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Pretty
Pretty isn't everything! Trapped by the limitations of her high-school adjective, the realities of her mother's alcohol addiction, and a racially fraught America, Sophie's perspective on what being pretty really means changes drastically in the second adjective-busting novel by the author of Husky , Justin Sayre.
Set three months after Husky's conclusion and narrated by Sophie, Davis's best friend, Sayre details the private and public life of someone saddled with the adjective of pretty. Confident, stylish, and easygoing at school, Sophie is struggling in her home life. Stepping in to help as her mother's addiction spirals out of control, Sophie's aunt teaches the biracial Sophie new lessons about her heritage. While helping to heal the wounds inflicted by alcoholism, Sophie's renewed sense of self challenges her perception of place in the affluent, "liberal" neighborhood of Park Slope where she lives. Set against the backgrounds of Brooklyn and Harlem, Sayre challenges readers to confront superficial assumptions about race and beauty and breathes new life into the cannon of middle-grade realistic fiction.
From the Hardcover edition.
Set three months after Husky's conclusion and narrated by Sophie, Davis's best friend, Sayre details the private and public life of someone saddled with the adjective of pretty. Confident, stylish, and easygoing at school, Sophie is struggling in her home life. Stepping in to help as her mother's addiction spirals out of control, Sophie's aunt teaches the biracial Sophie new lessons about her heritage. While helping to heal the wounds inflicted by alcoholism, Sophie's renewed sense of self challenges her perception of place in the affluent, "liberal" neighborhood of Park Slope where she lives. Set against the backgrounds of Brooklyn and Harlem, Sayre challenges readers to confront superficial assumptions about race and beauty and breathes new life into the cannon of middle-grade realistic fiction.
From the Hardcover edition.
Audio CD
First published May 2, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
September 2, 2017
AHHHH I loved this book! This is a contemporary, young-adult, coming-of-age book in the finest! This is the type of book I have to add to my list of books I'm going to force my future daughter to read one day. This is the type of book that you just NEED to read, because it teaches you so many things, it makes you feel so much less alone, and it gives you implicit advice. You find yourself in this book, you learn from it, and you gain so much- and most of all, it's all wrapped inside this perfect cute little story. I feel like a lot of young teens can relate to this book a lot, which makes it essential to read, because I'm sure millions of teens see themselves in the same situation as Sophie, and sometimes when you don't know what to do, reading a book about it makes it all better because you can imagine yourself in the book and it gives you a clearer idea of what you want to do. Sophie has been lacking motherly love, support and guidance her whole life because her mom is an alcoholic. Her mom hits her and makes her hide in her room and she doesn't tell anyone about it. She's best friends with this girl who doesn't really care about her and is pretty mean. She's also friends with these other people who are kind of "losers" in the school but make her feel appreciated. She starts to date this popular guy because he likes her and everyone ships it, but she doesn't really feel happy in the relationship, because she kind of does whatever he wants, and doesn't feel like he truly understands her. He gets mad at her, and there is no real connection because he's really only dating her because she's pretty. Her best friend hates the fact that she's so pretty and everything is "easy" for her. Her aunt comes and lives with her and she's reminded of everything she doesn't have, and her aunt loves, supports, and gives her advice. Things start to fix up and Sophie learns that loving people is sometimes letting them go, and she learns about putting yourself first and being more than a title. It's just such a wonderfully written book, and everything flowed perfectly. It was also a quick read, which is great because you fly through it and still enjoy it tremendously.
July 5, 2017
This is extraordinary. While I liked HUSKY a great deal, PRETTY is a step beyond. I read this in one sitting, and I definitely cried. All of the characters here are so richly drawn and believable, even down to the mean girl. Sophie is someone you want to root for, like Davis before her. I just need there to be an Ellen book. It is required.
Edited to add: I'm willing to give Sayre a pass on writing about a mixed race girl as a white man. He handles it with sensitivity; having read Husky I think he's just trying to build on a world and flesh out characters. That Sophie is a half-black girl is important, but not the most important part of her story. Had her tale come before Davis's book I may have a harder time with the cultural sensitivities but I think Sayre did his homework. I'm open to arguments that I'm wrong.
