Beautiful: A girl's trip through the looking glass

Beautiful #1

by Marie D'Abreo

From the creator of 'Lost in Guyville'...

It sucks to have big, frizzy hair and a decidedly average body... when you really want to have model good looks and a cool boyfriend. That's why Lily's on a mission to get beautified, or at least get a red-hot makeover. And the attention of her crush. Now if she could only stop that pesky unwanted visitor from messing with her plans!

More About 'Beautiful'
Teenager Lily gets a lot of messages about what it means to be a successful and desirable woman in today's world. Seems like the bottom line is, you've got to have gorgeous looks, a winning personality... and a cute boyfriend to prove it!

Through quirky humor and expressive artwork, the graphic novel 'Beautiful' takes you on poignant journey through the inner and outer voices we all struggle with. And Lily's ultimate discovery about the true nature of life itself.

Tween readers will enjoy 'Beautiful', while educators and therapists will find it a helpful teaching tool for women and girls of all ages.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Young Adult, Comics, Contemporary, Teen, American, Realistic Fiction

134 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 11, 2014

About the author

MARIE D'ABREO is a graphic novelist. She is author and illustrator of:

Beautiful Book One: A Girl's Trip Through the Looking Glass
Beautiful Book Two: Living with the Frenemy
Beautiful Book Three: Game of Crones
Lost in Guyville
Sky Orb

Marie grew up in Worthing, a seaside town in England. She has a B.F.A. from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design and now resides in San Francisco, California.

Reviews

[Colleen Marie Zukowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book a lot and think it is a great read, especially for young girls. It deals with low self-image and the things the world tells us we need to do and how we need to look in order to be worthy. The story follows a young girl over a short period of time as she struggles to accept herself and tries to change herself to be more like the girls she envies and so her crush will like her. It is very well written and illustrated and I found myself relating to a lot of it. It is a great, quick read and will hit close to home with anyone who reads it. the best thing is it makes you think how you are not alone in your insecurities and in the end the book brought a smile to my face.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

One teenage girl's exploration on what it means to be yourself and not fall for all the advertising gimmicks in media texts that target young girls. While the idea might be a little bit simplistic in the way in which the main protagonist "finds herself", it is a good starter to a discussion with girls in the upper elementary or middle years about self image.

[Alma White · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book. I thought it was very powerful. It made me think that you don’t have to be everybody’s idea of beautiful to actually be beautiful. I know I get insecure but I’ll just think to myself it doesn’t matter what other people think as long as I think I’m beautiful.

[Kristy Lin Billuni · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like stories with a strong point of view, and Beautiful has that. The story unfolds inside the mind of Lily, a young woman who doesn’t realize how beautiful she truly is. While Lily does interact with other characters, the story’s villain is a voice inside her head, and that important device worked very well in this graphic novel format.

Never have I held a more aptly titled book in my hands. Beautiful is more than a beauty-comes-from-within story, although it does sock you in the gut with its empowering feminist message. D’Abreo brings to life an astonishingly real main character, universally relatable yet unique, edgy, and fascinating.

And the book itself—the object—is beautiful, and not just visually, with its playful black and white illustrations. The texture of the yummy pink cover feels sensually pleasing in your hands too. I’ve already purchased several copies as gifts for both girls and women in my life.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This was pretty good! It's very accurate example of low self esteem and the negative voice in your head that comes with it. It's, as the title says, a BEAUTIFUL story about how a girl found the true meaning of  beauty. It's very relatable and send a very good message to all girls, no matter what your age is. It really makes you stop and think. It shows you that there is more than one way to view what is beautiful and how to finally find peace from all those negative thoughts. I really enjoyed this and I hope that others do too.

[John N Toner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love

I loved it. It is heart warming and I think that it tells that everyone is beautiful no matter what.

[Ruby Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a good book. I couldn't get myself to give this one anything less than five stars. A journey about a girl's self image, how to love yourself, and not care about whatever anyone else says. As well as being short this book was AMAZING.

This book includes quotes from many famous people.

SILENCE that voice that tells you that you are worth less than the biggest number than you can think of. WHO cares about your weight, how UNIQUE you dress, how your hair looks, or who you are friends with.

Anyone who does, matters 0% in your life.

Thoughts:
- I thought this book was a romance graphic novel. That is why I originally started reading it. What kept me reading this book was the fact that I WANTED Lily to succeed.

AGE RECOMMENDATION: EVERYONE should read this one. Not anyone under 3rd grade because it isn't meant for them and they shouldn't worry about any of this yet.

I hope you enjoyed my review! Happy Reading! -Ruby Rose

[Lauren Sieben · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good, albeit a bit simplistic, look at self image and young girls self esteem. Definitely will be one I keep on my shelf for middle school girls.

