If you've read previous posts of mine, you'll know that this is a book that I've been looking forward to for some time. The premise of the book really sings to me...a group of beauty queens stranded on an island trying to survive. And it's all told in a satirical format. But after getting into the book, I realized there are so many layers to this book that I did not expect.
Summary: Teen beauty queens. A Lost-like island. Mysteries and dangers. No access to emall. And the spirit of fierce, feral competition that lives underground in girls, a savage brutality that can only be revealed by a journey into the heart of non-exfoliated darkness. Oh, the horror, the horror! Only funnier. With evening gowns. And a body count.
First thing: This book is marketed as Young Adult. But, to be honest, there are some scenes in the book that seem a little mature for the YA label (i.e. sex scenes).
Miss Teen Dream pageant is sponsored by The Corporation. The Corporation is what rules all the latest and greatest reality TV shows (Bridal Death Match : brides who cage fight each other to the death in order to win their dream wedding), cure-all beauty products (Lady 'stache Off : rids ladies of facial hair and clears up skin), and even clothes (Forever Young Jeans : the gravity defying jeans for moms who want to party with their kids). Also, for us to get to know the pageant contestants, the girls on the island submit Fact Sheets about themselves and The Corporation "vets" their answers and lets them know that some of their answers aren't "pretty enough" and suggest changing their answers to something more friendly. Another way The Corporation inserts itself into the story is through written "commercial breaks". One of my favorites featured their plastic surgery center, Breast in Show, where people can go and get EVERYTHING fixed...even parts of your body you didn't know needed to be fixed!
The author does a great thing by incorporating The Corporation as a character...it makes the story something that the reader can relate to because of all the things we see on TV today. While the claims and products that The Corporation make are ridiculous, they're just ridiculous enough to make you think about how it's not too far from what we see on TV today.
It took me a minute to get into the rhythm of the book because the story bounces from one beauty contestant's story to the next. At first the girls were a little annoying, but as the story develops - we learn more about the girls and they become more endearing. But the best part about these girls is how humorously and plainly they spoke about feminism, race issues, and life in the pageant world. This is where the book starts to have a really great message.
In one storyline, the author calls out how girls of color are routinely placed as the best friend or sassy side kick.
"Instead, she sat through countless DVR'd episodes of teen shows where the only girls of color were the sassy best friend, the Girl with Attitude who came in to swivel her head, snap out a one-liner, and fall back like a background singer."
I also really enjoyed this line about girls in pageant life (this also really makes me think about that show Toddlers & Tiaras and how those little girls could possibly end up).
"That sound sounds like my mom, Miss Arkansas said. She's all 'Sparkle, sparkle, sparkle!' Sometimes I want to say, 'If you like this so much, why don't you put down the donuts and get up here and sparkle yourself?'"
But, I think the most important message this book had to offer was encouraging girls to step out of their shell and what they perceive their role in society to be. The author made several good points about sexuality, how to take the lead in life, and not to apologize for having an opinion.
"Mary Lou liked Adina. She liked her directness. In school, they would tell you that life wouldn't come to you; but you had to go out and make it your own. But when it came to love, the message for girls seemed to be this: Don't. Don't go after what you want. Wait. Wait to be chosen, as if only in the eye of another could one truly find value. The message was confusing and infuriating. It was a shell game with no actual pea under the rapidly moving cups."
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. A LOT. It was a really entertaining story, but above all - there was a good, relatable message woven into it. And it was pretty funny. At the end of the book I wanted to hug each of the girls because I enjoyed their story so much. I think this is a book that girls could really benefit from reading...it's about coming into your own and realizing who you are and then being okay with that.
Ranking: A!
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