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Like Vanessa
In this semi-autobiographical debut novel set in 1983, Vanessa Martin's real-life reality of living with family in public housing in Newark, New Jersey is a far cry from the glamorous Miss America stage. She struggles with an incarcerated mother she barely remembers, a grandfather dealing with addiction and her own battle with self-confidence. But when a new teacher at school coordinates a beauty pageant and convinces Vanessa to enter, Vanessa's view of her own world begins to change. Vanessa discovers that her own self-worth is more than the scores of her talent performance and her interview answers, and that she doesn't need a crown to be comfortable in her own skin and see her own true beauty.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 13, 2018
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October 15, 2018
Like Vanessa
is categorized under middle grade and children's fiction, but I reckon that it will be appreciated more by young adults because of its story and because of how quite long. it is The novel is about Vanessa “Nessy” Martin: a Black American; a 13-year-old and 8th grader at King Middle School who lives with his grandfather, cousin, and dad in Newark, New Jersey.
Nessy’s mother left them when she was still 4 years old, hence she can’t remember any memories she had with her. Also, she has no idea where her mother is; she wants to ask her dad about her mom, but he always evades any questions about her. Nessy’s dad, Daniel, distanced himself ever since his wife was gone. On the other hand, her grandpa always reminds her dad that Nessy needs to know the truth about why her mother left them.
Nessy’s grandfather, Pop Pop, is a WWII veteran; he and Nessy never failed to watch the TV broadcast of Miss America every year. Ever since the pageant first held in 1921 and the first time that a Black American was allowed to join in 1933, there was no successful Black American participant who won the title neither became a runner-up.
The year 1983 is a momentous event because after 50 years, a contestant from New York, named Vanessa Williams, won the prestigious pageant. This gave Nessy’s music teacher, Mrs. Walton, the idea to persuade her to also join the very first beauty pageant that will be held at their school. Nessy’s grandpa and cousin, TJ, supports Mrs. Walton plan to let her compete in the contest. However, her dad strongly disapproved of it, but they go behind his back just to carefully prepare Nessy for the competition.
The story of Like Vanessa will teach us a lot of things, just like beauty is skin deep; the color of your skin doesn’t reflect your personality and traits. Loving and accepting yourself is the key to one’s happiness and self-fulfillment. It doesn’t matter if you don’t have the so-called “triple-L pageant package”: light skin, long hair, and long legs; because what’s important is what’s beyond that external appearance.
Nessy’s mother left them when she was still 4 years old, hence she can’t remember any memories she had with her. Also, she has no idea where her mother is; she wants to ask her dad about her mom, but he always evades any questions about her. Nessy’s dad, Daniel, distanced himself ever since his wife was gone. On the other hand, her grandpa always reminds her dad that Nessy needs to know the truth about why her mother left them.
Nessy’s grandfather, Pop Pop, is a WWII veteran; he and Nessy never failed to watch the TV broadcast of Miss America every year. Ever since the pageant first held in 1921 and the first time that a Black American was allowed to join in 1933, there was no successful Black American participant who won the title neither became a runner-up.
The year 1983 is a momentous event because after 50 years, a contestant from New York, named Vanessa Williams, won the prestigious pageant. This gave Nessy’s music teacher, Mrs. Walton, the idea to persuade her to also join the very first beauty pageant that will be held at their school. Nessy’s grandpa and cousin, TJ, supports Mrs. Walton plan to let her compete in the contest. However, her dad strongly disapproved of it, but they go behind his back just to carefully prepare Nessy for the competition.
The story of Like Vanessa will teach us a lot of things, just like beauty is skin deep; the color of your skin doesn’t reflect your personality and traits. Loving and accepting yourself is the key to one’s happiness and self-fulfillment. It doesn’t matter if you don’t have the so-called “triple-L pageant package”: light skin, long hair, and long legs; because what’s important is what’s beyond that external appearance.
February 8, 2018
3.5 stars. Overall I enjoyed Like Vanessa, but there were a lot of harmful statements that I could’ve lived without.
Check out my blog for more reviews and other bookish posts! This is a spoiler-free review!
full review:
I received an e-ARC from Charlesbridge through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!
I feel conflicted about Like Vanessa. I enjoyed reading this middle grade novel and I liked Vanessa’s character development, but there were some messages that rubbed me the wrong way.
I want to read middle grades more often, but I tend to struggle reading from a child’s point-of-view. Thankfully, that wasn’t the case in this novel; it was very accessible for an adult as well. This story was diverse: the main character and her family is black, there is poverty and disability representation and a side character is an immigrant.
Vanessa was flawed and I enjoyed seeing her grow and become more confident. It broke my heart that she prayed her skin would be lighter. I loved that she learned to love herself in the end, but it sucks that she had to lose weight in order to be considered beautiful. I think the message could’ve been even more wonderful if Vanessa could’ve remained fat throughout the book. This is how Vanessa describes her body after losing weight:
Being fat doesn’t have anything to do with your gender!
Though the author mentions in the author’s note that she is still close friends with many of the women she met while doing pageants, this book is filled with petty girl-on-girl hate. Especially in an industry that is already considered “bitchy”, I would’ve loved to see more supportive female friendships. The mean girls were all Puerto Ricans; I don’t think any character of Puerto Rican decent was shown in a more positive light. Furthermore, we only got to see how and what Vanessa was doing during the pageant; we didn’t get to know the other contestants.
I also have some issues with the queer representation. I am queer, but I am white so I don’t really know how this is handled in other communities. Though anti-gayness is realistic, especially during the 80s, I was very hurt by reading about a violent attack on a young, gay black man. I feel like the attack was used to further Vanessa’s storyline, rather than to start a discussion about accepting queer people.
Additionally, slurs are used and it’s said multiple times that being gay is “different”. I don’t think it was necessarily meant in a negative way, but different implies that being heterosexual is normal, whereas being gay isn’t. The gay representation was rather stereotypical, though that doesn’t have to be a bad thing. I was a bit annoyed though that Vanessa said that “he knows about all things girlified”, implying that sexuality has anything to do with gender.
There is a character in Like Vanessa who uses drugs, though it isn’t mentioned whether they were addicted to it. Nonetheless, I thought the discussions surrounding this character were very black-and-white. I know it’s hard to accept or understand, but doing drugs isn’t always a choice. Being addicted to alcohol is accepted in this book, but if you’re doing drugs, you’re a monster. I believe this topic should’ve been approached in a more nuanced way, especially because Tami Charles mentions the following in the author’s note, which isn’t really the message of the story itself:
Like I said, I liked this novel, but the amount of (in my opinion) problematic statements definitely lessened my enjoyment. Because I read an ARC and no one I know and trust has read this yet, I can’t check whether other readers found these examples problematic as well. I’d rather warn people too much than have them end up hurt because of me.
content and trigger warning for: poverty, alcoholism, drug use, abuse, anti-gay slurs, prison, abuse, a lot of ableist language, physical assault for being gay, anti-biracial remarks (“not really black” and “half black”), making fun of someone’s appearance, shaming girls who have sex (“shameless skanks”), cissexist remarks (“… a woman can bleed for a whole week…”), gangs, anti-fat remarks, anti-Asian remark? (“TJ comes walking down the hall, cheesin’ so hard his eyes almost disappear. If that boy wasn’t brown-skinned with an afro, I’d swear he was Chinese.”)