[Michelle Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I had had this book in middle-school and high school. Heck, I wish I had it all my life. This short graphic novel is a concise treat that will, first and foremost, engage 4th through 8th graders, but will touch women of all ages. Why? Well, because I believe women can be their own worst enemies. Many of us see "Lynx Girls" everywhere, and then we see only the worst in ourselves. Being called "Ugly" during my tween and teen years still stings. (Why is that? I've accepted my assymetrical face, the entirely recalcitrant right eyebrow, big teeth, haven't I? Hmmmm...I wonder?) Anyway...on with the review.

D'Abreo's story and art are intelligent and straightforward. She explores how the protagonist, Lily, deals with insecurities, cleverly represented by some nasty critters who enjoy attacking Lily's self-worth. They thrive on undermining her confidence and grow stronger as she tries to fight them. Even when she tries to "rebrand" herself by reading a magazine entitled "Self-Esteem," she discovers that the deceptive little tome only feeds her "demons." In desperation, she tries to escape them, but she finds that she cannot. Then Lily asks the creatures to name themselves, and she discovers that the monsters don't really exist. Only then is she able to follow the path to her "true self," a self that doesn't find physical beauty all that important.

A great message I can sink my extraordinarily large teeth into.

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Important topic, and moments of recognition for me with depicted inner voice. Artwork supported the story. I enjoy stories where women learn they are valuable and beautiful in who they are. But overall it felt simplistic, and the character spoke genericly and so felt representational instead of like a person in her own right: " I deserve a pricey beverage." Women's relationships with their bodies are complex, as is the world's interactions with and representations of women. Those complexities go largely unacknowledged here in favor of an after-school special feel.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inner critic illustrated

This book does a beautiful job of illustrating, with clarity and immediacy, the inner critic that everyone faces, especially in adolescence - that voice that says you're not good enough, pretty enough, cool enough - you have to make yourself into a product to be appealing - and then that other voice, the self that says to be in the moment, mindful, is beautiful. I just wish this was longer!

[Taylor Pierson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Genre: Graphic novel

Unique Feature: One unique feature of this book is the beginning of each chapter. Each chapter begins with an inspirational quote that foreshadows what is to come. Each quote is also thoughtful and relevant to the book as a whole.

Grades: This book, due to its length, would be best utilized in 4th to 7th grade.

[Richard W Heo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a very good book this girl was very self conscious and she had no faith in herself would not recommend

Not a very good book this girl was very self conscious would not recommend this book for kids two stars to me

[the.clara.library · Rating 4 out of 5]

live laugh love the message of this book and u should definitely gift this to anyone struggling with body image/insecurities <33

[J.F.T. J.F.T. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first thing I said upon opening the book glancing down at its uniquely designed page was ‘Beautiful’, completely forgetting these words were actually part of the book’s title, I could envision it’s writer urging the cover designer to make the book ‘Beautiful’, then Imagine my surprise when I read more about the author to find out she’s also an illustrator!?!...Excellent Job done, the design and choice of colours put me in the mood to want to read this while sipping on some ice cold fizzy pink lemonade, immensely reminiscent of my teenage years, but was I to be fooled, ‘would this turn out to be a mature book?’ lemme see, and so I saw...first page immediately sets a comfortable tone, the dialogue is interesting from the go and I can already tell I’m gonna enjoy this one... I’m a guy but I’m already getting drawn in to the mind mechanics of a young woman, and enjoying it unsurprisingly... as someone whose mind has its own mind and running dialogue, I’m immediately one with the character... You begin to realise that we (men & women) think more alike than people would credit, and a lot of our dilemmas are more or less the same, it also shows our differences, for instance men generally aren’t half as complimentary by nature, you get exceptions :)... I’m a quarter way in the book and realising this book has no boring bits, at this stage it’s like a pg sex and the city without Samantha or her ethics, it’s not your regular story, it’s written with style and uniqueness, if you’re not in to chic flicks or the book versions of this then stay clear, fortunately this is right up my alley.

Page 43 made me chuckle, I’ve been with girls who’ve felt exactly the same and it always amuses and intrigues me... nearly half way through and I’m realising this is a comfortable read, a book to read on a dry sunning Sunday afternoon, I rarely think this but I know I’ll definitely want to read another book from this author and I’m at page 73... i have to say I was waiting for a big climax or twist, something to alter the beautiful serenity that was the overall theme of this book but found none, I guess you have to expect that if it’s titled beautiful it won’t be anything other than, though I feel a twist would have added that needed punch to an already great book I was left feeling slightly unsatisfied but calm and at peace in the end... full of thought provoking quotes and concepts it’s one to definitely read, it still doesn’t answer the questions I was hoping it would like what is beauty? Rather it gives you an example of it; This was ‘beautiful’... I’m definitely reading the next one...

