 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Beautiful
- By Amy Reed
- Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Common Sense Media says
Good-girl-goes-bad tale packed with adult content.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this is a stark and gritty story of a middle class 13-year-old girl who moves to a new school and chooses to stop being a good girl; to lose her virginity as quickly as possible and embrace drugs and alcohol. Her father is emotionally abusive and her mother is alcoholic and neglectful. She repeatedly has consequence- and protection-free sex with her boyfriend. She abuses drugs (acid, pot, and more) and alcohol without consequences. Her friend (with a horribly dysfunctional family) beats her up. A romantic relationship with another girl develops -- the most tender part of the book. There is one tragic death, but it's not enough to really turn this into a cautionary tale -- just a bleak one filled with every kind of very mature content.
What's the story?
Cassie is 13 years old, and on her first day at a new school she wants to leave her boring old life behind. New friends quickly introduce her to drugs and alcohol, and she tries acid and loses her virginity in just a few days. At first she is shocked by her new best friend's life: her mother is a drunk and abusive, her father hung himself. A half-sister, Sarah, moves in with Alex's family because her father raped her. Cassie herself has no problem hiding her drug use and drinking from her alcoholic mother and often absent father. Cassie is drawn to a girl named Sarah in a romantic and tender way; Sarah is passive, vulnerable, and scarred. Sarah may be Cassie's way out of her self-destructive cycle, but not in the way she expects.
Is it any good?
This book has been compared to Go Ask Alice, one of the first novels to graphically describe a teen's life on drugs. But BEAUTIFUL is more shocking because it's about young teens abusing all kinds of drugs under the nose of neglectful parents who range from poor to affluent, with no apparent lessons learned. The main character is smart, pretty, and middle class. It's never clear what her motivations are for choosing a dangerous lifestyle other than a desire to be "beautiful." It's hard to say what teens are supposed to take away from this book; without consequences for such self-destructive behavior this is simply a voyeuristic look into the lives of some of the other characters who do suffer great abuse. Consequently Cassie's story remains blurred.
But writer Amy Reed has style, even when her prose sounds too sophisticated and articulate for a young teen, particularly one who is disturbed. The authentic narrative voice almost never slips, and may make a story about a 13-year-old still appeal to older teens ready for a very edgy read.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the desire many teens have to recreate themselves. How difficult is that for middle school kids? Why did Cassie want to change her life?
What are some normal consequences of drug and alcohol abuse? Why are drugs illegal?
Cassie puts up with intimidation and some roughness from her friend Alex. How can kids protect themselves from people like Alex? Did you think Alex was really her friend? What about Sarah?
Cassie has sex with her boyfriend but she doesn't seem to really care for him. Why was she sleeping with him? What was she risking?
What do you think happens after Cassie starts a new school and leaves Alex behind?
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
Not Just for Young Adults
I give this book 5 stars for being an extremely well written, powerful and compelling story. It is targeted at the Young Adult market but is appropriate for not so young adults as well. Cassie, while not a positive role model, is still a model: a cautionary model for adolescents, and an educational model for parents. This stuff goes on. And coarse language is the way most kids I know communicate when parents aren't around. Even 50 years ago when I was one.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Confronting Reality
I loved this book. Though the content is course, it represents a world that does actually exist. It was my impression that Cassie is not simply motivated by the desire to be "beautiful", instead, this want for outer beauty is a simple manifestation of a longing for love, acceptance, companionship, being understood and a long list of other things that Cassie was not getting either from her peers or her parents. The important message that I took away from this as a mother of a nine year old girl and as a women who also had not the most savory teenage hood is that most girls at that age all go through some form of this experience ranging from a very mild version to the very severe version that was Cassie's. And yes there is swearing and sex and some violence, but many kids are dealing with those things in real life and its vital that these issues are confronted and not swept under the carpet or overlooked like in Cassie's case. I highly recomend this book.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Beautiful-A realistic teen story
I think 11 year olds can read this book! Because there is little in this book they don't know about. Even if you, the parent, think they don't they do. It was wonderful! The book was a realistic picture of what 13-18 year olds go through.And EVERY thing is realistic and truthful. Trust me i'm 13! Although something about this book made me want to become Cassie. To the point of where I took my first shot of tequila when i was home alone,Serched how to get drugs on the internet,started to where slutty clothes, and was on a quest to lose my virginity. But this book is ah-mazing!! Teens should read it!