Check out my blog for more reviews and other bookish posts! This is a spoiler-free review!
full review:
I received an e-ARC from Charlesbridge through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!
I feel conflicted about Like Vanessa. I enjoyed reading this middle grade novel and I liked Vanessa’s character development, but there were some messages that rubbed me the wrong way.
I want to read middle grades more often, but I tend to struggle reading from a child’s point-of-view. Thankfully, that wasn’t the case in this novel; it was very accessible for an adult as well. This story was diverse: the main character and her family is black, there is poverty and disability representation and a side character is an immigrant.
Vanessa was flawed and I enjoyed seeing her grow and become more confident. It broke my heart that she prayed her skin would be lighter. I loved that she learned to love herself in the end, but it sucks that she had to lose weight in order to be considered beautiful. I think the message could’ve been even more wonderful if Vanessa could’ve remained fat throughout the book. This is how Vanessa describes her body after losing weight:
“It’s not the boxy, shapeless, boyish body I’m used to. I look… like a woman.”
Being fat doesn’t have anything to do with your gender!
Though the author mentions in the author’s note that she is still close friends with many of the women she met while doing pageants, this book is filled with petty girl-on-girl hate. Especially in an industry that is already considered “bitchy”, I would’ve loved to see more supportive female friendships. The mean girls were all Puerto Ricans; I don’t think any character of Puerto Rican decent was shown in a more positive light. Furthermore, we only got to see how and what Vanessa was doing during the pageant; we didn’t get to know the other contestants.
I also have some issues with the queer representation. I am queer, but I am white so I don’t really know how this is handled in other communities. Though anti-gayness is realistic, especially during the 80s, I was very hurt by reading about a violent attack on a young, gay black man. I feel like the attack was used to further Vanessa’s storyline, rather than to start a discussion about accepting queer people.
Additionally, slurs are used and it’s said multiple times that being gay is “different”. I don’t think it was necessarily meant in a negative way, but different implies that being heterosexual is normal, whereas being gay isn’t. The gay representation was rather stereotypical, though that doesn’t have to be a bad thing. I was a bit annoyed though that Vanessa said that “he knows about all things girlified”, implying that sexuality has anything to do with gender.
There is a character in Like Vanessa who uses drugs, though it isn’t mentioned whether they were addicted to it. Nonetheless, I thought the discussions surrounding this character were very black-and-white. I know it’s hard to accept or understand, but doing drugs isn’t always a choice. Being addicted to alcohol is accepted in this book, but if you’re doing drugs, you’re a monster. I believe this topic should’ve been approached in a more nuanced way, especially because Tami Charles mentions the following in the author’s note, which isn’t really the message of the story itself:
“Remember this: in life, everyone experiences setbacks, but those moments don’t have to create the path for how your life will turn out.”
Like I said, I liked this novel, but the amount of (in my opinion) problematic statements definitely lessened my enjoyment. Because I read an ARC and no one I know and trust has read this yet, I can’t check whether other readers found these examples problematic as well. I’d rather warn people too much than have them end up hurt because of me.
content and trigger warning for: poverty, alcoholism, drug use, abuse, anti-gay slurs, prison, abuse, a lot of ableist language, physical assault for being gay, anti-biracial remarks (“not really black” and “half black”), making fun of someone’s appearance, shaming girls who have sex (“shameless skanks”), cissexist remarks (“… a woman can bleed for a whole week…”), gangs, anti-fat remarks, anti-Asian remark? (“TJ comes walking down the hall, cheesin’ so hard his eyes almost disappear. If that boy wasn’t brown-skinned with an afro, I’d swear he was Chinese.”)
February 24, 2018
A big thank you to Charlesbridge and Edelweiss for an ARC of this book.
This book is girl power to the max and I really appreciate the message it sends to preteen and teen-aged girls to be the best you that you can be. That sounds very cliche', but as we follow Vanessa Martin on her journey to be like Vanessa Williams we see her realize that the end of her journey is a much better place than she ever expected. We watch her grow and change in many ways through the story. She make some missteps and overcomes obstacles. There are also some really outstanding adults in her life who mentor her. Recommended!
This book is girl power to the max and I really appreciate the message it sends to preteen and teen-aged girls to be the best you that you can be. That sounds very cliche', but as we follow Vanessa Martin on her journey to be like Vanessa Williams we see her realize that the end of her journey is a much better place than she ever expected. We watch her grow and change in many ways through the story. She make some missteps and overcomes obstacles. There are also some really outstanding adults in her life who mentor her. Recommended!
August 27, 2021
Heart-wrenching, moving, and inspirational all at once. Who'd have ever thought I'd get involved in the story about a beauty pageant contestant? But this book has so much to offer. Vanessa's aspirations go so much deeper than beauty pageants. Vanessa dearly wants to be loved and to be considered beautiful. Her quest to achieve beauty leads her to the discovery that the beauty is inside herself -- and it has been there all along.
Vanessa is so genuine, so honest, in her thoughts (although she sometimes holds back in her words and actions). She has such "heart." I could immediately identify with Vanessa, though her world and mine are entirely different.
Very well written, at times heart-wrenching, and extremely emotionally involving throughout, I can highly recommend Like Vanessa for anyone (age 12 and older) when it comes out in March of 2018.
I received a copy of this book from Charlesbridge via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Vanessa is so genuine, so honest, in her thoughts (although she sometimes holds back in her words and actions). She has such "heart." I could immediately identify with Vanessa, though her world and mine are entirely different.
Very well written, at times heart-wrenching, and extremely emotionally involving throughout, I can highly recommend Like Vanessa for anyone (age 12 and older) when it comes out in March of 2018.
I received a copy of this book from Charlesbridge via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 2, 2018
LIKE VANESSA is a hard-hitting take on growing up in public housing in Newark, NJ in the early 80's while under the spell of the first-ever Black Miss America, Vanessa Williams. The main character is also named Vanessa, and her story of being raised by her alcoholic, but well-meaning, grandfather and her mostly-absent father is absolutely heartbreaking. The pageant storyline brings up many important and timely themes of race and beauty ideals, while Vanessa's cousin's experiences addresses the struggle of being gay as a Black youth in the early '80s in this neighborhood.
Librarian note: this title is being marketed to ages 10 and up, but I feel that it reads more like an early YA story, with the protagonist being in her early teens. I will be purchasing this book for my middle/high school library (grades 6-12), but not for my elementary. Highly recommended for all libraries serving middle and high school students.
Thanks to Charlesbridge for the advance copy of this title - all opinions are my own.
Librarian note: this title is being marketed to ages 10 and up, but I feel that it reads more like an early YA story, with the protagonist being in her early teens. I will be purchasing this book for my middle/high school library (grades 6-12), but not for my elementary. Highly recommended for all libraries serving middle and high school students.
Thanks to Charlesbridge for the advance copy of this title - all opinions are my own.
February 16, 2018
Update 11/20/2017
There's a giveaway happening for this book rn!! Definitely enter it; this is one of my fave releases of 2018.yes I know it's not even 2018 yet but nothing can beat Like Vanessa, sorry
--
Holy crap! What a book!! I try to stay away from middle grade realistic/historical fiction because it tends to have a lack of diversity and shies away from important topics/wraps everything up in the end with a nice little bow, but Like Vanessa shattered every expectation I have of middle grade lit.
This is a book that parents need to read. This is a book that children need to read. This is a book that needs to be read in classrooms, in homes, everywhere.
