★ “A compelling and topical narrative that leaves its characters—and readers—stronger and wiser.” —Booklist, starred review
★ “A novel that addresses issues of bullying, sexism, objectification, and harassment while equally centering empowerment, the bonds of friendship, and self-acceptance. Highly recommended to inspire discussion among thoughtful young readers.” —School Library Journal, starred review
“A sensitive story about sexual harassment and bullying, with a feel-good ending.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Written using language that middle schoolers will find relatable, Young conveys a timely message about bullying and sexism, digging beneath the surface to show her protagonists’ intelligence, distinct talents, and misguided preconceptions.” —Publisher's Weekly
“While the revenge plot and the mystery of who’s responsible keep pages turning, the novel considers . . . the role and the value of physical appearance from a number of angles, helped by the diverse characters’ varying attitudes and levels of naivete. A conversation starter.” —Horn Book
"What happens when an anonymous, viral list ranks the 8th grade girls at Ford Middle School by their looks? Tears, anger, and, for three girls in particular, a journey to empowerment and self-acceptance. A terrific MG story about sexism and objectification. All middle school girls AND boys (especially boys!) should read this book."—Alan Gratz, New York Times bestselling author of Refugee
“As a survivor of middle school and parent of future middle schoolers, I am so glad The Prettiest will be in the world for both my daughter and my son. I loved these girls—their rivalries and their friendships, their lies and their painful honesty, their survival strategies and humor, and their refusals to be what anyone else expects them to be. This book is a hug and a high-five.” —Kate Milford, New York Times–bestselling author of Greenglass House
“I loved this true and tender story about young girls finding their voices and finding friendship with each other, no matter what barriers school and society tries to put up to block their way. Brigit Young has created a book with so much heart and with well-crafted characters that feel so real and relevant. This is an important book that isn't afraid of tackling tough problems. I absolutely loved it!” —Jennifer Mathieu, author of Moxie
“A remarkable, important gem of a novel. Both a call to arms and a fantastically fun tale, this triumphant, timely and true-to-life story should be required reading for middle schoolers of any gender.” —Dan Gemeinhart, author of The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise
“I loved following this trio of strong, supportive girls as they navigated the halls of middle school and fought against unwanted attention, objectification, and bullying. Readers will recognize themselves in these characters and cheer for them as they stand up to define for themselves who they are and where they belong. The Prettiest is heartbreaking, inspiring, and funny at the same time—like middle school itself. Add this one to your reading list!” —Lynne Kelly, author of Chained and Song For a Whale
“I cheered for these three 8th grade girls as they learned that nobody is just one thing. Standing up for yourself and others can be hard, but with friends at your side, it can be done. An empowering read!” —Debbie Michiko Florence, author of Keep It Together, Keiko Carter
“In the characters of Sophie, Eve and Nessa, Young has indeed created girls who 'contain multitudes.' Courageous and clever, flawed yet fierce, these girls are far more than examples of young feminists—they are examples of what it means to be human. This story is certainly timely and relevant, but equally important, it is an honest, engaging and heartfelt look at how the communities we choose to build can—and do—shape us.” —Lindsay Lackey, author of All the Impossible Things
03/02/2020
Sexism, harassment, and finding one’s identity are the topics addressed in this timely novel. Drama explodes in the eighth grade class when someone posts a list of the 50 prettiest girls. Jewish Eve Hoffman, #1 prettiest, just wants to “slide by, unnoticed,” but she’s suddenly receiving a lot of unwanted attention, including an onslaught of inappropriate texts (“I know you stuff your bra”). Eve’s plus-size best friend, Nessa Flores-Brady, didn’t make the list and is sick of being devalued because of her size and Latinx heritage. And blonde queen-bee Sophie Kane is furious about her number two ranking. While the administration tries to find out who’s behind the rankings, the three girls join forces to launch their own investigation, learning something about each other and themselves. Written using language that middle schoolers will find relatable (“Eve could feel them staring”), Young (Worth a Thousand Words) conveys a timely message about bullying and sexism, digging beneath the surface to show her protagonists’ intelligence, distinct talents, and misguided preconceptions. Ages 8–12. Agent: Melissa Edwards, Stonesong. (Apr.)
03/27/2020
Gr 4–6—Eve didn't like attention. She dressed and acted in a way that she hoped would keep her from sticking out and was confused the day everyone stared at her. When she found out she was rated number one on the list of prettiest eighth grade girls in her school, she was horrified. The harassing anonymous texts begin almost immediately, and Eve's afraid to tell anyone. Popular Sophie got up an hour and a half early every day to do her hair and makeup for school. When she finds out she is second on the list, she's furious. Overnight, her life changes as her friends no longer look up to her like they had in the past. Nessa is Eve's best friend and not on the list at all. She's viewed only in terms of her size, not her personality or talent. The list changes everything for every girl in their school, whether they are on it or not. Eve, Nessa, and Sophie become an unlikely trio as they try to find evidence that Brody, a classmate Sophie dated, wrote the list. This timely novel explores the topic of sexual harassment and the dynamics of middle school in a realistic way. Narrated by three voices, readers are given a wide view of the situation, and experience the trio learning new things about each other. United in their pursuit to expose Brady, their friendships take time to evolve as they confront their own past judgments in a way that is authentic and often humorous. VERDICT A novel that addresses issues of bullying, sexism, objectification, and harassment while equally centering empowerment, the bonds of friendship, and self-acceptance. Highly recommended to inspire discussion among thoughtful young readers.—Juliet Morefield, Multnomah County Library, Portland, OR
2020-02-09
Three eighth-graders manage the fallout after someone publishes a ranked list of the prettiest girls in their class.
Being ranked No. 1 throws young poet Eve Hoffman’s life into chaos. A second-place ranking knocks Sophie Kane for a loop, too; she’s desperate never to be seen as “less than” or “white trash” like her single mom. Nessa Flores-Brady never expected to make the list (not because she’s Latina, but because she’s fat), and she’s determined not to let it affect her. Still, the rankings put Eve and Nessa’s best friendship at risk, threaten Sophie’s status as the most popular, and galvanize the eighth grade into targeted bullying. The rude, disgusting, and occasionally anti-Semitic messages that flood Eve’s phone are all too familiar for anyone who’s attended a majority-white middle-class American school—even their principal, an Asian American woman, recalls a time a boy snapped her bra so hard she bled, and no adults did anything. To the girls’ credit, they communicate about the effects of normative beauty standards and band together against the people (mostly boys) who enforce them, but of course the perpetrator isn’t whom they think. Eve’s older brother, Abe, and classmate Winston (who seems to be white) offer windows into the pressures of toxic masculinity. Endearingly nerdy references permeate the narrative. Their school is a diverse one, with difference mostly conveyed through naming convention.
A sensitive story about sexual harassment and bullying with a feel-good ending. (Fiction. 8-12)
