming. I found that I would read the words, but not actually read them. You know what I mean. I kept having to go back multiple times to reread what I read. I did notice however, that when I sat down in complete silence, I flew through it.
Page 186. WHAT IS UP WITH THE QUOTATION MARKS? Did I miss something in English class that said it was okay to not put an ending quotation? Proof: ("A girl who is thinking of having her nose done says for her surgery isn't really about how she looks, it's about how she feels. She says her surgeon told her, "If you're expecting a nose job to change your life, don't do it.) WHY. Also, I noted that the speeches are very awkwardly written. Don't ask.
Page 231. Another. Typo. Quoted: "Florence never looks nervous. She looks prepared. I have no doubt that if someone swiped the cards off her desk, if wouldn't matter." GAG.
Sorry to say, but I have another typo to torment you with. Page 243. Quoted: "She turns to me for a millisecond and pretends to barf. The she looks at Harry..." Just... no.
The end? Predictable. As predictable as it gets.
There were some good characteristics about this book however. For starters, I personally love short chapters. LOVE. Another, it was pretty spot on and realistic. I don't relate to wanting a nose job, which is probably why it was so boring for me, but it was still an interesting read. Good blend of growing into the person you are, while having obvious life things happen in the process. My problem with this book was NOT the story. My problem was how it was written.
Do not recommend.
October 1, 2015
A Different Me written by Deborah Blumenthal is about a girl named Allie. She's the geek, has low self esteem and doesn't like the way she looks. Allie similar to most girls these days , have came to the decision that she hates her nose so her first thought was, a nose job. That's a decision that she thinks is the only way to solve all her problems. She is the straight A student who looks up to and wants to be exactly like Amber the most popular girl in school also the model. I enjoy young romance or even books written about teenage lives and different scenarios.
Allie doesn't have many friends at school she has Jen her only friend. Although her and Jen are best friends she feels as if Jen doesn't understand how she feels about her nose and why she wants surgery. She makes two friends over this website for girls who want a nose job their names are Mel and Katrina. Amber the popular girl has to be tutored by Allie, ends up even though you may be the most popular girl, or even the prettiest it doesn't mean you have the prettiest life. She becomes good friends with Amber and Amber opens up to Allie and tells her about her life and how it isn't the best. Later on in the story Allie goes to Plastic surgeons to see what they can do. Her friend Katrina finally has her nose done that means both Mel and Katrina have had it done. So Allie feels as if things have changed and they don't understand her as much as they did before. She starts tutoring a weird kid named David in her class that takes pictures of everything and wears eyeliner. It turns out that he thinks that Allie is pure beauty and that he loves her for who she is. Allie starts to really like David and he likes her, this would be her first real boyfriend or crush, he rises her self confidence and decides to not go through with the surgery because David makes her feel good in her skin and that's all that matters.
I honestly really enjoyed this book, it gives a ideal state about girls this day and time. It teaches you that you may not like how you look but that’s okay because as soon as you find someone who looks at you and thinks your pure beauty that you should feel confident about yourself. It also just gave you inside about a normal teenage girl trying her best to get through high-school. The only thing i didn’t really like about the book was how it ended, I believe it could have gone on more. I wish she would write a series continuing the life of Allie and how she grows up to be and what happens in her life. This book involves you very much almost like you're in real life and part of the story.
I suggest young teen girls who may enjoy these young adult fiction books like me or even women who struggle with confidence issues that this would help them or put it in a different perspective for themselves or even girls who enjoy reading about how a girl in high-school goes through many struggles and still finds happiness in the end.