Edited to add: I'm willing to give Sayre a pass on writing about a mixed race girl as a white man. He handles it with sensitivity; having read Husky I think he's just trying to build on a world and flesh out characters. That Sophie is a half-black girl is important, but not the most important part of her story. Had her tale come before Davis's book I may have a harder time with the cultural sensitivities but I think Sayre did his homework. I'm open to arguments that I'm wrong.
August 18, 2017
middlegrade fiction (Sophie is in 8th grade and just starting to date boys; incidentally, she is of mixed heritage, her mother being black and her father being French/caucasian). This is a quick read, and a relatively gentle treatment of the alcoholic single parent family--Sophie's is extremely lucky to have such a dependable and loving aunt to look after her, and also her mom is generally fully recovered from her addiction after her first (monthlong) trip to rehab (though it's left a little up in the air, because it's difficult to be certain, or maybe that's just how I interpreted it). Sophie's circumstances also have made her more mature than her peers, but is still not thinking about doing anything more than kissing with her "maybe boyfriend," so I think this is perfect for 6th-7th grade (or 5th-9th grade, depending on the kid) readers.
p.s. I loved Sophie's friends, Ducks and Ellen, so will have to check out Husky soon (and probably any future volumes in this series, hint hint).
The reminder to be sensitive of other kids (because they might be going through some difficult problems that you know nothing about) also brings to mind another series that I would also recommend, Awkward, for equally endearing characters who experience their own private problems while surviving middle school.
p.s. I loved Sophie's friends, Ducks and Ellen, so will have to check out Husky soon (and probably any future volumes in this series, hint hint).
The reminder to be sensitive of other kids (because they might be going through some difficult problems that you know nothing about) also brings to mind another series that I would also recommend, Awkward, for equally endearing characters who experience their own private problems while surviving middle school.
July 11, 2017
I read the first, Husky, in 2 days via audiobook. I read the second in about 7 hours while doing yoga, cleaning the kitchen, and crying at seemingly random intervals to the outside observer. the book is 6h8min long in this format, but, shavasana.
I can't speak to the accuracy of the portrayal of a girl like Sophie. Shes 13, I'm 32. She's mixed race, I'm white. She's she, I'm he. she's from the city, I'm from a strip mall turned into a small city. etc. I *can* say that the tears came from messages I didn't know I'd always craved (or TOTALLY knew, but cried to hear them anyway), but which made absolute sense to the characters' contexts as well.
The two books together are interconnected coming of age stories that make the difficult parts of life actually less difficult by dispensing with euphemism and sugar coating. I highly recommend them.
Pretty, and her Husky predecessor are both Beautiful.
I can't speak to the accuracy of the portrayal of a girl like Sophie. Shes 13, I'm 32. She's mixed race, I'm white. She's she, I'm he. she's from the city, I'm from a strip mall turned into a small city. etc. I *can* say that the tears came from messages I didn't know I'd always craved (or TOTALLY knew, but cried to hear them anyway), but which made absolute sense to the characters' contexts as well.
The two books together are interconnected coming of age stories that make the difficult parts of life actually less difficult by dispensing with euphemism and sugar coating. I highly recommend them.
Pretty, and her Husky predecessor are both Beautiful.
August 23, 2017
The title of this book, the cover, and even the summary do not do it justice. It is a beautiful book, no pun intended. It isn't perfect, but I loved it; and there is so much in it.
July 21, 2017
Amazing book. A powerful narrative that touches ones heart through its simplicity, truth and or course beauty. Sophie's mother Janet, is an an abusive alcoholic that can be jovial at first but as her drinking progresses becomes mean and abusive. Sophie's Dad is out of the picture in Paris and does not help or support his daughter, but instead chides her for not calling him and telling him how wonderful he is.
