Module 14 | Such a Pretty Face

PLOT SUMMARY
In this book of short stories, editor Ann Angel brings together talented YA authors to ruminate on the subject of beauty. Dealing with the topic in its physical and inner incarnations, the stories range from heartfelt to thought-provoking to laugh-out-loud funny. The peculiar opener by Ron Koertge should hook teens immediately, and the book's subsequent offerings only improve from there.

MY IMPRESSIONS
The stories are beautifully crafted ─ a particular favorite is "Farang," which deals with an American girl in Thailand ─ and offer original takes on an age-old subject. Angel's introduction (which is equal parts sad, reflective, and funny) sets the stage for what is to follow. Although the book will no doubt appeal to a primarily female audience, the stories are well-written and astute enough to be appreciated by boys as well.

REVIEWS
"Combining contributions from established veterans and newcomers, this appealing anthology, with its baker's dozen of stories about beauty — a topic often on the minds of youth — offers a broad perspective."
Kirkus Reviews, May 1, 2007, Vol. 75, No. 9

"This powerful, thought-provoking anthology will certainly find a place in public libraries. High school librarians are strongly urged to consider it for purchase, despite a few instances of profane language and several sexual references."
Sophie Brookover, VOYA, April 2007, Vol. 30, No. 1

"While the stories differ in tone, all of them are of equally excellent quality, and it’s hard to pick a favorite. The book is entertaining enough that many teenagers will pick it up on their own."
Amie Rose Rotruck, Children's Literature, April 2007

USES IN THE LIBRARY
Such a Pretty Face would be a great starting point to allow preteens and teens to explore their thoughts about beauty, perhaps in conjunction with a library exhibition in which they can express those thoughts through writing, art, or photography. In addition, teens could be invited to express their feelings about how beauty affects their own lives through a Post Secret (postsecret.com) type of experiment, in which they write those feelings on postcards and drop them off at the library. The postcards could then be shared through the library's web site.

CITATION
Angel, A. (Ed.) (2007). Such a pretty face: Short stories about beauty. New York: Amulet Books.