What I Like About Me

February 1, 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 Pop culture references are mostly retro (Arnold Schwarzenegger films and Dirty Dancing feature) so as not to become outdated.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

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 1, 2020
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)

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March 15, 2020
Grades 8-11 Sixteen-year-old Maisie Martin struggles with low self-esteem, especially regarding her body image. Her low confidence prevents her from being more adventurous and outgoing, particularly around boys, yet while on Christmas vacation with her family and best friend, Maisie finds herself spontaneously entering the local beauty pageant?the same one her skinny sister won in the past. As her summer gets more complicated, the pageant draws near, and Maisie, with the help of a few new friends, begins to discover more about herself and to learn that she can be brave and inspiring. 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. Pair with Donna Cooner's Fake (2019) for a deeper dive into body positivity.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)