She is caught in two lives. The one by day where she is smart, a fashionista with good friends and the one at night where she must become a deductive spy to determine what Janet will do next and how to avoid her abuse and get to her room fast and lock it till Janet passes out.
Sophie is a testament to "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger". A beautiful courageous example of staying true to yourself, even if you are only thirteen.
She is caught in two lives. The one by day where she is smart, a fashionista with good friends and the one at night where she must become a deductive spy to determine what Janet will do next and how to avoid her abuse and get to her room fast and lock it till Janet passes out.
Sophie is a testament to "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger". A beautiful courageous example of staying true to yourself, even if you are only thirteen.
May 23, 2017
I have a rule that I have to read at least the first 50 pages of a book before giving up on it, if I don't like the beginning. So glad I stuck to that rule with this book!
The writing at the start of the book is very choppy and I found it off-putting. Then the description of the abuse by the mother left another sour taste in my mouth. But once the mom leaves the picture (I won't spoil why) and the other characters in the book become the focus, I found myself being pulled in to the life of Sophie.
Although this is a YA novel, so the main character is teen, as an adult I found it to be an enjoyable read. I liked many of the issues that it tackled - identity, friendship, touches of racial differences, romance, etc.... I found there to be many lessons learned - what real beauty is, what makes a good romantic relationship, how to know true friends, what it means to love someone if you don't like them and probably more. As a Christian, the only thing I found disappointing was that although they go to church, they don't believe in Him. Sad to me.
I got this in a giveaway and am glad I did, because it was very enjoyable and thought provoking. I'm going to try to get my reluctant reader teenager to read it.
The writing at the start of the book is very choppy and I found it off-putting. Then the description of the abuse by the mother left another sour taste in my mouth. But once the mom leaves the picture (I won't spoil why) and the other characters in the book become the focus, I found myself being pulled in to the life of Sophie.
Although this is a YA novel, so the main character is teen, as an adult I found it to be an enjoyable read. I liked many of the issues that it tackled - identity, friendship, touches of racial differences, romance, etc.... I found there to be many lessons learned - what real beauty is, what makes a good romantic relationship, how to know true friends, what it means to love someone if you don't like them and probably more. As a Christian, the only thing I found disappointing was that although they go to church, they don't believe in Him. Sad to me.
I got this in a giveaway and am glad I did, because it was very enjoyable and thought provoking. I'm going to try to get my reluctant reader teenager to read it.
October 5, 2018
The story: Sophie is busy trying to keep her mother’s alcoholism secret—and separated from the rest of her life—so when her mother disappears and her aunt steps in, the teen hardly knows what to think. For once not in charge of keeping her unbalanced mother happy, Sophie can explore what it takes to make herself happy...and it’s not exactly what she might have thought. Sometimes knowing WHAT to want is the hardest thing of all.
June Cleaver’s ratings: Language PG-13; Violence PG; Sexual content PG; Nudity G; Substance abuse R; MGic & the occult G; GLBT content G; adult themes ((alcoholism, abandonment) PG-13; overall rating PG-13.
Liz’s comments: Guess I’m still an honorary boy, because there just wasn’t enough get-up-and-go in this story for me. If you have kids who liked Sayre’s “Husky”; you can hand them this sort-of sequel.
June Cleaver’s ratings: Language PG-13; Violence PG; Sexual content PG; Nudity G; Substance abuse R; MGic & the occult G; GLBT content G; adult themes ((alcoholism, abandonment) PG-13; overall rating PG-13.
Liz’s comments: Guess I’m still an honorary boy, because there just wasn’t enough get-up-and-go in this story for me. If you have kids who liked Sayre’s “Husky”; you can hand them this sort-of sequel.
July 31, 2017
I don't doubt for a minute that this book will appeal to middle grade and YA readers, and there's nothing wrong with the story, insomuch as I could tell by reading only one-third of the book. However, I really dislike the author's choice to "valley" these characters. Yes, we know that there is a disgusting habit by many Millennials to use "like" four or five times in a sentence. But is it necessary to write this into middle-grade and YA novels? No, it is not. I cannot choose to ignore my patrons who engage in this obnoxious habit, but I can DNF a book whose author decides it's the best way to relate to their audience. No. Write smarter.
