Review: The Ugly Girl Party by Ann Herrick

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.

For tweens, teens, and adults who are young at heart

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~ My Review ~

This moved at a pretty fast paced for me. I liked Faith's spunk and sense of self, something that I wish I had at her age. Like Faith, however, we both dressed whatever we felt like and not what was "in" or "expected." I think I wore my first pair of jeans my senior year in high school! Fortunately, I was never bullied, even though I knew my share of cliques, and everyone kept to their own social circle. Our town population was double that of  Delwick - around 30,000 - so a new girl would stick out but we had enough "things" to occupy our teenage selves. 
I digress. Ann Herrick writes this in first person, so the whole time, we are in Faith's head and it's lovely, if you remember high school - ha! She has school to worry about, her dad and sister, her Broadway aspirations. Each worry boomerangs in and out of her thoughts but Faith is confident, sassy and fights back with all that comes her way. It is her self confidence that attracts people to her. I like this book for middle grade/young adult readers, the language is appropriate and the message is clear. I know teens aren't the only ones who can identify with fitting in with the crowd or standing out and throwing our own "ugly girl party." Well done, Ann!

***I received this book in exchange for an honest review. However, these thoughts and opinions are my own. I'm not required to write a positive review.***

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About the Author

Award-winning author Ann Herrick grew up in Connecticut, where she graduated from The Morgan School and Quinnipiac University. Her books have received the ALA Recommended Book for Reluctant Readers Award, the IRA/CBC Children's Choice Award and EPPIE Young Adult Finalist Award. 

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.

She now lives in Oregon with her husband, who was her high-school sweetheart. Their daughter is grown, married and gainfully employed, and has given them their only grand-dog, Puff, a bloodhound-rottweiller-beagle mix, and six grand-kitties. While Ann misses the East Coast, especially houses built before 1900, she enjoys the green valleys, fresh air and low humidity in Eugene, Oregon.
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YA NOVELS: 
My Bad Boy Summer
Someone Like Him
The Farewell Season
My Fake Summer Boyfriend
Life, Love, and Surviving High School
The Perfect Guy
All's Fair in Love and Words
Hey, Nobody's Perfect
How to Survive a Summer Romance (Or Two)
Someone Like Him
Snowed In Together
The Real Me
Trading Faces 

TWEEN NOVELS:
The Next Great Rock Star!
Also Known as Lard Butt

BOXED SETS (each set has 3 novels):
First Loves 
Seasons of Love
Perfect Love

SHORT STORY COLLECTIONS:
Heart's Desire
The Sharks of Guilford High
Extra-Curricular Role Playing