Pretty Is

By Elizabeth Holmes

Snip! With one cut of the scissors, Erin’s social life changes absolutely. It’s hard enough being a new girl, but it’s that much worse to have a dorky older sister in the same school. When she is snubbed by the pretty and popular crowd, Erin commits an over-the-top vengeful act. This novel focuses on issues of family loyalty, peer pressure, and the desperate desire to belong. How Erin comes to terms with what she has done and with her sister makes this book a good choice for any girl threading her way through the challenging corridors of middle school.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0525478132
• ISBN13: 9780525478133
• Release Date: May 2007
• Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.5" x 0.9" x 5.8"
• Age Range: 10 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 5 and higher

Customer Reviews

Courtesy of Teens Read Too

Erin is a fifth-grader who will be entering middle school the next year. But there's one problem. Her older sister, Monica, is already in middle school and is a main target for a lot of teasing. Monica is really dorky. She wears baggy clothes and never shaves her legs. Plus, she never really even talks to anyone. Erin is dreading the fact that everyone is going to know that the dorky girl is her older sister. And it doesn't help that her friend, Kayla, is an extremely rude girl who's older sister, Claire, teases Monica the most. And deep down Erin feels that a part of her is just like Monica -- and that of course terrifies her. Shortly before the school year ends, Kayla starts ignoring Erin. Erin automatically thinks it's because of Monica. But she makes a new friend in Hannah. Hannah is a wildly outgoing girl who is always thinking of crazy things to do. And soon she has a way for Erin to get back at Kayla, which involves scissors and Kayla's long, beautiful blonde hair. Well, Erin does it and gets away with it, until Monica says something about Erin sneaking out right in front of their mother. Erin is caught and has to go apologize to Kayla and give up practically all the money she has to her parents to pay to get Kayla's hair fixed. During all this madness, Monica finds an interest in something that's actually not dorky. She starts shooting hoops at the house next door almost every day. Erin sits and watches her day after day. She has nothing better to do, because Hannah is off with her family on vacation. Plus, Erin is grounded anyway. She still thinks that Monica is really dorky and is still embarrassed to be seen with her. During the final month of summer, Erin and Monica are sent off to the week-long church camp that they attend most every year. While there, Erin tries to make sure that no one realizes that Monica is her sister. But she ends up failing when they have to stay for another week because her mom is going through a surgery that got pushed back a few days that they didn't even know about. Monica then ends up staying in Erin's cabin. And over the next few days, Erin realizes that, yes, her sister is dorky, but there really isn't much she can do about it. Plus, some of the girls in the camp even think that Monica's knitting is pretty cool. When they get back from camp, will Erin still be friends with Hannah and stop hating her sister because she's such a dork, or will everything just be the same as it was before they left? This was a pretty good and fast read. The story itself was good. I could totally see a younger sister thinking this about her older sister. I've never really thought of sisters disliking their older sisters before. But it definitely makes sense. The ending was a bit predictable but it didn't make the book any less good. It had your typical characters; the social outcast, the popular girls, the girl that's new to the school. Overall, I'd recommend PRETTY IS to someone that's looking for a light, summery read.

Perfect for middle school readers!

"Pretty Is" addresses many of the issues facing middle school girls in a light hearted way--but it will make you think after you close the book. Fitting in, having a dorky sister, losing your friends are enough challenges for any girl entering middle school. But if a new "friend" challenges you to commit an act of revenge--and you do--you have created more layers of problems. Add to the mix getting discovered, by said dorky sister, and then left with all the blame because new "friend" is gone for the summer--and the result is a story to appeal to young teen age girls. Is this great literature? Not really, but it earns five stars because of what it does. It is perfect for reluctant readers and those looking for something new for middle school girls. Even better, read it aloud with your daughter and get a discussion going. As a middle school teacher, I have personally observed how middle school is probably more difficult for girls than boys due to the heavy social pressures. Here is a book that brings many of these concerns out for another look.