December 22, 2017
I did not read Husky, although now it is definitely on my TBR. I loved this book, which is why I gave it 5 stars. It may be more 4-star writing, but the impact on me elevated my rating. I am curious to know what black or biracial girls might think of Sophie's story, since I am a white adult. However, I do feel that Sayre managed that aspect of Sophie's identity well, and it was not the main focus of her story.
February 2, 2018
This book is amazing! It made me feel sad, mad, relieved while I was reading. Sophie is a great character, she is nice, careful and learns trough the book how to stand up for herself while still thinking about other feelings. This book is really well written and I recommend it completely.
October 27, 2017
It was really emotional. The words were so full of the character, Sophie's, emotions. It was a great book. And It really taught the reader of what pretty means truthfully.
August 10, 2018
BEAUTIFUL coming of age book about a black girl figuring out life amongst the craziness that a 13 year old girl shouldn’t and should be dealing with.
January 6, 2025
The factors that helped me choose this book were: This book is a genre that I have enjoyed reading in the past. It seems to be written at a perfect reading level for me. And i've read a bit of it in grade 7 which I liked a lot. Also I love how the book is written like a series that you can watch. Plus the way the book is written is really intriguing, which also applies to the story line and the summary on the back.
At first there are 4 characters that we know of. The daughter which is the main character, her mom/Janet, Daniel/ducks (her friend), and Allegra (one of her best-friends). Her mom has an alcohol problem and kind of ruins the main characters life with it. Ducks is the random friend that you hang out with when there is no-one else to choose. And Allegra is the “rich” friend that drives them around and shows them her mansions.
Me and her are a bit similar. We both like fashion and wearing different clothes than most people. Also we both really care about grades and school, its not like our parents will punish us but we still try as much as possible. The book also shows us that she is a pretty outgoing person when shes with her friends, and I am too.So i think we might be a bit similar to each-other
They mentioned the main character had a father that left her and her mom and her mom began to drink after he left. But they never told us why. She had mentioned before that her parents were having some financial problems. And I noticed that she said “parents”, so her dad was present. That might have been why he left them, financial problems.
Bit of a summary from the chapter I'm on right now:
Sophie, the main character, is a black/mixed girl who lives with her mom.She loves to get her hair done and she is pretty straight up with everyone. She wears very fashionable clothes that are different from other people. Her friends are all white and she feels that that is wrong, she wants to make some friends of her own race to connect with her culture better.
Our main character Sophie has an alcoholic mother. Her father is also not present so it makes things very difficult. Sometimes her mother lashes out on her and breaks things and her belongings when she gets too drunk. But then she forgets it the next day and starts apologizing to her. But for Sophie she has tried to get this under control, by counting her steps to the bathroom or to the bedroom to see where she passes out. But she tries as much as she can to keep herself safe. In the most recent chapter, her aunt Amara comes over as her mom suddenly wants to go to Paris for a month. Her aunt is making everything weird for her. And her mom suddenly leaving is even more odd. Her aunt doesn't know about all the alcohol and abuse. She tries to talk to her mother that night but she doesn't even look at her.the day she left (her mom) Sophie thought that something was off about her mother leaving all of a sudden. She was concerned and worried for a while, but we will see what happens next.
My favorite scene was when Sophie got braids for the first time with her aunt. Since she had never gotten any hairstyle professionally done before it was a very emotional moment for her and she was connecting with her culture more and more and it showed how she just needed a bit of a put to be more confident, after she got the braids she truly realized that she didn't have to be pretty because she was already beautiful.
At first there are 4 characters that we know of. The daughter which is the main character, her mom/Janet, Daniel/ducks (her friend), and Allegra (one of her best-friends). Her mom has an alcohol problem and kind of ruins the main characters life with it. Ducks is the random friend that you hang out with when there is no-one else to choose. And Allegra is the “rich” friend that drives them around and shows them her mansions.