[Megan Anderson · Rating 2 out of 5]

A major issue I had with the book is the subtle message that, despite beauty coming from within, there’s only one way to be a Good Woman. Believing in yourself is part of that, but D’Abreo also seems to say that a Good Woman shuns all extrinsic rewards and self-care. For example, when Lily buys herself a coffee drink, she beats herself up over it, but the author seems to think that’s okay. The message at the end seems to say, “I don’t need things as long as I believe in myself!” This completely negates the idea that “things” can be perfectly acceptable rewards! If you’re proud of yourself for accomplishing something difficult, why not celebrate in some small way? Go out to dinner with friends. Chill out with a favorite show or a new book. Buy the coffee drink! Treating yourself won’t make you believe in yourself any less, and it might help you de-stress. It’s all about being mindful to what you actually need, and sometimes a woman just needs some pizza, y’know?

But what makes Beautiful so frustrating is how ridiculously heavy-handed it is with its message that true beauty comes from within. D’Abreo repeats throughout that you don't need to be thin to be pretty, you don't need to look like a model to be pretty, you don't have to wear makeup to be pretty—that just being your own, authentic self is enough to be beautiful. She really just bashes you over the head with it. Seriously. I mean, she takes you out back with a bullhorn and screams in your face until you finish the book and you're just completely exhausted from all the pages that you just read.

And that's one of the things that makes the book so disappointing because it really is an important message! This is especially in days like these where everybody is bombarded by media, by the Internet, by everything and everyone around them to look and behave a certain way. Sure, it's been like that for centuries. Obviously, the message that true beauty comes from within is definitely important, but I feel like the way the message is handled in the story is just over-the-top overwhelming.

This is definitely a book to be used in snippets with an upper-elementary/middle-school health class for discussions on self-confidence, self-esteem, and self-image. Other than that? Eh.

[Kyracampuzano · Rating 5 out of 5]

What the book is about: This book is about a girl named Lily who is very self conscious of what she does and how she acts. She is not fond of her body or the way she dresses. She doesn't like how she is lonely and how her friends don't notice how she feels. In the end she tries to overcome her fear of herself and break through her bubble she is in. She then is confident about her self and is proud of what she has done.
Thoughts on book: I loved this book so much because it can be so relatable in many cases that the characters had. I learned many things from the book about my self and how to stop negativity to take over. many of the situations that Lily was in, are like mine, so I can take the advice she uses and use it on myself.
Why it was rated the way it was: I rated it five stars because it was very well written, and I really connected with the main character, Lily. It shows how your self conscious can really effect someones feelings towards them self and other people.

[Vi · Rating 3 out of 5]

A relatable story about living with your insecurities. I liked the art style. The lines had a light, almost faded look to them.

*Spoilers*
I'm not sure I really bought into the character's sudden acceptance of herself at the end. It seemed that her motorcycle accident made her realize that she should accept herself as she is. But without that near-death experience, I'm not sure how to flip the switch that the main character was suddenly able to do.

[emyrose8 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5- I thought this would be a good one for my middle school girls, but it seemed more for high school or college kids (or adults). A few minor swear words. The main point of the story is a little too abstract for middle school- high schoolers will pick up on it better. Still, a topic that needs discussing- what makes someone beautiful?

[Helen Huff · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's very deep, but I did expect a little more.

The book was very short, I read it in 5 minutes. It was good, but I needed something that would take me at least a week or two to read.

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book opened my eyes a little more. Even though it took me about 20 min. to read, it was still really good. I'm sure almost everybody feels insecure about their looks at least a little. This story was amazing.

[Chiara Henley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful is one of those books that has a life lesson to it. For example like this book shows that you don't have to change yourself because of someone else or from people judging you. But yeah this is a book that i recommend to read if you are insecure about yourself.

[Delonna Gibbs · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of my reluctant readers wanted to read this book. I bought it with HIGH HOPES that it may be a fun book for her. After reading it - I’m not sure she will like it. The content and theme is great but I’m not sure it will connect with my students. Still plan to add it to my classroom library.

[Ivy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me encanta como la autora ejemplifica la vida de un adolescente, las ideas abrumadoras que los atormenta de modo muy inocente, en cuanto a la percepción de la belleza y los estándares a los cuales estamos sometidos. s

[Grant Barrett · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not great but needed

Book is drawn well enough for its grayscale style. Does dive into depression and anxiety but handles it too ham handedly.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

The message of this narrative was a bit heavy handed, but appreciated nonetheless.

[Beezoo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book about finding out who you are and not needing other people to show you who you are on the inside.

[Tina Silveira · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5*

[Christy Rawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think every woman should read this. It’s a fast easy read.

[✨Gayatri ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was really inspirational, every girl should read it.