Allie doesn't have many friends at school she has Jen her only friend. Although her and Jen are best friends she feels as if Jen doesn't understand how she feels about her nose and why she wants surgery. She makes two friends over this website for girls who want a nose job their names are Mel and Katrina. Amber the popular girl has to be tutored by Allie, ends up even though you may be the most popular girl, or even the prettiest it doesn't mean you have the prettiest life. She becomes good friends with Amber and Amber opens up to Allie and tells her about her life and how it isn't the best. Later on in the story Allie goes to Plastic surgeons to see what they can do. Her friend Katrina finally has her nose done that means both Mel and Katrina have had it done. So Allie feels as if things have changed and they don't understand her as much as they did before. She starts tutoring a weird kid named David in her class that takes pictures of everything and wears eyeliner. It turns out that he thinks that Allie is pure beauty and that he loves her for who she is. Allie starts to really like David and he likes her, this would be her first real boyfriend or crush, he rises her self confidence and decides to not go through with the surgery because David makes her feel good in her skin and that's all that matters.
I honestly really enjoyed this book, it gives a ideal state about girls this day and time. It teaches you that you may not like how you look but that’s okay because as soon as you find someone who looks at you and thinks your pure beauty that you should feel confident about yourself. It also just gave you inside about a normal teenage girl trying her best to get through high-school. The only thing i didn’t really like about the book was how it ended, I believe it could have gone on more. I wish she would write a series continuing the life of Allie and how she grows up to be and what happens in her life. This book involves you very much almost like you're in real life and part of the story.
I suggest young teen girls who may enjoy these young adult fiction books like me or even women who struggle with confidence issues that this would help them or put it in a different perspective for themselves or even girls who enjoy reading about how a girl in high-school goes through many struggles and still finds happiness in the end.
October 4, 2015
Deborah Blumenthal wrote the book A Different Me. The story is about a 14 year old girl named Allie who isn’t confident in herself, or how she looks. Allie turns to the internet to look for people just like her. Allie met 2 girls that were very alike her. Allie, Katrina, and Melanie all wish for the same thing: a nose job. Throughout the story, you can tell that Deborah Blumenthal wishes to entertain you with a story that has a serious plot, but she adds humor, happiness, and many things you can relate to.
A Different Me’s theme is very easy to figure out. Deborah Blumenthal is telling readers to be more confident in themselves, and love how they look. All throughout the story, Allie, Katrina, and Melanie talk about how unconfident they are. Katrina and Melanie both become confident, but that’s only because of surgery. Before the surgery, Katrina said: “Still whenever I look in the mirror, I hate what I see,”(31). Katrina became confident after the surgery. But, Allie became confident without the surgery, and really found to love herself.
Deborah Blumenthal’s style is narrative. The readers are given a serious story with the mix of humor and happiness. The story’s plot is serious because it talks about self confidence, finding yourself, and learning to love yourself and how you look. The story also has humor, by making it a happier story. The story also gets happier because Allie becomes more confident in herself. Without surgery. “Dr. Miller.. please.. I want to cancel my surgery…” (258). Allie called her doctor saying that because she got more confident in herself and didn’t want to get the surgery done anymore.
I liked A Different Me. The characters are relatable, and it’s an easy book to understand. I was kind of skeptical at first to read this book. I was skeptical because I’ve never read a book by this author, and the book is about nose jobs which seems very weird at first. If I could change anything, I would change the ending. At the end, Deborah Blumenthal left us readers hanging. I don’t like that because I need to know everything, and it leaves me hanging. This book is kind of alike some books I’ve read. This book is also different from many books I’ve read.
April 25, 2015
How many of us wish we could change something about ourselves? I guarantee all of us have wanted to at one time or another. This story struck a cord with me, because as soon as I read the synopsis I could relate to Allie completely. We might not be self-conscious about the same things, but some of the words Allie said in this book scared me. They scared me because they were strikingly similar to things I've said myself. How she felt at her lowest-I've felt the same way. Because of all that, this review is going to be a bit more personal.
This might be a hard book for some to relate to because Allie does go to extremes, but I can tell you that this happens. People do actually feel this way about themselves.
A DIFFERENT ME deals with a lot of different issues, not only body image issues but familial issues and much darker issues. This story is not without its faults, as it did seem somewhat unrealistic that all the people Allie was involved with had some sort of emotional trauma or issue but I guess it’s not that hard to believe in today’s society. Everyone has their demons. I can’t say all these issues were talked about well, because some seemed a little randomly thrown in to further the main character’s emotional journey and come to a conclusion.
