Like Vanessa

from kpolhuis

Personally, I do not agree with the practice of beauty pageants so I was not excited about reading this book, but I was engaged from the beginning and I was relieved by the end. This is not just some boring tale about the ugly duckling who turns into a swan through the magic of cosmetics and diet...

from Galina98

Many other reviewers stole my adjectives I would use for this book. As a coming of age tale I found it enlightening, and encouraging, that it took place in 1980s Newark, New Jersey. Not exactly the easiest place to grow up in. Hopefully this will encourage other writers to take on coming of age s...

from VaterOlsen

Middle school student Vanessa doesn't consider herself extraordinary by any measure. Her family of her father, grandfather, and cousin struggle with poverty. Vanessa is overweight and her clothes reflect her family's lack of resources. Her dad doesn't talk much, especially about her missing mothe...

from mclane

This book is a wonderful, inspiring story about a smart, talented girl who over comes self-doubt, poverty and awkwardness to reach out to attain the goals she has set for her self. Vanessa Martin is an African American girl living in poverty in Newark in 1983. Her father is hard-working but aloof...

from SamMusher

This is one I had a hard time booktalking based on the flap copy. The kids would go, "...beauty pageants?" and pass. Vanessa Williams is not a person they've heard of and pageants aren't part of their world. Now that I've read it I can give them a quickie plot summary and add, "This is a book abo...