It's 1983, and 13-year old Vanessa Martin is full of dreams. Dreams of her mama coming back home, dreams that her grandfather will stop drinking, dreams of winning the Miss America pageant. And when I read this book, I was caught up in all of her dreams. My heart swelled and was broken with hers.
Characters are what make or break a book for me, and they surely made this book. The people in Like Vanessa are real and "hungry and angry and empty and wanting." Vanessa was everything little girls and boys look for in a heroine, and the struggles that she goes through are sadly still prevalent issues that children and teens face in America today. I also really enjoyed reading about her cousin, TJ. He loves his family, deeply, and his struggle to hide his true self is something that many teens can relate to.
Like Vanessa is a seriously powerful book. It caused me to examine my own privilege in a deeper way.
This book deals with a lot of important stuff, such as racism, colorism, classism, alcoholism, abusive parents, drug issues, and homophobia, but it does it in a way that is subtle enough for Like Vanessa to still read like a middle-grade book. If I had read this book when I was ten, I probably would have not picked up on as much as I did now. I would recommend for parents to read this book with their children so that they can answer any questions they might have. But don't be put off by how raw this book is -- it is definitely full of important lessons that many young kids can benefit from.
So, whether you're looking for the next book to read to your class, or a book to read and talk about as a family, or, if, like me, you're wanting to venture out of YA for a bit, I would highly recommend Like Vanessa. It will leave you thinking and wanting more. It is sure to be one of the best, if not the best, middle grade books of 2018
I was given an eARC through NetGalley in exchange for a complete and honest review. (hooray! my first NetGalley!)
There's a giveaway happening for this book rn!! Definitely enter it; this is one of my fave releases of 2018.
--
"Everybody's got their rep... Mine? I'm like oxygen -- you know I'm there, but you don't see me. I shut my mouth. I make good grades. And when the bell rings at the end of the day, I take my butt home, close my door, and dream of a place far, far away from here."
Holy crap! What a book!! I try to stay away from middle grade realistic/historical fiction because it tends to have a lack of diversity and shies away from important topics/wraps everything up in the end with a nice little bow, but Like Vanessa shattered every expectation I have of middle grade lit.
This is a book that parents need to read. This is a book that children need to read. This is a book that needs to be read in classrooms, in homes, everywhere.
It's 1983, and 13-year old Vanessa Martin is full of dreams. Dreams of her mama coming back home, dreams that her grandfather will stop drinking, dreams of winning the Miss America pageant. And when I read this book, I was caught up in all of her dreams. My heart swelled and was broken with hers.
Characters are what make or break a book for me, and they surely made this book. The people in Like Vanessa are real and "hungry and angry and empty and wanting." Vanessa was everything little girls and boys look for in a heroine, and the struggles that she goes through are sadly still prevalent issues that children and teens face in America today. I also really enjoyed reading about her cousin, TJ. He loves his family, deeply, and his struggle to hide his true self is something that many teens can relate to.
Like Vanessa is a seriously powerful book. It caused me to examine my own privilege in a deeper way.
This book deals with a lot of important stuff, such as racism, colorism, classism, alcoholism, abusive parents, drug issues, and homophobia, but it does it in a way that is subtle enough for Like Vanessa to still read like a middle-grade book. If I had read this book when I was ten, I probably would have not picked up on as much as I did now. I would recommend for parents to read this book with their children so that they can answer any questions they might have. But don't be put off by how raw this book is -- it is definitely full of important lessons that many young kids can benefit from.
So, whether you're looking for the next book to read to your class, or a book to read and talk about as a family, or, if, like me, you're wanting to venture out of YA for a bit, I would highly recommend Like Vanessa. It will leave you thinking and wanting more. It is sure to be one of the best, if not the best, middle grade books of 2018
"Now I can see...the real meaning of beauty, and it ain't got nothing to do with having light skin and a little waist. All these years of watching the Miss America pageant, and I ain't never seen a girl who looked like me. And all I ever wanted was to live up to that American definition of beauty...But I can see it now. You can't buy beauty or pray for it to come in the form of what you see on the television screen. [It's] just something you gotta be."
I was given an eARC through NetGalley in exchange for a complete and honest review. (hooray! my first NetGalley!)
March 11, 2019
Like Vanessa felt like a blast from the past for me. Although I don't quite remember the eighties fully but I bonded with Vanessa having to be raised by a single father who worked a lot. This was a story that definitely gave me the chills. It is reality that many lower income families face. Having many family members in the home but not a lot of resources. Families members that have their own strife. I didn't feel like any of the characters fell flat. This story is empowering and honestly I wish I could have read this story when I was a tween.
February 13, 2018
I cannot say enough about this story. If you are looking for impactful culturally diverse YA, this is your book! I was totally immersed in the MC's life from the first few pages. Everything I want to rave about would be a spoiler, so this is a very short review.
I was approved for an eARC, via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
I was approved for an eARC, via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
December 26, 2017
I loved this book! I think this is a must-order for any public or middle-school library! Besides being a much-needed book with diverse characters and cultural authenticity, it is a wonderfully rich and multi-faceted story with a positive message about beauty and strength that will have readers reexamining their definitions of beauty and hopefully inspiring them to recognize their own natural beauty.
Set in the Newark projects in 1983, 13-year old Vanessa Martin, long-time Miss America pageant fan, is thrilled and inspired to see Vanessa Williams crowned as the first black Miss America (along with Miss New Jersey Suzette Charles, who was also black, as 1st runner-up). Vanessa dreams of one day being on the Miss America stage herself, though she wishes she fit the conventional standards of what is considered beautiful: long, wavy hair; light complexion, slender but curvy body. She sees her hair as too tightly coiled, her skin too dark, and her body too big and shapeless. But, an incredible voice, a school pageant, and a teacher who sees something special in her may come together to give her just the opportunity she needs to pursue her dream, IF she can find the confidence and courage.
While the central theme of this story may be facing fears and reexamining beauty, it includes several other issues that are all inter-related and part of the lives of Vanessa and her family, skillfully woven into the story and adding to it, rather than detracting from it as often happens when authors take on too much. We see the challenges of poverty, threats of gang violence, touching family relationships as well as difficult ones, how families are destroyed by drugs, and the lack of tolerance for those who were different. We also see typical middle school challenges of fitting in, being comfortable in your own skin, changing friendships, and learning how to recognize true friends.
This story has excellent character development, and I immediately fell in love with the characters of Vanessa, Pop Pop, and TJ. While Vanessa's father was a bit of an enigma and a somewhat unsympathetic character at first, I always had the feeling that his withdrawal from the family was the result of something painful and traumatic that had happened, that they were all keeping from Vanessa. I really loved the character of Vanessa's teacher, Mrs. Walton who turned out to be quite different from the well-intentioned but ill-prepared typical white teacher who wanted to "make a difference" but would quickly be overwhelmed and disappear before the end of the semester like Vanessa assumed she would be. I thought it was great to show how stereotypes and mistaken assumptions about people based on appearance can go both ways. The story moves along at the perfect pace; never dragging, but never rushed, either.
This story deals with some serious issues, but in an age-appropriate way that is not too graphic, nor bleak or disturbing. The overall tone is inspiring, challenging, and hopeful. The author includes some historical notes at the end about the Miss America pageant and Vanessa Williams, as well as about her own background growing up in Newark and competing in pageants herself, inspired like the character in the story by Vanessa Williams success. I always like it when an author includes historical context and background information. I recommend this book for ages 10 through 15, and I think many readers would find the themes relatable; fans of Rita Williams-Garcia's Gaither Sisters Series are sure to enjoy this book as well. I highly recommend it, and would not be surprised to see it as a Coretta Scott King finalist next year if it can get noticed.