Me and her are a bit similar. We both like fashion and wearing different clothes than most people. Also we both really care about grades and school, its not like our parents will punish us but we still try as much as possible. The book also shows us that she is a pretty outgoing person when shes with her friends, and I am too.So i think we might be a bit similar to each-other
They mentioned the main character had a father that left her and her mom and her mom began to drink after he left. But they never told us why. She had mentioned before that her parents were having some financial problems. And I noticed that she said “parents”, so her dad was present. That might have been why he left them, financial problems.
Bit of a summary from the chapter I'm on right now:
Sophie, the main character, is a black/mixed girl who lives with her mom.She loves to get her hair done and she is pretty straight up with everyone. She wears very fashionable clothes that are different from other people. Her friends are all white and she feels that that is wrong, she wants to make some friends of her own race to connect with her culture better.
Our main character Sophie has an alcoholic mother. Her father is also not present so it makes things very difficult. Sometimes her mother lashes out on her and breaks things and her belongings when she gets too drunk. But then she forgets it the next day and starts apologizing to her. But for Sophie she has tried to get this under control, by counting her steps to the bathroom or to the bedroom to see where she passes out. But she tries as much as she can to keep herself safe. In the most recent chapter, her aunt Amara comes over as her mom suddenly wants to go to Paris for a month. Her aunt is making everything weird for her. And her mom suddenly leaving is even more odd. Her aunt doesn't know about all the alcohol and abuse. She tries to talk to her mother that night but she doesn't even look at her.the day she left (her mom) Sophie thought that something was off about her mother leaving all of a sudden. She was concerned and worried for a while, but we will see what happens next.
My favorite scene was when Sophie got braids for the first time with her aunt. Since she had never gotten any hairstyle professionally done before it was a very emotional moment for her and she was connecting with her culture more and more and it showed how she just needed a bit of a put to be more confident, after she got the braids she truly realized that she didn't have to be pretty because she was already beautiful.
August 7, 2021
As a high school student, there are very few aspects of this book that I can relate to. However, it is clear to me that many younger readers will be able to resonate with the story and everything that the main character, Sophie, is going through and feeling. Objectively, I feel as though many people of all ages may relate to this book in one way or another.
The writing in this book fits our main character, whose perspective is the one that we follow throughout the book, so well. It feels as though she is directly talking to the reader. However, her thoughts are repetitive and filtered to an extent. To put it simply, I find it boring.
Although the characters in this book seem very two dimensional to me, character development in the book is well executed. Once again, I think that many people will relate to at least one of the characters in this book.
The main character’s circumstances at home would have seriously and negatively impacted the rest of her life such as grades and human relationships in real life, but that isn’t seen in this book. It just seems unrealistic. I would have liked something darker; something that expresses a much closer look and analysis of the character’s reality, yet Sophie is the perfect student, the perfect friend, the perfect niece, the perfect neighbor etc. I feel that the book lacks conversation on mental health.
I felt like I had to finish this book just for the sake of finishing it. I would’ve DNF’d this one, but I had nothing else to read. :/
I probably wouldn’t recommend this book to anyone I know, but I know that some younger readers may enjoy it. I bought this book when I was just a few years younger than the main character and that’s how I know that people around that age will find this interesting. Now, however, reading this was an underwhelming experience especially after going in with high expectations.
I expected more from this YA contemporary especially because the blurb on the book says, “Coming-of-age never looked so beautiful.” Well, sorry to say it, but I’ve seen more beautiful.
The writing in this book fits our main character, whose perspective is the one that we follow throughout the book, so well. It feels as though she is directly talking to the reader. However, her thoughts are repetitive and filtered to an extent. To put it simply, I find it boring.
Although the characters in this book seem very two dimensional to me, character development in the book is well executed. Once again, I think that many people will relate to at least one of the characters in this book.
