North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley was not what I was expecting. I thought I would be reading a book about typical teen-girl self-consciousness: a Cinderella story where a girl who doesn't know she is pretty catches the eye of the popular guy at school.
How wrong I was!! This was a GREAT book! Terra has a birthmark across her cheek, so she compensates by religiously working out and wearing pounds of make up. Her home life is awful - her father is a bully - not a physical abuser, but he shames and emotionally abuses Terra and her overweight mother.
When Terra and her mother run into Jacob and his adoptive mother (quite literally...they get into a car accident), they form a supportive and lasting friendship. Terra begins to have feelings for Jacob and must wrestle with them - afterall, she does have a "hot" boyfriend from school.
Jacob helps Terra to see that beauty is more than just what is outside, and he helps her to become a stronger person emotionally.
LOVE IT! It was a great teen read, and better than many of the girl-meets-boy books that have been inundating the library shelves. In fact, I think I'll go read it again!!
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