While reading this book, I noticed it was becoming quite popular among teenagers. The author's skillfully chosen style likely accounts for that—she speaks their language.
The two main characters are fully aware that they don't fit the beauty standard our society currently prizes. Rather than despair, they take a bold step: they decide to build their middle-school thesis project around the theme of ugliness. Shut out from the "in" crowd at school, they choose to fight back with creativity, intelligence, and a sharp sense of humor. Together they compose a praise of ugliness that becomes a psychological journey. By the end, they emerge more confident in their own abilities. They discover what makes them unique—the singular person each of them is meant to become.
Laura Nardini, 2007