The main character’s circumstances at home would have seriously and negatively impacted the rest of her life such as grades and human relationships in real life, but that isn’t seen in this book. It just seems unrealistic. I would have liked something darker; something that expresses a much closer look and analysis of the character’s reality, yet Sophie is the perfect student, the perfect friend, the perfect niece, the perfect neighbor etc. I feel that the book lacks conversation on mental health.
I felt like I had to finish this book just for the sake of finishing it. I would’ve DNF’d this one, but I had nothing else to read. :/
I probably wouldn’t recommend this book to anyone I know, but I know that some younger readers may enjoy it. I bought this book when I was just a few years younger than the main character and that’s how I know that people around that age will find this interesting. Now, however, reading this was an underwhelming experience especially after going in with high expectations.
I expected more from this YA contemporary especially because the blurb on the book says, “Coming-of-age never looked so beautiful.” Well, sorry to say it, but I’ve seen more beautiful.
December 14, 2018
Pretty, Justin Sayre, Fiction
Sophie's perspective on what being pretty really means changes drastically. She lives a very private and public life for a thirteen year old girl, Though she appears outgoing, confident and stylish at school sophie lives a nightmare at home. When her mothers alcohol addiction gets out of control sophie's Auntie Amara steps in to take control to hold the family back together. She teaches sophie new lessons about her family's culture and heritage and even her sense of place in the Brooklyn neighbourhood. This book is a both positive and negative book because she learns about her own spot in her life discovering whos she is a person and it’s also challenging because her mother isn’t really putting effort into her label of being a “mother”. Sophie also begins to discover the complexity of growing up into a young adult due to the fact that she doesn't want to take after her mother and put all her problems away from the usage of alcohol. Just one family member can make you feel “beautiful” inside and that’s all that Sophie was looking for. The characters are well developed and can even get you sensitive to your emotions.
Sophie's perspective on what being pretty really means changes drastically. She lives a very private and public life for a thirteen year old girl, Though she appears outgoing, confident and stylish at school sophie lives a nightmare at home. When her mothers alcohol addiction gets out of control sophie's Auntie Amara steps in to take control to hold the family back together. She teaches sophie new lessons about her family's culture and heritage and even her sense of place in the Brooklyn neighbourhood. This book is a both positive and negative book because she learns about her own spot in her life discovering whos she is a person and it’s also challenging because her mother isn’t really putting effort into her label of being a “mother”. Sophie also begins to discover the complexity of growing up into a young adult due to the fact that she doesn't want to take after her mother and put all her problems away from the usage of alcohol. Just one family member can make you feel “beautiful” inside and that’s all that Sophie was looking for. The characters are well developed and can even get you sensitive to your emotions.
August 8, 2017
*I feel like I'm stuck between a 3.75 and a 4!* I think this book is very meaningful. Many feeling that Sophie towards good changes in her mother were relatable as she doesn't want to hope for the best of things we're going to go sour. I really like Amara's and Sophie's relationship too because it really shows you how a girl needs a strong role model in her life to get by. Something's I couldn't get myself to LIKE were the friendships Sophie had. They seemed too unrealistic and awkward to me. The dialogue was also annoying at times because after every word a kid would say 'like'. I understand that lots of people say 'like' a lot, but that much?! Other than that I really liked this book and the message it had about the meaning of being beautiful and finding your own value. It's a quick read so do check it out!
October 23, 2017
Overall, I enjoyed this book, but hated when Sophie decides to pass up the chance to live with her aunt. ". . . I know that I can't go with Amara. I know I have to stay here because I have to do so many things here. I have to fix things with Ryan, not be his girlfriend or anything but at least let him understand that I didn't mean to hurt him. I have to fix things with Allegra, who's just angry with me because she thinks I have things she doesn't. She should know better. And for Ellen. She needs me in moments, moments she doesn't want to admit, but she does. And Ducks, he needs me, but more than anyone, he just needs me to be me. And Janet. All of these things are my purpose and that's part of being beautiful" (p.208).