An impressive debut; I'm eager to see Ms. Charles' upcoming picture book and next middle-grade/YA novel due out in the next year or two.
[I received this as a digital ARC from the publisher via NetGalley, due out in March of 2018]
Set in the Newark projects in 1983, 13-year old Vanessa Martin, long-time Miss America pageant fan, is thrilled and inspired to see Vanessa Williams crowned as the first black Miss America (along with Miss New Jersey Suzette Charles, who was also black, as 1st runner-up). Vanessa dreams of one day being on the Miss America stage herself, though she wishes she fit the conventional standards of what is considered beautiful: long, wavy hair; light complexion, slender but curvy body. She sees her hair as too tightly coiled, her skin too dark, and her body too big and shapeless. But, an incredible voice, a school pageant, and a teacher who sees something special in her may come together to give her just the opportunity she needs to pursue her dream, IF she can find the confidence and courage.
While the central theme of this story may be facing fears and reexamining beauty, it includes several other issues that are all inter-related and part of the lives of Vanessa and her family, skillfully woven into the story and adding to it, rather than detracting from it as often happens when authors take on too much. We see the challenges of poverty, threats of gang violence, touching family relationships as well as difficult ones, how families are destroyed by drugs, and the lack of tolerance for those who were different. We also see typical middle school challenges of fitting in, being comfortable in your own skin, changing friendships, and learning how to recognize true friends.
This story has excellent character development, and I immediately fell in love with the characters of Vanessa, Pop Pop, and TJ. While Vanessa's father was a bit of an enigma and a somewhat unsympathetic character at first, I always had the feeling that his withdrawal from the family was the result of something painful and traumatic that had happened, that they were all keeping from Vanessa. I really loved the character of Vanessa's teacher, Mrs. Walton who turned out to be quite different from the well-intentioned but ill-prepared typical white teacher who wanted to "make a difference" but would quickly be overwhelmed and disappear before the end of the semester like Vanessa assumed she would be. I thought it was great to show how stereotypes and mistaken assumptions about people based on appearance can go both ways. The story moves along at the perfect pace; never dragging, but never rushed, either.
This story deals with some serious issues, but in an age-appropriate way that is not too graphic, nor bleak or disturbing. The overall tone is inspiring, challenging, and hopeful. The author includes some historical notes at the end about the Miss America pageant and Vanessa Williams, as well as about her own background growing up in Newark and competing in pageants herself, inspired like the character in the story by Vanessa Williams success. I always like it when an author includes historical context and background information. I recommend this book for ages 10 through 15, and I think many readers would find the themes relatable; fans of Rita Williams-Garcia's Gaither Sisters Series are sure to enjoy this book as well. I highly recommend it, and would not be surprised to see it as a Coretta Scott King finalist next year if it can get noticed.
An impressive debut; I'm eager to see Ms. Charles' upcoming picture book and next middle-grade/YA novel due out in the next year or two.
[I received this as a digital ARC from the publisher via NetGalley, due out in March of 2018]
November 9, 2017
There is a story about Nichelle Nichols, who played Urura, in the original series of Star Trek, that she wanted to quit, after the first season. She felt she wasn't doing anything special on the show, and felt she could do better elsewhere. But Martin Luther King Jr. told her to stay. That her being on the show as showing girls that looked like her, that they could be more.
And, in the 1983, for the first time since the Miss American contest began, a woman of color won. Vanessa Williams. Black girls, who thought they could never be Miss America now saw that they too could aspire.
Representation is important. It is important because, while we can imagine that we can be something, it is hard if we don't have role models that show that yes, it can happen.
And while I had a feeling that some things in this book would turn out the way they did, this doens't mean that this was all slapped together. This book made me cry at the right points, and feel for Vanessa at the right points, and all the feels were there.
And this is probably, although as the author says, she did not come from quite such a hard place as the Vanessa in this book, she too tried the beauty content route, and knows from where she speaks.
Well researched (I like that in an historical novel), and well written, and just wonderful.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
And, in the 1983, for the first time since the Miss American contest began, a woman of color won. Vanessa Williams. Black girls, who thought they could never be Miss America now saw that they too could aspire.
Representation is important. It is important because, while we can imagine that we can be something, it is hard if we don't have role models that show that yes, it can happen.
And while I had a feeling that some things in this book would turn out the way they did, this doens't mean that this was all slapped together. This book made me cry at the right points, and feel for Vanessa at the right points, and all the feels were there.
And this is probably, although as the author says, she did not come from quite such a hard place as the Vanessa in this book, she too tried the beauty content route, and knows from where she speaks.
Well researched (I like that in an historical novel), and well written, and just wonderful.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
October 18, 2018
This book was Crazy Good! The characters, the plot and the writing were all well crafted.
Oh, how I loved Vanessa. Her story had its differences, yet it was so similar and familiar to my own. I only wish I had been as brave as her when I was her age. Her honesty and vulnerability were so refreshing to see. I also loved how she was able to accept responsibility for her mistakes and apologize. Her relationship with TJ was probably my favorite. I wish every student could have a Mrs. Walton, I’m grateful that I did.
This book covers so much, from fatphobia to homophobia, alcoholism, poverty/low income and more. Tami Charles tackles these subjects in an honest way, that is ideal for all ages. I’m so glad stories like this are being written and published. I would highly recommend this.
Oh, how I loved Vanessa. Her story had its differences, yet it was so similar and familiar to my own. I only wish I had been as brave as her when I was her age. Her honesty and vulnerability were so refreshing to see. I also loved how she was able to accept responsibility for her mistakes and apologize. Her relationship with TJ was probably my favorite. I wish every student could have a Mrs. Walton, I’m grateful that I did.
This book covers so much, from fatphobia to homophobia, alcoholism, poverty/low income and more. Tami Charles tackles these subjects in an honest way, that is ideal for all ages. I’m so glad stories like this are being written and published. I would highly recommend this.
January 8, 2021
In this semi-autobiographical debut novel set in 1983, Vanessa Martin's real-life reality of living with family in public housing in Newark, New Jersey is a far cry from the glamorous Miss America stage. She struggles with an incarcerated mother she barely remembers, a grandfather dealing with addiction and her own battle with self-confidence. But when a new teacher at school coordinates a beauty pageant and convinces Vanessa to enter, Vanessa's view of her own world begins to change. Vanessa discovers that her own self-worth is more than the scores of her talent performance and her interview answers, and that she doesn't need a crown to be comfortable in her own skin and see her own true beauty.
June 7, 2019
It’s 1983, and Vanessa Williams was just crowned Miss America, the first black woman to win the title. This changes everything for 13-year-old Vanessa Martin, who watches the Miss America pageant every year with her grandfather, and always dreamed of competing someday. Strong themes of breaking barriers, but the topic wasn’t really my thing. Ages 12 and up.
December 23, 2017
The year is 1983 and Vanessa Williams has just become the first African American woman to win the Miss America pageant. Vanessa Martin is living in a New Jersey housing project with her alcoholic grandfather, cousin, and a father who is always working. Even though Vanessa Martin loves beauty pageants, she doesn't want to enter her middle school's pageant because she doesn't think she has a shot at winning. After a new teacher at school encourages her to enter the pageant, Vanessa soon realizes that having inner confidence will go a long way and allow you to achieve your dreams.