The characters and writing seemed a bit vapid at times, there were some things I definitely did not agree with but I liked the overall message and there are some really good quotes in there. It’s also very easy to feel Allie’s internal struggle with her looks, as well as how she slowly crawls out of that hole.
This book has really made me think about a lot of things differently. Am I going to run out and be immediately 100% happy with myself? No, not quite. But I do feel a tad more confident, and even that tad can make people feel worlds better about themselves.
This might be a hard book for some to relate to because Allie does go to extremes, but I can tell you that this happens. People do actually feel this way about themselves.
A DIFFERENT ME deals with a lot of different issues, not only body image issues but familial issues and much darker issues. This story is not without its faults, as it did seem somewhat unrealistic that all the people Allie was involved with had some sort of emotional trauma or issue but I guess it’s not that hard to believe in today’s society. Everyone has their demons. I can’t say all these issues were talked about well, because some seemed a little randomly thrown in to further the main character’s emotional journey and come to a conclusion.
The characters and writing seemed a bit vapid at times, there were some things I definitely did not agree with but I liked the overall message and there are some really good quotes in there. It’s also very easy to feel Allie’s internal struggle with her looks, as well as how she slowly crawls out of that hole.
“I’m more than the face in the mirror or the image captured in a photograph.”
This book has really made me think about a lot of things differently. Am I going to run out and be immediately 100% happy with myself? No, not quite. But I do feel a tad more confident, and even that tad can make people feel worlds better about themselves.
October 14, 2014
I was asked to read this for a review. It is far outside my normal genres, (But I never deny a request!) Having said that, it’s not the first time I have read this far outside my norm by request, but this has by far been my most impressive readI was surprised by this book, and think it’s deserving of 5 stars. This book will come highly recommended from me to its intended audience (Girls 13-18.)
I think the meaning behind the song “Demons” by Imagine Dragons and A Different Me are very similar. It is a strange comparison, but you’ll understand that correlation after reading it. Both sum up a concept of there is way more going on under the surface than you can possibly figure out from appearances.
I have never read anything from Deborah Blumenthal, but I could tell this was not her first book. The writing was on point, exceptionally so. Blumenthal managed to create not one or two, but an entire cast of characters that felt real and deep on a level that hard to attain. I was further surprised at the character development, specifically the main character Allie, as well as David and Amber. Being able to add such multi-level depth and development to multiple characters is no small feat. Allie begins as a typical high school girl, and her problems and value set are those of a high school. I felt like I was watching a person, not reading a character. Then through a set of outside influences, Blumenthal transforms Allie in a way that feels so natural that it is hard to believe the girl at the end was the same as the one in the beginning.
This book has the ability to leave a lasting effect on certain readers. The story is clearly meant for girls 13-18 and I think it will hit its intended audience right on the mark. All the characters signify many stereotypical personas encountered in high-school, then open up to levels of insecurities and deeper issues that many individuals deal with at some point in their lives.
I think the meaning behind the song “Demons” by Imagine Dragons and A Different Me are very similar. It is a strange comparison, but you’ll understand that correlation after reading it. Both sum up a concept of there is way more going on under the surface than you can possibly figure out from appearances.
I have never read anything from Deborah Blumenthal, but I could tell this was not her first book. The writing was on point, exceptionally so. Blumenthal managed to create not one or two, but an entire cast of characters that felt real and deep on a level that hard to attain. I was further surprised at the character development, specifically the main character Allie, as well as David and Amber. Being able to add such multi-level depth and development to multiple characters is no small feat. Allie begins as a typical high school girl, and her problems and value set are those of a high school. I felt like I was watching a person, not reading a character. Then through a set of outside influences, Blumenthal transforms Allie in a way that feels so natural that it is hard to believe the girl at the end was the same as the one in the beginning.
This book has the ability to leave a lasting effect on certain readers. The story is clearly meant for girls 13-18 and I think it will hit its intended audience right on the mark. All the characters signify many stereotypical personas encountered in high-school, then open up to levels of insecurities and deeper issues that many individuals deal with at some point in their lives.