I would have rather Sophie disengaged from all the toxicity in her life and started over with her aunt.
I would have rather Sophie disengaged from all the toxicity in her life and started over with her aunt.
March 12, 2018
Wow! This book really hit home. I think this should be required for any Junior High and High School students. This book is about Sophie who is pretty, and who is called pretty on a daily basis. She likes that she is pretty but she is wise wise wise beyond her years. She takes care of her "ailing" (drunk) mother, and grows up a lot. I have never read a protagonist who is so truly herself. She has a wonderful role model in her aunt who is a doctor, teaches at CUNY, and writes. The thing I most admire about Sophie is that she does not lose herself entirely in her relationships. If she knows a boy isn't right for her she doesn't lead him on no matter what. She does not make relationships her number one priority in school. I think a lot of women need to read this book and take a line from Sophie.
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October 11, 2020A character that I found interesting in this book was Auntie Amara. She was so comfortable in her own shoes throughout the entire book and I found it very inspiring. She helps Sophie become who she really is and teaches her more about her mother and her past. I found her interesting because she is so open to the world and to making new connections with people.
A memorable quote from this book is "Janet knows all the words, and in the softest way she mouths them along with the little old lady." I like this quote because it shows Janet reacting to a song from her past. One song bringing forth so many memories.
After reading this book I thought more deeply about what 'pretty' actually means. 'Pretty' doesn't describe something special it just describes something cute. I have now made the resolution to use the word 'pretty' less.
A memorable quote from this book is "Janet knows all the words, and in the softest way she mouths them along with the little old lady." I like this quote because it shows Janet reacting to a song from her past. One song bringing forth so many memories.
After reading this book I thought more deeply about what 'pretty' actually means. 'Pretty' doesn't describe something special it just describes something cute. I have now made the resolution to use the word 'pretty' less.
August 5, 2017
Having not read Sayre's first, I am picking up that his "series" will be one-word adjectives and the lives of characters revolving around it.
I can relate to the topic of "pretty" and what "pretty" means and how you're labeled as one word and you're likely going to forever be that. Get it.
Sophie has an alcoholic mother who she feels responsible for taking care of, similar to many stories I've read recently You'll Always Be A Winner to name one, and she is stuck between being herself and fearing how her mother is at home. Her father is halfway across the world and minimally involved but when her aunt arrives and is a positive force to take the weight from Sophie, I adored Sayre's shift in including positive adults in the story. Truly a middle grade with a sense of hope at the end.
I can relate to the topic of "pretty" and what "pretty" means and how you're labeled as one word and you're likely going to forever be that. Get it.
Sophie has an alcoholic mother who she feels responsible for taking care of, similar to many stories I've read recently You'll Always Be A Winner to name one, and she is stuck between being herself and fearing how her mother is at home. Her father is halfway across the world and minimally involved but when her aunt arrives and is a positive force to take the weight from Sophie, I adored Sayre's shift in including positive adults in the story. Truly a middle grade with a sense of hope at the end.
July 24, 2023
While I thought the story was interesting, I feel like this book was just missing something important. The entire thing to begin with felt a little uninspired. Once I got to more bits with the twists, I was a little more intrigued. But overall, I just think Pretty was a little boring. Character interactions felt kind of awkward a few times and the writing style just wasn’t my forte. While I think the message was good, I think it was a little too forced. I feel that if there’s ever a lesson in a book such as this one, it should be a little harder to discover and reading this otherwise made me feel stupid when the author was so boldly spelling out the takeaway. While Pretty leaves something to be desired, it was a good concept.
February 24, 2018
Great book for girls who are listening to all the voices in the world about what they need to look like and what's important.
This is the story of an eighth-grade girl who everyone thinks is pretty but has a huge secret at home. Her mom is an alcoholic. The trials that go along with that are unthinkable. Read this book for a great message.
"Pretty is a dish or a cake, baby. It's something you call an ornament. Beauty comes from what we do, what we have the right and the vision to do and to be."