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Not another one!
Goody-goody, ANOTHER bad example of low self of steam. What makes people think drugs are so cool? They make you look, and act stupid! And why is it such a race to who looses there verginity faster? It makes you down right easy! If you get pregnat whatcha gonna do? It isn't somethin' to brag about! I don't think you should abort the baby cuz that would be murder. And she can't have a baby cuz oviously she can't even take care of herself! This is just giving kids ideas.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Drugs are stupid. Why did grown-ups make them? And having sex at that age is not good at all!
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
An honest story that teens and adults should read
This is a powerful story, with writing that pulls you in, invests you in the characters and their fates, and doesn't let up. I couldn't put this book down.
Even if you or your kids have never been in the exact situations that Cassie experiences, we are all familiar with the driving motivations of needing love, acceptance, struggling with who we truly are, and facing peer pressure.
This book will make you think for a long time after you finish it, and I strongly disagree with those who believe it is not appropriate reading for teens. Sticking your head in the sand does not mean that which you don't wish to see isn't there. Teens and tweens observe or experience the pressures that Cassie faces in this book, and it is so comforting to have them written about in a book. Having the adult world acknowledge the fears, pressures, and choices teens are faced with is extremely re-assuring and builds confidence.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
R-rated
Whether it "needs to be known" or not. Whether it's the "real world" or not. There are some things that are just too grimy for children and young teens (and I am making this judgment as a 16 year old, myself). Parents, ask yourself: would you let your child watch a movie with excessive violence, drugs, and sex? Reading about it is just the same- if not worse. Be mindful of what they're reading. Of what they're absorbing.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
i loved it
i absolutly loved it i read it in about 4 hours through-out the day it was asome cassie is a really good person done inside i think though
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
I ain't trying to be a nag or hateful but. . . . . .
I question what goes threw this authors mind. But it isn't my buisness so I won't ask her. It makes me cry hearing about how some peoples lives are bruteled like that. And to think a girl like Cassie could be saved, if people would just. . . just care. Drugs are about the dumbest things in the world. It may 'take away' pain, but only during a certain time, and it only adds on to their hecktic lives. As far as the sex goes. . just don't. Poor Cassie thought bad of herself - true. And I understand why. But sex, again, adds on. I know her parents ain't no better than dirt, but I'd show um that they can't break me, I'll do good, and I'd grow up and get an awesome job, or be sucsessful in any good way possible! Then they'd see how stupid they are for acting no better than a drunk idiot. ( Forgive my language ) Besides, beer smells NASTY. My dad drinks it, but he don't abuse it no matter how stressed the man may be.
People just gotta get through it without relying on something that they know will make it worse. Its up to them to at least attemped to make their lives better. Just sayin'. Take my words to consitteration.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
EXTREMELY EXPLICIT SEX
Well, I haven't red it. I don't think I'm going to. I liked the Ellen Hopkins books, but my friend read it, and teens don't need to hear "I think I'm gonna c-m" or "the condom was still on his shriveling p---s" or "the bruises on my legs showed that e'd touched me for a long time". This is an emotionally wrenching book, and unless you can handle sex, drugs, violence, heartbreak, grief, and pain, you should not red "Beautiful". The worst part was to think that a thirteen-year-old would do all of these things. It is very gritty and explicit. This seems like a knockoff of "Tricks" by Ellen Hopkins. I'm osrry if you like this book, that's fine. You may be able to handle things better than I can. But I personally see this as a wrenching tale. It may portray the public school teenagers life, but I wouldn't know. I've gone to prep school all of my life. I think you should choose a different book unless you can handle he subject matter.
Was this review useful?
|
|
| Author: | Amy Reed |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Contemporary Fiction |
| Publisher: | Simon Pulse |
| Publication date: | October 6, 2009 |
| Number of pages: | 232 |
| Hardcover price: | $16.99 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 13 - 17 |
| Read aloud: | 15 |
| Read alone: | 15 |
Review It
Tell us what you think about our new Learning Ratings.
Great alternatives handpicked by our editors
Already read it? What do you think?
More from Common Sense Media
Top advice and articles