First of all, A+ concept of a book! It's like I didn't know I needed a book about Vanessa Williams in my life until it was here. This book really got better and better as I read and by the end I couldn't help but be emotional and proud of Vanessa Martin and how far she had come. The book really touches on a lot of interesting subjects such as self-worth, poverty, race, friendship, and having a mother who isn't around and a distant father. I loved how the author at the end of the book included some background info on Vanessa Williams and how the characters in this book were inspired by the author's involvement in pageants growing up. This is truly a wonderful book to give young girls to read to show how important it is to believe in yourself.
I won a free copy of this book in a giveaway but was under no obligation to post a review. All views expressed are my honest opinion.
First of all, A+ concept of a book! It's like I didn't know I needed a book about Vanessa Williams in my life until it was here. This book really got better and better as I read and by the end I couldn't help but be emotional and proud of Vanessa Martin and how far she had come. The book really touches on a lot of interesting subjects such as self-worth, poverty, race, friendship, and having a mother who isn't around and a distant father. I loved how the author at the end of the book included some background info on Vanessa Williams and how the characters in this book were inspired by the author's involvement in pageants growing up. This is truly a wonderful book to give young girls to read to show how important it is to believe in yourself.
I won a free copy of this book in a giveaway but was under no obligation to post a review. All views expressed are my honest opinion.
December 12, 2017
“Gritty, poetic, and emotionally true” states Rita Williams-Garcia, top award-winning author of a variety of middle-grade books, including One Crazy Summer –
High praise that is well deserved for this feisty and fun book about Vanessa, a persistent girl who struggles against self-doubts to fulfill her dreams. Vanessa is amazed when the talented and beautiful Vanessa Williams wins the title of Miss America, the first Black woman to be crowned with this coveted title. Now it is Vanessa’s turn to capture her own crown, one from her own dreams, not borrowed or begged from anyone else. The year is 1983. The place is Newark, New Jersey. The obstacles include racism, peer ridicule, and perhaps the hardest, Vanessa’s own self doubt.
LIKE VANESSA is an engaging read for any teen, an important story filled with feisty, fun characters whose missteps and risk-taking keep the reader turning the pages.
Published by Charlesbridge, 2017
Review by Nancy Bo Flood
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July 2, 2020This book is girl power to the max and I really appreciate the message it sends to preteen and teen-aged girls to be the best you that you can be. That sounds very cliche', but as we follow Vanessa Martin on her journey to be like Vanessa Williams we see her realize that the end of her journey is a much better place than she ever expected. We watch her grow and change in many ways through the story. She make some missteps and overcomes obstacles. There are also some really outstanding adults in her life who mentor her. What does it really mean to be "like Vanessa?" *Reviewed by Darla from Red Bridge*
December 17, 2017
I never thought I would enjoy reading a novel about a beauty pageant contestant, but this one got me. From the moment I started reading, I felt for Vanessa with all of the challenges in her life, along with the mystery of what happened to her mother?
While I never would have looked up the history on what happened with Vanessa Williams's Miss America Win, I enjoyed reading in the end of the book and appreciated the life lessons from this situation as well as from the character Vanessa in the story.
This is definitely a great book about resiliency and reaching for what seems to be an unattainable goal!
While I never would have looked up the history on what happened with Vanessa Williams's Miss America Win, I enjoyed reading in the end of the book and appreciated the life lessons from this situation as well as from the character Vanessa in the story.
This is definitely a great book about resiliency and reaching for what seems to be an unattainable goal!
May 16, 2018
Such a beautiful book! Full of heart and realistic family and friend dynamics, that takes into consideration the struggle of a girl growing up without her mom and who wants to figure out the meaning of womanhood and beauty. Well done, Tami!
July 31, 2019
A lot of readers (including me) will agree that third person is often the best point-of-view to write from. It can be all-encompassing, all-knowing, and deliver the details of a story without the cringe factor it’s sometimes accompanied by. But I don’t think this is a case that always holds true—in particular, some books require a singular, first person point-of-view; the kind of narration that brings a particular person and voice to mind when you’re reading, that fills the pages with unique, individual color. Charles’s Like Vanessa embodies this necessity perfectly. Our eponymous heroine’s voice is enrapturing, personable, heartfelt. I finished 90% of this book in a day on sole account of that, and it’s been a long while since I did so.
Children’s literature, in particular, is pivotal to shaping so much of our world-view and our personal-view: what we see in and make of ourselves. Representation is especially critical within this genre because it is foundational—it is a voice speaking to children telling them that their endless questions and concerns about themselves have a place in the world, that their anxieties aren’t an unrelatable singularity. I was so happy to read about a fat, black character who wasn’t ultimately beaten down because of her appearance but rather shined because of it. Despite the horrors and sadness of her life, Vanessa came out on top in the end, because she learned to value herself: for her qualities, for the love that surrounded her, for the worries of her heart. Charles brought Vanessa’s racial and emotional identities to the center, made them the star of the show because they absolutely deserve to be. And this is the kind of representation that young children look for and crave; the kind that tells them all cruelties of the world aside, there is a place where they can thrive and win for who they are.
Although on a comparatively minor scale, it’s evinced also in the story of Vanessa’s cousin, TJ, and his struggle with safely expressing his sexuality. Like Vanessa, I feared for a moment that he’d actually died, but was pleased to see otherwise. It was a harrowing moment, one that hurts to see result in a worse end on so many television screens, but the vagueness of his conclusion aside, I appreciate that TJ’s sexuality was uplifted and the decision made for him to live in a place where he would be truly happy. It was a pretty, bow-topped ending on an ugly truth about America’s view of homosexuality at the time, but it was what was needed. I’m grateful it didn’t end otherwise on account of reality; the truth is something that needs to be understood, of course, but in its own place and time. And there are always happy stories amidst the ugly ones. There’s no harm in portraying them more often to deliver a larger sense of hope—as people, we need that.
My only real issue with Like Vanessa lied in Charles’s handling of Vanessa’s parents. The drug epidemic’s long-lasting effect on communities of color has obviously given rise to a broad range of opinions, and I do understand it’s a hard issue to be positive about given all of the damage it’s done—but uplifting is important. Drug addicts do make mistakes, and some are unsalvageable, but some does not imply all. Obviously, coming from a fourteen-year-old who was separated from her mother for nearly a decade, only to learn the reason for it being so was that her mother nearly killed her, the kind of responses Vanessa expressed upon finally meeting Tanya were hardly unreasonable. But I also found myself uncomfortable with Vanessa’s ultimate conclusion that her mother was nothing more than a deadbeat druggie—for ten years she wrote letters to Vanessa, made diaries for her daughter to pour her heart into. I don’t think this is a sign of someone who doesn’t care; no matter how fragile she may have looked in that prison, her love for her daughter clearly persevered, and I wish it hadn’t been so easily cast aside in the narrative. That it was became even more questionable to me given Vanessa’s sudden turn-around towards her father. That his deliberate emotional isolation and intimidation, spanning ten years, somehow didn’t matter any more because Vanessa’s mother had almost killed her inadvertently, was a bit baffling to me. Tanya was definitely at fault, but this, to me, didn’t automatically make Danny the better parent. He had his own emotional abuse to account for, and while the end of the book did show him slowly start to work to reform himself, I still found it odd that he was almost cleansed in Vanessa’s book because allegedly a cold, closed-off dad is still better than a “deadbeat druggie” who took the time to write letters and make personalized diaries for her daughter for a decade.
