Beautiful Girl

June 1, 2015

Gr 9 Up-Teen model and aspiring actress Melanie Kennicut is trapped in a life chosen for her by her overbearing and controlling mother. Joanne Kennicut isolates Melanie from anything, and anyone, that will not further her daughter's career. When a terrible accident disfigures Melanie's face, her mother whisks the teen off to Montana to hide until she can receive plastic surgery. While there, she is drawn to a local boy who maintains the grounds at the home where she is staying. Sam is completely different from anyone Melanie has met before, and a whirlwind romance ensues. However, their romance soon spins into an unpredictable storm, which leaves readers wondering if any of the characters will survive intact. The story has some interesting plot twists, however the characters lack depth. The pacing of the story is very uneven. At first, the narrative is steady, but then it slows down, making the fast-forward momentum of the last third feel even more jarring. It may interest teens who are looking for an action-filled love story or a light beach read. VERDICT An additional purchase for libraries looking to add to YA romance collections.-Ellen Fitzgerald, White Oak Library District, Lockport, IL

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