November 3, 2014
My life would be perfect if…..I had a better job, if I had more education, or perhaps if I had could just say no more often. Most people have said or have had thoughts about having a perfect life but for Allie her perfect life would start if she had Amber’s nose. This slender, straight feature sits perfectly on Amber’s face and people are not drawn to its appearance, now if only Allie had one just like it. Allie has been obsessed with Amber’s nose for a while and while she has brought up the idea of surgery to her parents that’s all it’s been, just a subject nothing more. Rhinoplasty, typing these words into her computer’s search engine gives Allie hope. Connecting with two other teens with the same desire to have nose surgery, she finds a connection. From a desperate Allie, I feel brightness and spunk move into Allie; she comes alive and rejuvenated as she connects with her new friends. The three girls have a lot to talk about and their future plans all point to the same destination. At school, being paired up with Amber for tutoring, their teacher creates an incredible experience for the two girls. It’s amazing how their teacher paired these two girls together on her own. For it’s more than just an education Amber receives, it’s an eye-opener for both of them. Allie also gets an eye-opener from David, the annoying boy with the camera. His obsession with his camera, the way he’s always snapping pictures, getting his camera in everyone’s way starts to get on Allie’s nerves. David waits, he’s patient, being a photographer he’s used to waiting for the perfect moment, for when the perfect moment arises, David will then make his move.
November 28, 2018
Kanna Parker
“A Different Me” by Deborah Blumenthal is a interesting book the shows the reader the point of view of a person that hates the way they look. This book shows how someone may act about their insecurities and how they view themselves.
In the beginning of the story we are introduced to the main character, Allie. Allie, has very low self-esteem and hates her nose. Her whole life she had dreamed about getting a nose job to perfect her face. While fantasizing about a nose job Allie meets two of her soon to be bestfriends. And they all have one thing in common, they all hate their nose. “If i can fix my nose and look a hundred times better, why not?” (pg. 31).
I felt connected to Allie because she thought that if she changed something about her not only would she be physically beautiful but she would also feel beautiful and more accepting of herself. I agree with this because I too think that your self-confidence will reflect on your physical beauty.
Deborah Blumenthal did a great job using a lot of detail when describing how Allie thinks the nose job will change her. Deborah Blumenthal does a superb job in putting you in the shoes of a unconfident person to help show you what they go through. I think this would be a good recommendation for a person who hasn’t worried too much about their looks. This book teaches its readers the struggles a self conscious person faces.
“A Different Me” by Deborah Blumenthal is a interesting book the shows the reader the point of view of a person that hates the way they look. This book shows how someone may act about their insecurities and how they view themselves.
In the beginning of the story we are introduced to the main character, Allie. Allie, has very low self-esteem and hates her nose. Her whole life she had dreamed about getting a nose job to perfect her face. While fantasizing about a nose job Allie meets two of her soon to be bestfriends. And they all have one thing in common, they all hate their nose. “If i can fix my nose and look a hundred times better, why not?” (pg. 31).
I felt connected to Allie because she thought that if she changed something about her not only would she be physically beautiful but she would also feel beautiful and more accepting of herself. I agree with this because I too think that your self-confidence will reflect on your physical beauty.
Deborah Blumenthal did a great job using a lot of detail when describing how Allie thinks the nose job will change her. Deborah Blumenthal does a superb job in putting you in the shoes of a unconfident person to help show you what they go through. I think this would be a good recommendation for a person who hasn’t worried too much about their looks. This book teaches its readers the struggles a self conscious person faces.