I realize I haven’t talked about the broad cast of supporting characters, but I don’t think much needs to be said. As I mentioned earlier, this story is, while at times harsh, ultimately uplifting. The support system Vanessa surrounds herself with is a strong, endearing one. As she tells us at the end during her graduation ceremony, in her community, there is family, there is friendship, there is love, and ultimately, that is what we need most to survive.
Children’s literature, in particular, is pivotal to shaping so much of our world-view and our personal-view: what we see in and make of ourselves. Representation is especially critical within this genre because it is foundational—it is a voice speaking to children telling them that their endless questions and concerns about themselves have a place in the world, that their anxieties aren’t an unrelatable singularity. I was so happy to read about a fat, black character who wasn’t ultimately beaten down because of her appearance but rather shined because of it. Despite the horrors and sadness of her life, Vanessa came out on top in the end, because she learned to value herself: for her qualities, for the love that surrounded her, for the worries of her heart. Charles brought Vanessa’s racial and emotional identities to the center, made them the star of the show because they absolutely deserve to be. And this is the kind of representation that young children look for and crave; the kind that tells them all cruelties of the world aside, there is a place where they can thrive and win for who they are.
Although on a comparatively minor scale, it’s evinced also in the story of Vanessa’s cousin, TJ, and his struggle with safely expressing his sexuality. Like Vanessa, I feared for a moment that he’d actually died, but was pleased to see otherwise. It was a harrowing moment, one that hurts to see result in a worse end on so many television screens, but the vagueness of his conclusion aside, I appreciate that TJ’s sexuality was uplifted and the decision made for him to live in a place where he would be truly happy. It was a pretty, bow-topped ending on an ugly truth about America’s view of homosexuality at the time, but it was what was needed. I’m grateful it didn’t end otherwise on account of reality; the truth is something that needs to be understood, of course, but in its own place and time. And there are always happy stories amidst the ugly ones. There’s no harm in portraying them more often to deliver a larger sense of hope—as people, we need that.
My only real issue with Like Vanessa lied in Charles’s handling of Vanessa’s parents. The drug epidemic’s long-lasting effect on communities of color has obviously given rise to a broad range of opinions, and I do understand it’s a hard issue to be positive about given all of the damage it’s done—but uplifting is important. Drug addicts do make mistakes, and some are unsalvageable, but some does not imply all. Obviously, coming from a fourteen-year-old who was separated from her mother for nearly a decade, only to learn the reason for it being so was that her mother nearly killed her, the kind of responses Vanessa expressed upon finally meeting Tanya were hardly unreasonable. But I also found myself uncomfortable with Vanessa’s ultimate conclusion that her mother was nothing more than a deadbeat druggie—for ten years she wrote letters to Vanessa, made diaries for her daughter to pour her heart into. I don’t think this is a sign of someone who doesn’t care; no matter how fragile she may have looked in that prison, her love for her daughter clearly persevered, and I wish it hadn’t been so easily cast aside in the narrative. That it was became even more questionable to me given Vanessa’s sudden turn-around towards her father. That his deliberate emotional isolation and intimidation, spanning ten years, somehow didn’t matter any more because Vanessa’s mother had almost killed her inadvertently, was a bit baffling to me. Tanya was definitely at fault, but this, to me, didn’t automatically make Danny the better parent. He had his own emotional abuse to account for, and while the end of the book did show him slowly start to work to reform himself, I still found it odd that he was almost cleansed in Vanessa’s book because allegedly a cold, closed-off dad is still better than a “deadbeat druggie” who took the time to write letters and make personalized diaries for her daughter for a decade.
I realize I haven’t talked about the broad cast of supporting characters, but I don’t think much needs to be said. As I mentioned earlier, this story is, while at times harsh, ultimately uplifting. The support system Vanessa surrounds herself with is a strong, endearing one. As she tells us at the end during her graduation ceremony, in her community, there is family, there is friendship, there is love, and ultimately, that is what we need most to survive.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 12, 2017
Engaging! Tami Charles has penned a masterpiece of black girl magic! With exceptional character development, it was easy to root for Vanessa and her family from beginning to end!
August 21, 2018
When Vanessa Williams becomes the first black Miss America in 1983, another Vanessa is inspired to enter her school's first pageant . . . even though she doesn't fit the typical pageant mold.
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December 3, 2018Oh my, how I love this book! The voice, the setting, the characters! I fell in love with Nessy on page one and rooted for her hard.
July 11, 2018
It's 1983 and Vanessa Williams is crowned Miss America. For thirteen-year-old Vanessa Martin this is a great milestone, Vanessa Williams is her number one example. Vanessa wants to be just like her idol and is thrilled women of color finally have a chance to win. To make matters even better, her high school is hosting a beauty pageant. Vanessa doesn't think she'll stand a chance though. She doesn't have beautiful clothes, her father doesn't want his daughter to have anything to do with pageants and her grandfather is supportive, but he's also an alcoholic struggling to stay sober enough to keep the household going. They can barely make ends meet. Vanessa's teacher sees something in her pupil and doesn't give up, she encourages Vanessa to enter until she says yes.
While preparing for the pageant Vanessa makes some life changing discoveries. There's a family secret she's trying to uncover, she learns what friendship really means and that it's all right to let someone be kind to you every once in a while. She also discovers the true meaning of beauty and therefore her confidence is starting to grow. She has a long way to go, but starts to think that maybe signing up for the school's beauty contest hasn't been such a bad idea after all. Is she right and will it bring Vanessa something positive and worthwhile?
Like Vanessa is a fantastic story about self-worth, beauty, family, friendship and opportunities. Vanessa is a sweet girl. She doesn't feel good about herself though. She has a magical voice, but she doesn't like to be in the spotlight, so she never lets herself shine. She hides behind oversized clothes and doesn't know how gorgeous she really is, because she thinks she isn't slim enough and her skin isn't light enough. She tries to be someone she's not before discovering that the person looking at her in the mirror is actually worth getting to know. She's incredibly special, she just has to start recognizing her own capabilities, she's kind and pretty, she writes stunning poetry, she can sing and she's super smart. She has the looks, the voice and the brains, she just has to start believing in them. Every step of her journey is fabulously described and I was eager to find out more about the contest, Vanessa's choices and her ambitions. She has such a lovely bright personality, she's a main character that will always have a place in my heart.
Tami Charles skillfully describes what it's like for Vanessa to deal with family issues, money problems and a lack of self-confidence. Vanessa slowly gets the tools to make some changes in her life. She's a smart girl with plenty of talents and she doesn't see how amazing she is. I kept hoping she'd discover that she's as beautiful on the outside as she is on the inside and that she'd find some much deserved happiness. I was rooting for this marvelous girl the entire time I was reading her story. I love how Tami Charles makes her main character come to life and greatly admired both her abilities to show every single layer of Vanessa's character and the personality itself. Like Vanessa is a brilliant book that will stay with me for a long time.
While preparing for the pageant Vanessa makes some life changing discoveries. There's a family secret she's trying to uncover, she learns what friendship really means and that it's all right to let someone be kind to you every once in a while. She also discovers the true meaning of beauty and therefore her confidence is starting to grow. She has a long way to go, but starts to think that maybe signing up for the school's beauty contest hasn't been such a bad idea after all. Is she right and will it bring Vanessa something positive and worthwhile?
