Such a Pretty Girl
by Laura Wiess
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Book Summary Information
Author: Laura WiessEdition: Paperback
Format: Bargain Price
Published: 2007-01-02
ISBN: N/A
Number of pages: 224
Reading Level: Young Adult
Publisher: MTV
Book Reviews of Such a Pretty Girl
Book Review: Compulsively readable with a well-handled atmosphere, but sends an uncomfortable message. Moderately recommended
Summary: 3 Stars
She was promised nine years of safety, but received only three: Meridith is fifteen, living with a mother who intentionally blinds herself to the truth, and her sexually abusive father is about to be released from jail. She must find a way to protect herself from her father--and protect the other children that he may abuse in her stead. Meridith's harrowing story is compulsively readable, but it's too short and the secondary characters and plotlines don't receive enough attention. Careful flashbacks prevent the book from devolving into voyeurism, but Meridith's proactive solution to her father's abuse sets a questionable example to young adult readers. Faulted, but not a bad read, I moderately recommend this book.
At Wiess's hand, Meridith's history as a victim of child sexual abuse is rendered harrowing but never unreadable. Meredith counts wall tiles and vitamin pills, but she also willfully confronts her mother with her father's abuse: Wiess balances realistic trauma against her protagonist's fighting will, giving the dark story a sense of hope. Careful, brief flashbacks help illustrate the horror of Meredith's past without devolving into empty voyeurism. The present-day incarnation of her father is a threatening, realistic antagonist. These dark aspects pull the reader in and hold him captive, compulsively turning to the next page.
Unfortunately, not all aspects of Such a Pretty Girl are as strong as the atmosphere. The book is so fast and so short that the side stories fall forgotten at the end: Wiess introduces and builds them up, but the brief ending is reserved for Meredith, leaving side stories and themes only hastily explored. Worse and more debatable is the issue of Meredith's proactive solution to the threat posed by her father. Believing she has no other options, somewhat encourage by an adult friend, Meredith intentionally sets herself in harm's way. Such a Pretty Girl is only one character's fictional story and never intends to be instructional, but the protagonist's risk taking--especially since it has only positive consequences--sets an uncomfortable example for the reader.
Such a Pretty Girl is a dark book which is almost impossible to put down. Wiess does an admirable job building Meredith's suffering and her strength, which forgives the fact that other elements of the plot are underexplored. However, if this harrowing story is supposed to be inspiring or profound, I worry about the message that it leaves with the reader. Meredith puts herself at risk but emerges unscathed, and the possible grave consequences are nearly unmentioned. If the text discussed the risks or had less of a positive conclusion, I may not feel so hesitant recommending it. As it is, I think that the book needs to be taken with a grain of salt, and I recommend it only moderately--it is compulsively readable with a well-handled atmosphere, but Such a Pretty Girl has its faults.
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