August 20, 2014
The beginning of this book made me anxious: 15-year-old Allie’s life focus is to get cosmetic surgery, to pay money for rhinoplasty to remove a bump on her nose. When that is done, her theory goes, she can feel okay with herself. After that necessary unease (who wouldn’t feel sad for such an insecure character?), A Different Me unfolds into a crisply written, energetic tale, taking us on a realistic ride through a teenager’s experience, from her shaky state of self-esteem to her bloom of confidence and faith in “her gut”—the latter sound advice from her mom. Her parents are a quiet, stable, thoughtful presence throughout Allie’s trials, quite boring she thinks. However, her social life intersects with a surprising array of peers who defy their appearances of beauty, frumpiness, or boy-who-wears-eyeliner style. These friends reveal to her intense personal circumstances that in turn help Allie reflect and see that her own big picture, literal (close-up photos of her face) and figurative, are just fine. The cuss-word-sprinkled language is authentic (be warned or rejoice), as is the inclusion of vapid, girly shopping trips and numerous meals of pizza, perfect for YA readers to gobble up.
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September 14, 2015Allie is ecstatic to learn that she is not alone. She is not the only girl who hates her nose!
For as long as Allie can remember, she has wanted to change one thing about her appearance. The shape of her nose, especially the bump, has disgusted her. She wears sunglasses in hopes of hiding it, and she is always looking for makeup tips that help hid imperfections.
No one knows how she feels, not her parents and not even her best friend Jen. But all that changes when Allie finds a website devoted to people considering cosmetic surgery. She meets Katrina and Mel. They also hate their noses and plan to do something about it.
After sharing her feelings with her two new friends, Allie is even more determined to make a change that she thinks will improve everything about her life. Will she have the courage to confront her parents about the subject? Will tutoring a girl named Amber help her realize what real problems look like and what's really important in life?
Author Deborah Blumenthal explores the increasing popularity of cosmetic surgery that is sweeping the country. A DIFFERENT ME is perfect for girls dealing with body image issues and is sure to stimulate quality discussion about related topics.
For as long as Allie can remember, she has wanted to change one thing about her appearance. The shape of her nose, especially the bump, has disgusted her. She wears sunglasses in hopes of hiding it, and she is always looking for makeup tips that help hid imperfections.
No one knows how she feels, not her parents and not even her best friend Jen. But all that changes when Allie finds a website devoted to people considering cosmetic surgery. She meets Katrina and Mel. They also hate their noses and plan to do something about it.
After sharing her feelings with her two new friends, Allie is even more determined to make a change that she thinks will improve everything about her life. Will she have the courage to confront her parents about the subject? Will tutoring a girl named Amber help her realize what real problems look like and what's really important in life?
Author Deborah Blumenthal explores the increasing popularity of cosmetic surgery that is sweeping the country. A DIFFERENT ME is perfect for girls dealing with body image issues and is sure to stimulate quality discussion about related topics.
September 15, 2014
This was a really great book about a girl who is obsessed with having her nose "done".
Allie is 15 years old and all of her insecurities revolve around the fact that she has a bump in her nose. She wants desperately to have a nose job but hasn't told her parents. She joins a plastic surgery forum and meets two girls who feel the same. They become good friends. After the second friend has her surgery, Allie finally talks to her parents who agree that she can also have the surgery.
While all this is going on, Allie is assigned to tutor the most popular, beautiful girl in school. An unlikely friendship is born. After Amber's mother has some depression issues and Amber is pulled out of school, Allie is given David as a fellow student to mentor. Another unlikely friendship is born.
I love how Allie grew through these two friendships and, after seeing how she looked to other people, was able to see herself more clearly.
I think this is a well written, positive book of growth and highly recommend it!
Allie is 15 years old and all of her insecurities revolve around the fact that she has a bump in her nose. She wants desperately to have a nose job but hasn't told her parents. She joins a plastic surgery forum and meets two girls who feel the same. They become good friends. After the second friend has her surgery, Allie finally talks to her parents who agree that she can also have the surgery.
While all this is going on, Allie is assigned to tutor the most popular, beautiful girl in school. An unlikely friendship is born. After Amber's mother has some depression issues and Amber is pulled out of school, Allie is given David as a fellow student to mentor. Another unlikely friendship is born.
I love how Allie grew through these two friendships and, after seeing how she looked to other people, was able to see herself more clearly.
I think this is a well written, positive book of growth and highly recommend it!