Like Vanessa is a fantastic story about self-worth, beauty, family, friendship and opportunities. Vanessa is a sweet girl. She doesn't feel good about herself though. She has a magical voice, but she doesn't like to be in the spotlight, so she never lets herself shine. She hides behind oversized clothes and doesn't know how gorgeous she really is, because she thinks she isn't slim enough and her skin isn't light enough. She tries to be someone she's not before discovering that the person looking at her in the mirror is actually worth getting to know. She's incredibly special, she just has to start recognizing her own capabilities, she's kind and pretty, she writes stunning poetry, she can sing and she's super smart. She has the looks, the voice and the brains, she just has to start believing in them. Every step of her journey is fabulously described and I was eager to find out more about the contest, Vanessa's choices and her ambitions. She has such a lovely bright personality, she's a main character that will always have a place in my heart.
Tami Charles skillfully describes what it's like for Vanessa to deal with family issues, money problems and a lack of self-confidence. Vanessa slowly gets the tools to make some changes in her life. She's a smart girl with plenty of talents and she doesn't see how amazing she is. I kept hoping she'd discover that she's as beautiful on the outside as she is on the inside and that she'd find some much deserved happiness. I was rooting for this marvelous girl the entire time I was reading her story. I love how Tami Charles makes her main character come to life and greatly admired both her abilities to show every single layer of Vanessa's character and the personality itself. Like Vanessa is a brilliant book that will stay with me for a long time.
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March 2, 2018
Finally got my thoughts together...
This book was really good 😭 I haven’t enjoyed a middle grade this good since I read Piecing Me Together by Renee Watson. This story follows Vanessa Martin. She is 14. Overweight. Live in the ghetto with her Grandpa , cousin TJ and her estranged father.
Vanessa sees Vanessa William win the American Beauty Pageant and Vanessa wants to be everything that comes with that. Beautiful , popular the whole nine. Now Vanessa is very shy. She can sing and it wasn’t until her best friend outed her one day in music class that her teacher suggested she try out for the school pageant that was happening in a couple months. After a lot of convincing Vanessa entered the pageant.
I LOVED THE GROWTH OF VANESSA. She went from an insecure teen and blossoming into a beautiful girl. I’m glad that she decided to do the pageant because she learned a lot about herself she wouldn’t know otherwise. She learned about fake friends, taking care of yourself and loving the skin you’re in.
This book touches on abuse at one point, homophobia, not too many trigger warnings. I really enjoyed the writing of this story. One thing that sort of annoyed me is not the story or the writing but the way the pdf was typed there were a lot of weird typos like Chinese symbols and missing letters. Idk it was weird.
There weren’t much I didn’t like about this book besides that her father never had time for her. Oh I forgot to mention that Vanessa’s mom was out the picture. She was incarcerated for child abuse. Vanessa’s dad never sat her down and told her what happened to her mom. Nobody ever talked about her either.
I thought i knew what I wanted to say when i started writing this review but now I’m stuck and my thoughts are all over the place. Ooh I can say I did not like that fake Belize girl or whatever her name was that Vanessa ended up being friends with. I knew she was fake as soon as she was introduced.
Overall I enjoyed this book. It’s perfect for middle school girls. It teaches a lot about self love, friendships, seeing beauty all around and growth. Even though I am 23 I see a lot of myself in Vanessa and I remember being her when I was in middle school.
This book was really good 😭 I haven’t enjoyed a middle grade this good since I read Piecing Me Together by Renee Watson. This story follows Vanessa Martin. She is 14. Overweight. Live in the ghetto with her Grandpa , cousin TJ and her estranged father.
Vanessa sees Vanessa William win the American Beauty Pageant and Vanessa wants to be everything that comes with that. Beautiful , popular the whole nine. Now Vanessa is very shy. She can sing and it wasn’t until her best friend outed her one day in music class that her teacher suggested she try out for the school pageant that was happening in a couple months. After a lot of convincing Vanessa entered the pageant.
I LOVED THE GROWTH OF VANESSA. She went from an insecure teen and blossoming into a beautiful girl. I’m glad that she decided to do the pageant because she learned a lot about herself she wouldn’t know otherwise. She learned about fake friends, taking care of yourself and loving the skin you’re in.
This book touches on abuse at one point, homophobia, not too many trigger warnings. I really enjoyed the writing of this story. One thing that sort of annoyed me is not the story or the writing but the way the pdf was typed there were a lot of weird typos like Chinese symbols and missing letters. Idk it was weird.
There weren’t much I didn’t like about this book besides that her father never had time for her. Oh I forgot to mention that Vanessa’s mom was out the picture. She was incarcerated for child abuse. Vanessa’s dad never sat her down and told her what happened to her mom. Nobody ever talked about her either.
I thought i knew what I wanted to say when i started writing this review but now I’m stuck and my thoughts are all over the place. Ooh I can say I did not like that fake Belize girl or whatever her name was that Vanessa ended up being friends with. I knew she was fake as soon as she was introduced.
Overall I enjoyed this book. It’s perfect for middle school girls. It teaches a lot about self love, friendships, seeing beauty all around and growth. Even though I am 23 I see a lot of myself in Vanessa and I remember being her when I was in middle school.
March 3, 2018
I had the opportunity to read a digital ARC of this middle grade novel from NetGalley in exchange for this review. I was drawn to this story because the main character, Vanessa Martin, dreams of one day becoming Miss America after Vanessa Williams becomes the first black woman to win the crown in 1983. I was thirteen and an eighth grader in 1983 also, and so absolutely gobbled up all the cultural references sprinkled throughout the book.
I also remember what it was like to be that age, when other kids could be so snotty and mean to those who weren’t popular or good-looking like them. Vanessa studies hard to get good grades, would rather read a good book than run around with the popular girls, and has an awesome voice from singing in her church choir every Sunday. When her choir teacher, Mrs. Walton, pushes her to enter the First Annual Miss King Middle School Pageant, Vanessa reluctantly agrees to give it her best shot. It isn’t easy for her because her father is adamant that he does not want her to participate, her mother left the family many years before, and her grandfather (Pop Pop) and cousin (TJ) are the only ones at home to help her prepare.
The author does a good job of capturing the adolescent voice and drama of Vanessa’s character. I remember how terrifying it could be to sing for an audition on a stage in front of half the school, many of whom are whispering and giggling. Vanessa goes through so much during the preparations for this pageant: the pain of her family’s heartache from her mother’s absence, the growing pains of friendships being strained, and trying to become the kind of girl who wins competitions like this pageant. I love that kids from all backgrounds will be able to recognize themselves in Vanessa’s story. I think this would be a great book to share with kids in grades six and up.
I also remember what it was like to be that age, when other kids could be so snotty and mean to those who weren’t popular or good-looking like them. Vanessa studies hard to get good grades, would rather read a good book than run around with the popular girls, and has an awesome voice from singing in her church choir every Sunday. When her choir teacher, Mrs. Walton, pushes her to enter the First Annual Miss King Middle School Pageant, Vanessa reluctantly agrees to give it her best shot. It isn’t easy for her because her father is adamant that he does not want her to participate, her mother left the family many years before, and her grandfather (Pop Pop) and cousin (TJ) are the only ones at home to help her prepare.