"I want that," I say, half to myself.
But she hears and lifts up my face with her hand, and says, "Girl, you already got it. You're beautiful to me."
This is the story of an eighth-grade girl who everyone thinks is pretty but has a huge secret at home. Her mom is an alcoholic. The trials that go along with that are unthinkable. Read this book for a great message.
"Pretty is a dish or a cake, baby. It's something you call an ornament. Beauty comes from what we do, what we have the right and the vision to do and to be."
"I want that," I say, half to myself.
But she hears and lifts up my face with her hand, and says, "Girl, you already got it. You're beautiful to me."
December 9, 2021
This book was beautiful. There was so much to it that spoke to me. The way that Pretty is something you use as a step up from cute. The way that word holds privileges unseen to those who are deemed it. The way beautiful is a much more fascinating, important word to consciously use.
I related to the MC, not so much in her looks or her pretty privilege, but in her home life. I understood how she had to count the steps. How she knew who was walking (though it was only her and her mom, it’s a survival instinct). This book almost made me cry and tbh nearly gave me those feelings all over again.
She didn’t get everything she wanted because she was pretty and that’s something no one ever saw. She worked so hard to make her life seem normal and put together. Being pretty was just a bonus for her. A gift for not getting the ideal home.
If you want to understand what it’s like from the other perspective. Give it a go
I related to the MC, not so much in her looks or her pretty privilege, but in her home life. I understood how she had to count the steps. How she knew who was walking (though it was only her and her mom, it’s a survival instinct). This book almost made me cry and tbh nearly gave me those feelings all over again.
She didn’t get everything she wanted because she was pretty and that’s something no one ever saw. She worked so hard to make her life seem normal and put together. Being pretty was just a bonus for her. A gift for not getting the ideal home.
If you want to understand what it’s like from the other perspective. Give it a go
January 18, 2018
What I like about this book: A mixed race girl takes on divorced parents, an absentee dad, an alcoholic mom and abuse. Stories like this are needed, especially in middle grade books. This book can definitely sit at the higher end of middle grade.
The protagonist is strong, but not too strong. I mean her life sucks pretty bad in the beginning, and she responds in a believable way.
She finds her roots and bonds with another positive adult. While things look up in the end, it's not overly neat and tidy.
What I don't like about this book: Some things are a little too deliberate. I definitely feel like the play on the title along with the class project wasn't as effective as it could be.
The protagonist is strong, but not too strong. I mean her life sucks pretty bad in the beginning, and she responds in a believable way.
She finds her roots and bonds with another positive adult. While things look up in the end, it's not overly neat and tidy.
What I don't like about this book: Some things are a little too deliberate. I definitely feel like the play on the title along with the class project wasn't as effective as it could be.
August 25, 2018
I loved the aunt and her backstory, the background about her and her sister (the main character's mother). This is a story about paths taken as a result of having certain descriptors assigned, different perspectives on what success means. I was a little unconvinced by the ease and simplicity with which the mom overcame her drinking problem--but it's a middle grades book, after all.
November 14, 2017
An absolutely wonderful coming of age story. It really goes to show what having the right family around can do. The only thing that stopped me from giving it 5/5 was that it seemed to drag a little in the middle and I felt like the author was info dumping in places that he shouldn’t have been.
February 6, 2020
I don’t think the book fits the description very well. They put very heavy how she learns the meaning of beautiful and she does but that’s not a big part of the book. The book itself was very good. If you have a preteen it would be a great book to have them read. Overall great book!
June 9, 2023
This book deals with the tough topic of substance abuse and neglect. The main character is face with challenges that kids her age should not have to think about she shows more maturity in this book than most adults. I would recommend to anyone who likes a coming-of-age book, and/or a quick read.
September 24, 2024
Although I was just as nervous about Janet's return as Sophie, I enjoyed this read. It was refreshing to read a story where it doesn't workout with the crush. It has an optimistic ending and I'm happy it ends on a good note, but I don't see myself recommending this novel or rereading it.
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