The Ugly Girl Party by Ann Herrick {Review}

The Ugly Girl Party by Ann Herrick

Kindle Edition

Published June 12th 2017 

Faith's wish to get off to a good start at her new high school is shattered on the first day, as she quickly discovers that drop-dead gorgeous Hunter and friends decide she lives in the "wrong" house and wears the "wrong" clothes. They systematically harass her and seem determined to make her life miserable. She fantasizes about how she'll get even some day when she is a famous singer/actress, but meanwhile just wants to make it through the day. She meets a couple of possible friends, but finds it hard to trust anyone.

When maybe-friend Julia tells her about the upcoming talent show, Faith is determined to win in order to impress her tormentors. Then nice-guy neighbor Riley invites her to the homecoming dance. She's excited to go until she gets there and realizes that something is up--something terrible. And when she reacts, she finds herself in danger of being suspended from school. Faith questions her own goals, decisions, and values as she struggles to find her way.

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My Review: 4 Stars

I hate bullies and can't understand why some people feel the need to put others down, especially when someone is new in town. Faith has a style all her own and she's very comfortable in her own skin. When she moves to a new state with her dad and younger sister, she has to navigate the social system of her new school and it isn't pretty, which kind of made me mad.

I love how confident Faith is and the way she is able to draw others into her circle. The friends she gravitates to are great and unique. I love the way she handles the bullying--her character is such an example to teens. I love the positive message and the way Faith deals with the ugly parts of fitting in, especially at the culmination of the book. 

Ms. Herrick has a comfortable way of writing that really brings me back to my younger years and gave me some nostalgic feels. And for an adult reader, that's a lot of fun. I always enjoy her books and look forward to reading more.

Content: very mild romance; some bullying.

*I received a copy from the author, which did not affect my review. All thoughts are my own.*

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Buy Links:

 

About the Author:

 

Ann Herrick is the author of several books and short stories for kids and teens. Her books have won several awards, such as the ALA Recommended Book for Reluctant Readers award and an IRA/CBC Children’s Choice award. Her stories have appeared in magazines such as 'Teen, Listen, The Single Parent, Children's Digest and The Friend. 

Ann Herrick grew up in Connecticut, where she graduated from The Morgan School and Quinnipiac University. She now lives in Oregon with her husband, who was her high-school sweetheart. Their wonderful daughter is grown, married and gainfully employed, and has given Ann her only grand-dog, Puff, a bloodhound-rottweiller-beagle mix. While she misses the East Coast, especially houses built before 1900, she enjoys the green valleys, fresh air and low humidity in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. Ann loves cats, walking and working in her back yard. In addition to stories and books for children and young adults, Ann also writes copy for humorous and conventional greeting cards."

The vast majority of Ann's books are HFN (Happily For Now, with the possibility of Happily Ever After. The characters are in their teens, after all, so Ever After would be a *really* long time.) Two books have positive endings, but not the standard HFN or HEA, but with those possibilities if the reader reads very carefully between the lines at the end of the story.