March 7, 2016
Trigger Warning: mild references to sexual abuse
Premise: I wasn't sure what to expect this book. I don't read a lot of contemporary novels, especially not a lot of women focused ones and plastic surgery is something I've never even thought of before. I was pleasantly surprised by this book though. The plot is simple and focuses on characters finding themselves and looking at others deeper then what is on the surface and it executed that very well.
Writing: Well written. The prose is invisible and you only see the story. There was one dialogue error, but that was it.
Characters: The best part of the story. You meet all these people and immediately you are tempted to lump them into a specific stereotype. There is Amber who appears to be the preppy "better then you" popular girl, then there is David the goth geek, Jen the awesome best friend, and many others. And slowly you get to see these people for who they actually are....and its beautiful and unexpected. Learning who these characters are on the inside is the best part of the novel.
Journey: Enjoyable and a fast read.
Premise: I wasn't sure what to expect this book. I don't read a lot of contemporary novels, especially not a lot of women focused ones and plastic surgery is something I've never even thought of before. I was pleasantly surprised by this book though. The plot is simple and focuses on characters finding themselves and looking at others deeper then what is on the surface and it executed that very well.
Writing: Well written. The prose is invisible and you only see the story. There was one dialogue error, but that was it.
Characters: The best part of the story. You meet all these people and immediately you are tempted to lump them into a specific stereotype. There is Amber who appears to be the preppy "better then you" popular girl, then there is David the goth geek, Jen the awesome best friend, and many others. And slowly you get to see these people for who they actually are....and its beautiful and unexpected. Learning who these characters are on the inside is the best part of the novel.
Journey: Enjoyable and a fast read.
August 25, 2015
I enjoyed this book. I think it was a good book for me to read because its about a teen in this generation with alot of the same struggles every teen goes through. I loved how so many different people from different backgrounds are apart of this story. Like how the popular girl everyone wants to be, actually has a rough life and has to deal with so much. The one weird guy who wears eyeliner, he does it to get the attention towards himself and not his brother that has cancer. I liked how this book clearly shows that no one is perfect and everyone has there flaws. If you have people in your life that care about you and make you happy, you shuldnt care what haters think of you. You shouldnt go and judge someone, because you never know, they could end up being your bestfriend once you get to know them. I rated this four stars because i liked how relatable this book was but it was kind of strange and annoying that it was about Allie wanting surgery for her nose and how everything revolved around it. Other than that, i thought this was a good book and recomend it to teens my age.
September 26, 2014
I gave this book a 3.5 out of 5 stars. It is an okay book. The topic of the book is what really got me interested in it and is really the only interesting thing about it. Not many fiction books deal with the topic of plastic/cosmetic surgery, so this was a nice surprise. The main character is likable but a bit dull.
My biggest complaint is the writing wasn't that "good" and the characters were just cardboard dull. There was no real "personality" to many of the characters.
But the writing!! Ugh, it really isn't that bad or anything it is just so plain and amature. There is no feeling in her writing. There is not much anticipation, everything is just there. The writier tries to give meaning and depth to a lot of the characters through a class presentation on "truth" and their lives, but even that is just...there.
This book was an interesting read for those who are either considering plastic surgery or are interested in what goes in the minds of those who do.
My biggest complaint is the writing wasn't that "good" and the characters were just cardboard dull. There was no real "personality" to many of the characters.
But the writing!! Ugh, it really isn't that bad or anything it is just so plain and amature. There is no feeling in her writing. There is not much anticipation, everything is just there. The writier tries to give meaning and depth to a lot of the characters through a class presentation on "truth" and their lives, but even that is just...there.
This book was an interesting read for those who are either considering plastic surgery or are interested in what goes in the minds of those who do.