The author does a good job of capturing the adolescent voice and drama of Vanessa’s character. I remember how terrifying it could be to sing for an audition on a stage in front of half the school, many of whom are whispering and giggling. Vanessa goes through so much during the preparations for this pageant: the pain of her family’s heartache from her mother’s absence, the growing pains of friendships being strained, and trying to become the kind of girl who wins competitions like this pageant. I love that kids from all backgrounds will be able to recognize themselves in Vanessa’s story. I think this would be a great book to share with kids in grades six and up.
January 12, 2019
Thank you to @kidlitexchange for providing the review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
When I was growing up, I was very much like Vanessa. I watched the Miss America Pageant every year and dreamed of the day I would wear the crown and get my chance to parade down the runway. Every year when the new Miss America was chosen, I had a new role model, but unfortunately Vanessa never did. At least not until 1983, when the first African American woman, Vanessa Williams, was crowned Miss America. That momentous happening began to give Vanessa a bit more hope. Maybe she ACTUALLY could be crowned Miss America.
This story is about eighth grader, Vanessa’s struggles as she works to win her school’s first beauty pageant. Vanessa has so much sadness in her life, but she has so much support as well, from her grandpa, her cousin, her best friend and her favorite teacher. This support helps her to find the strength to work toward her dreams, even though she has so many obstacles in her path.
Tami Charles paints a vivid picture of the projects of Newark in the 1980s. Her story transports us back 35 years to a different time, but also a familiar one. We learn about the poverty, the hunger, the rundown buildings and the gangs, but we also learn about the friendships, the strong family ties and the supportive teachers. This book is a great window into the past for many students, as well as a mirror for those looking for a book about someone like themselves. I highly recommend this be added to both school and public library collections. This is best for upper elementary and middle school.
When I was growing up, I was very much like Vanessa. I watched the Miss America Pageant every year and dreamed of the day I would wear the crown and get my chance to parade down the runway. Every year when the new Miss America was chosen, I had a new role model, but unfortunately Vanessa never did. At least not until 1983, when the first African American woman, Vanessa Williams, was crowned Miss America. That momentous happening began to give Vanessa a bit more hope. Maybe she ACTUALLY could be crowned Miss America.
This story is about eighth grader, Vanessa’s struggles as she works to win her school’s first beauty pageant. Vanessa has so much sadness in her life, but she has so much support as well, from her grandpa, her cousin, her best friend and her favorite teacher. This support helps her to find the strength to work toward her dreams, even though she has so many obstacles in her path.
Tami Charles paints a vivid picture of the projects of Newark in the 1980s. Her story transports us back 35 years to a different time, but also a familiar one. We learn about the poverty, the hunger, the rundown buildings and the gangs, but we also learn about the friendships, the strong family ties and the supportive teachers. This book is a great window into the past for many students, as well as a mirror for those looking for a book about someone like themselves. I highly recommend this be added to both school and public library collections. This is best for upper elementary and middle school.
October 20, 2018
Vanessa Williams was the muse for the book it wouldve been nice if she couldve added a foreward page to the book.
Overall I felt sorry for Vanessa , from the first chapter I'm like this poor girl is missing something and it turned out to be parental love , communication , time , and understanding (from her father) , also she needed her mother who wasn't around anymore her absence was a true mystery.
Vanessa hopes and dreams were so inspiring page after page I wanted her to achieve them instead of just thinking them (a goal for myself). She was a nice , quiet, smart yet insecure girl. She really kept her feelings bottled up inside since no one in the home understood her. I think that's why friendship was so important to her because it kept her grounded & distracted from her own problems at home.
Just like Vanessa, TJ was also abandoned & is hiding who he really is he's the male version of Vanessa just with different goals , but that same emptiness is there.
Vanessa father got on my nerves he was just so negative & very distant.
The ending was bitter sweet i hope Vanessa's new found
Tanisha didn't seem like a REAL friend especially when she seen her own friend getting hurt and she did nothing.
Mrs. Walton was a sweet , caring, encouraging teacher we all need people like that around us.
Vanessa grandfather was cool but a hypocrite he drank too damn much.
Beatrice was just a shady individual who's also evil.
I hope Vanessa's new found self love and freedom sticks with her no matter where she goes. She really grew into her own type of butterfly in this book and even got the answer to the question that's be gnawing at her since she was a child. This book was good yet sad then good again and that's how life can be also.
Overall I felt sorry for Vanessa , from the first chapter I'm like this poor girl is missing something and it turned out to be parental love , communication , time , and understanding (from her father) , also she needed her mother who wasn't around anymore her absence was a true mystery.
Vanessa hopes and dreams were so inspiring page after page I wanted her to achieve them instead of just thinking them (a goal for myself). She was a nice , quiet, smart yet insecure girl. She really kept her feelings bottled up inside since no one in the home understood her. I think that's why friendship was so important to her because it kept her grounded & distracted from her own problems at home.
Just like Vanessa, TJ was also abandoned & is hiding who he really is he's the male version of Vanessa just with different goals , but that same emptiness is there.
Vanessa father got on my nerves he was just so negative & very distant.
The ending was bitter sweet i hope Vanessa's new found
Tanisha didn't seem like a REAL friend especially when she seen her own friend getting hurt and she did nothing.
Mrs. Walton was a sweet , caring, encouraging teacher we all need people like that around us.
Vanessa grandfather was cool but a hypocrite he drank too damn much.
Beatrice was just a shady individual who's also evil.
I hope Vanessa's new found self love and freedom sticks with her no matter where she goes. She really grew into her own type of butterfly in this book and even got the answer to the question that's be gnawing at her since she was a child. This book was good yet sad then good again and that's how life can be also.
February 18, 2019
Vanessa Martin, an 8th grader in Newark in the early 80s, has a dream of becoming Ms. America-- a dream that finally seems attainable when she watches Vanessa Williams earn the crown in 1984. Vanessa's story is told both through poems and short notes to her diary, Darlene, as well in first person narrative. Her voice is authentic, and achingly honest as she wrestles with complex family relationships (her beloved alcoholic Pop Pop, her sweet older cousin TJ, her emotionally locked-down dad-- and her mother-- whose absence has never been explained to her) as well as catty school-mates, friendship troubles, local violence, and her own physical and emotional maturing. Vanessa's is a story well worth hearing, and while parts of her narrative are heartbreaking, on the whole, hers is a satisfying and hopeful story.
July 5, 2023
3.5 stars. This one came recommended by the author of One Crazy Summer, which was exciting to see since I used to teach that novel in Reading Power.
The book is a little out there in that it focuses on this girl who often doesn't see her own beauty yet dreams of being Miss America someday. It questions beauty ideals in America, which coming off of watching Hair Tales on Hulu, it ties in nicely with the questions raised in that series.
Parts were beautifully written, and parts were predictable, but I found myself turning the pages and wanting to find out what the future would hold for Nessa.
The book is a little out there in that it focuses on this girl who often doesn't see her own beauty yet dreams of being Miss America someday. It questions beauty ideals in America, which coming off of watching Hair Tales on Hulu, it ties in nicely with the questions raised in that series.
Parts were beautifully written, and parts were predictable, but I found myself turning the pages and wanting to find out what the future would hold for Nessa.
January 2, 2023
I was given this book in 7th grade by Ms. Tami Charles herself. I enjoyed reading it so much especially since it takes place in the next town over. I think that all young ladies should read this as a must!! And a plus Ms. Charles signed my book and I started freaking out like a da girl lol
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