SURVIVAL. OF THE FITTEST.
The fifty contestants in the Miss Teen Dream Pageant thought this was going to be a fun trip to the beach, where they could parade in their state-appropriate costumes and compete in front of the cameras. But sadly, their airplane had another idea, crashing on a desert island and leaving the survivors stranded with little food, little water, and practically no eyeliner.
What's a beauty queen to do? Continue to practice for the talent portion of the program - or wrestle snakes to the ground? Get a perfect tan - or learn to run wild? And what should happen when the sexy pirates show up?
Welcome to the heart of non-exfoliated darkness.
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This was a highly entertaining book which poked fun at the consumer and image driven world in which we live. It focuses on the pressure placed on teenage girls to be and look a certain way. The failure to meet these society set standards and the effect it has on self esteem is discussed in a laid back and fun way.
The writing is simple and fun, with many satirical elements. The roots of this book are very much based on social criticism. The author manages to highlight the fact that although people may have outside beauty and appear to be in control that is often an illusion and far from the truth. Instead of having a one size fits all and stereotypical beauty pageant contestants Bray gave the characters depth and interests far beyond what would be expected. She portrayed them as intelligent, brave, inventive and independent women and it worked well.
I really enjoyed the humor in this book and the way it tackles a tough subject without becoming preachy. It shows that girls are not necessarily open about their views and interests through a fear of ruining the perfect image. However, throughout the book it proves girls are able to achieve whatever they set there minds too. While also explaining how accepting people as they are is far more rewarding than missing out on a friendship through misconceived ideas.
Overall it was an entertaining read which I thoroughly enjoyed. The book covers a wide variety of situations that teenagers may find themselves facing such as, body image, parental and peer pressure, educational achievement, and sexuality including transgender. Therefore it is may be deemed unsuitable for younger children.
I rate this book 3 out of 5 stars.
This book was entertaining and an enjoyable read. It uses satirical writing to cover a wide range of issues facing teenagers today, including consumerism and self worth. Subject matter is not suitable for the younger reader but it is a fun book and speaks the truth in a humorous way.
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