What I Like About Me

by Jenna Guillaume

Overview

Plus-sized sixteen-year-old Maisie Martin never thought she had the figure to compete in a beauty pageant, but this vacation is about to change everything.

Maisie has spent most of her life hiding her body from everyone: her gorgeous best friend, her pageant-winning sister, and definitely her longtime crush. Never one to jump in the water, Maisie is planning on taking it easy while her friends chill at the beach.

But then her BFF starts flirting with the boy she's always loved, her older sister comes home and steals the spotlight, and Maisie has found herself pushed aside like usual. Except now, she's had enough. After forging new friendships, Maisie takes the deep dive and enters the local Miss Teen Queen. Now, with all eyes on her, can Maisie prove she has a place in the spotlight?

This contemporary young adult novel is as relatable as it is charming and Maisie's realistic journey towards confidence and self-love will draw readers in as she learns how to celebrate all of herself.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781682632789
Publisher:	Holiday House
Publication date:	04/06/2021
Pages:	304
Product dimensions:	5.30(w) x 8.00(h) x 0.95(d)
Age Range:	16 Years

About the Author

Jenna Guillaume was the editor-at-large for Buzz Feed Australia, where she wrote about very important things like pop culture, identity, feminism, social media, and Chris Hemsworth's biceps. Previously, she spent more than half a decade in the features department of Girlfriend magazine, editing the sealed section (yes, all those questions are real), and writing about everything from bullying and body image to bad kisses and boy bands. She was also a contributor to Girlfriend Life Hacks, an essential guide to navigating a girl's completely-awkward-but-totally-awesome teen years.

Editorial Reviews

"Guillaume's delightful debut deals with teenagers and their self-esteem, as Maisie's story is relayed through her journal entries. This intimate lens will invest readers in Maisie's journey to self-acceptance and confidence. A fun story, abounding in humor, romance, and inspiration and filled with multifaceted characters that readers will enjoy." —Booklist

"Debut author Guillaume's novel features funny dialogue and fresh takes on body image and personal relationships as well as a plucky heroine who slowly but surely comes into her own. . . . Perfect for fans of Dumplin', a hilariously sweet yet complex romance." —Kirkus Reviews

"This book draws obvious parallels to Julie Murphy's Dumplin', but Maisie and her diverse cast of friends are fresh and distinctive, as is the Australian setting. . . . A fun, upbeat, and tender coming-of-age story written in an engaging and lively diary format."—School Library Journal

From the Publisher

02/01/2020

Gr 7–10—Maisie Martin is spending summer vacation at the beach with her mom and best friend. Her dad is mysteriously opting out. Her older sister won't join them, but she and Maisie aren't on speaking terms anyway. One perk of the trip is spending time with her longtime crush. Then her beautiful best friend starts dating the crush, forcing Maisie to spend time with his annoying friend. She falls in with a group of local teens, one of whom expands Maisie's view of herself during a conversation about beauty. When Maisie says, "I know I'm not beautiful. I'm fat," her new friend responds, "And why can't you be both?" Maisie begins to look for the good in herself and even signs up to compete in a local beauty pageant. She expects her size will disqualify her, but to her surprise, her application is accepted. This book draws obvious parallels to Julie Murphy's Dumplin', but Maisie and her diverse cast of friends are fresh and distinctive, as is the Australian setting. American readers might be surprised by the casual approach to drinking—in one scene, Maisie's mom buys the girls a four-pack of wine coolers to split at a New Year's party. Pop culture references are mostly retro (Arnold Schwarzenegger films and Dirty Dancing feature) so as not to become outdated. VERDICT A fun, upbeat, and tender coming-of-age story written in an engaging and lively diary format.—Amelia Jenkins, Juneau Public Library, AK

School Library Journal

2020-01-07
A plus-size Aussie teen learns to love herself when she enters a beauty pageant.

For 16-year-old Maisie Martin, summer vacation is not getting off to a great start. Her English teacher, Ms. Singh, demands she keep a journal during the holidays while Maisie and her family—including her wine-swilling mother, her beautiful older sister, Eva, and Eva's new girlfriend, Bess—spend Christmas in a beach town (Maisie's dad stays at home due to work commitments). Thankfully Maisie's best friend, Anna, comes along for the ride and soon hooks up with Maisie's childhood pal and longtime crush Sebastian, leaving Maisie to face off with Sebastian's obnoxious best friend, Beamer, who has all the wrong opinions about action movie stars. After connecting with fashion-forward townie Leila, Maisie decides to enter the local beauty pageant that Eva won years before, but Maisie must soon contend with an unexpected romantic entanglement, unwanted press attention for being a larger-than-average contestant, and her own issues with family, friends, and fat. Debut author Guillaume's novel features funny dialogue and fresh takes on body image and personal relationships as well as a plucky heroine who slowly but surely comes into her own. Most major characters are white; Sebastian is Malaysian and Australian (ethnicities not specified); Leila is Lebanese Australian; and Bess is fat, queer, and proud—all positive representations.

Perfect for fans of Dumplin', a hilariously sweet yet complex romance. (Fiction. 12-16)

Kirkus Reviews