Beauty Queens
by Libba Bray
funny. sarcastic. political. snappy.
Synopsis: Teen beauty queens are on their way to the pageant when sadly their plane crashes on what is believed to be a deserted island. For the first few days, Taylor, Miss Teen Texas, leads the remaining girls to continue preparing for when they're rescued. Adina, who didn't want to be there in the first place, is opposed to this. Soon, rescue doesn't come, the girls start to split up and strange things start happening. Are they alone on the island? What type of girls apply to be in beauty pageants? As the book goes on, the reader learns the strengths, weaknesses and hope and dreams of the beauty queens.
Review: I don't know how I feel about this book. Libba Bray is my most favorite author, obviously. But throughout the book, as you learn the past of each contestant, Bray seems to take a political stance on every feminist topic known today. One girl is against pageants. One girl has a wild side she has to tame. One girl wants to be seen outside of her skin color. One girl is in fact an ex-boyband pop star who wants to be a girl. The story, however, is great. Bray takes you through the adventures on the island with action, adventures, a little bit of piratical -and one lesbian - romances, with sarcasm at it's finest. She is witty and has brilliantly written footnotes, with the enemies thoughts, commercial breaks and Miss Teen Dream Fun Facts Pages thrown in between the chapters. I just wish she hadn't put her political and social agendas and opinions so blatantly throughout the novel.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 goats.
Buy Beauty Queens here.
Song of the Blog: I Feel Pretty by West Side Story