June 22, 2016
Allie is a lot like your average American teenaged girl: self-conscious. Allie really hates her nose. Like, REALLY hates it. She wants nothing more than to get rhinoplasty and be rid of the source of all her troubles. This story chronicles Allie's detachment from her circle of friends, and the bonds she forms with the girls she meets online, all of whom want to get a nose-job. We see girls who get what they want, girls who have to wait, and Allie. The author does talk about some of the repercussions, but I don't know if she really hit home the idea of self-acceptance hard enough for her teenaged audience. I appreciate that she respects her audience enough to make their own decisions- , but given the current pressures to look perfect, I would have liked to see a more apparent theme of self-acceptance, or some resources for people with body dismorphia at the end of the book.
April 27, 2015
I cannot stand books about an "issue" that pretty much focus every sentence on adding to said issue. I get that something like this, it becomes obsessive, it IS something Allie thinks about in all parts of her life, but seriously. There is nothing else.
I also had a huge problem connecting with Allie. She didn't seem real. She certainly wasn't likeable. And I couldn't believe how the people in her life reacted to her asking for a nose job - even the plastic surgeons didn't seem too concerned about asking about her mental health (I thought it was a requirement to see a psychologist before surgery like that?) - and her parents, though reluctant, didn't really question her decision at ALL. Not a great message to send, I thought.
Overall, the writing seemed targeted more at middle grade, despite the age of the characters and the nature of the issue.
I also had a huge problem connecting with Allie. She didn't seem real. She certainly wasn't likeable. And I couldn't believe how the people in her life reacted to her asking for a nose job - even the plastic surgeons didn't seem too concerned about asking about her mental health (I thought it was a requirement to see a psychologist before surgery like that?) - and her parents, though reluctant, didn't really question her decision at ALL. Not a great message to send, I thought.
Overall, the writing seemed targeted more at middle grade, despite the age of the characters and the nature of the issue.
August 18, 2016
Reading A Different Me was like reading a story about that one particular problem every person goes through in life: feeling insecure about their looks. Allie Johnson is a normal teenage girl with a normal teenage life, except she doesn’t like her nose. Ever since she was a preteen, she felt the need to get a nose job. She didn’t want to speak about it with her parents or best friend in the fear that they just wouldn’t “get her.” At school, she’s obsessed with Amber, the most popular girl there, since she believes Amber is blessed with beauty. Read the full review on The Young Folks: http://tinyurl.com/jbjqbnu
July 7, 2014
A Different Me is a cute contemporary novel. I loved that the main character's parents are functional and caring. This book explores beauty and self image in teen girls. I did have a few issues with the novel, but they did not keep me from enjoying it overall. 1) I see why the plot needed the mentoring setup, but as a teacher, it bothered me. 2) In my opinion the teenagers were too wise to be realistic. Still, a cute and thought-provoking tale.
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September 22, 2015Graded By: Brian
Cover Story: The Shadow Nose
Drinking Buddy: Why the Long Face?
Testosterone Level: Don't Get Your Nose Out of Joint
Talky Talk: A Nose By Any Other Name
Bonus Factors: Snooty Girl, Mysterious Loner Geek
Bromance Status: We'll Cross That Bridge When We Come to It
Read the full book report here.
Cover Story: The Shadow Nose
Drinking Buddy: Why the Long Face?
Testosterone Level: Don't Get Your Nose Out of Joint
Talky Talk: A Nose By Any Other Name
Bonus Factors: Snooty Girl, Mysterious Loner Geek
Bromance Status: We'll Cross That Bridge When We Come to It
Read the full book report here.
April 25, 2025
This was a very well-written book. In the story, Allie Johnston struggles with insecurities about her appearance. Throughout the book there are plenty of good lessons on how to become confident, encouraging, and a better friend. Allie meets people that help her to realize that there are better things to focus on in life than your flaws, and that she is not the only one that has some problems.
August 5, 2015
This book was good. It was a little odd for a story, but sometimes odd is good. I love how she finds people who feel how she feels and how she has supporters through it all. I wish the story told a little more about what happened to her a few months after she got the procedure but it was a good way to end.
May 30, 2015
This was a book I could totally relate to (unfortunately) and was very uplifting to read - I loved the idea and plot line and although I feel like the execution of the book could have been better, it was still an enjoyable read.
June 11, 2014
Loved it!
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