Common Sense Media Review
By Terreece Clarke
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Insightful and frank novel explores beauty in America.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
Joyce has a cute crush that doesn't know she exists; a perfect, beautiful older sister; and a best friend who feels her pain. Her plan to get a makeover and win her crush's heart takes a new turn when her rich aunt offers her plastic surgery. Joyce has to decide whether or not to change what's so fundamentally her to become the someone she dreams about being. Will she go through with it?
Is It Any Good?
An Na has written a beautiful, poignant coming-of-age story that is as real as the teen girl next door. Na brings readers into a world that is seldom highlighted: the family life of Korean Americans. Her focus is on Joyce, a lovable, troubled heroine who is told by her own aunt that her eyes are a flaw that need to be fixed. Granted, her aunt is called "Michael" (Jackson) by the rest of her family because of all the plastic surgery she's had. But it still adds an extra level of angst to Joyce's self-image issues, and a difficult decision to make when her aunt offers to pay for the surgery.
What Na does especially well is highlight how everyone in Joyce's family, with her aunt's help, tries to make changes: family members try to look taller, more glamorous, find mates, etc. Na's focus on family and accepting the flaws of loved ones is reflected in Joyce's journey of self-acceptance and love. The positive family portrayal and body image message is sure to appeal to parents and young readers alike.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about diversity, Western standards of beauty, and the media's role in how people view body image. Who should decide what's beautiful? Do the same beauty standards apply everywhere in the world? Do magazines and celebs affect how you see yourself?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Coming of Age
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Putnam Juvenile
- Publication date : April 10, 2008
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 9 - 12
- Number of pages : 192
- Last updated : July 12, 2017
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate