Common Sense Media Review
A teen's big nose leads to a big lesson in self-acceptance.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
Seventeen-year-old Jory and her two best friends, Hannah and Megan, decide to spend their last summer of high school seeking out their passions. In a series of disasters, Jory tries yoga, watches old films, searches for a boyfriend, and takes a job as a delivery-van driver. Her secret goal, though, is earning enough money to pay a plastic surgeon for a new nose that will make her beautiful. Then she'll fit in with her family, boys will love her, and her life will truly begin. But is her nose really the problem?
Is It Any Good?
Teens may relate to Jory's various misadventures, including a gaseous yoga session and a disastrous wedding job. Jory is subject to every teen insecurity: She hides her big nose with tons of makeup; she worries she's a bad kisser; she tries to be cool but is mostly a klutz.
Though Salter tries to pass Jory off as edgy, in the last few chapters Jory comes around to accepting herself and realizing the errors of her ways. The epiphanies come off a bit forced, in a staged speech to her shallow, one-dimensional mother ("I'm never going to be good enough for you!") and the symbolic ripping of magazine images ("How many of them suffer from eating disorders, or addictions, or just plain old insecurity?"). Still, teens will find much to identify with here, and could find worse books to read.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about body image and how Jory finds ways to accept her appearance. How does her mom's attitude influence Jory's perception of herself? Do you agree with Jory's critique of fashion magazine models? Can "anyone can fake happiness in a photograph"?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Contemporary Fiction
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Graphia
- Publication date : April 6, 2009
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 13 - 17
- Number of pages : 345
- Last updated : July 13, 2017
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