Such a Pretty Girl

SUCH A PRETTY GIRL by Laura Wiess
Category: Contemporary
Age Recommendation: Grades 9+
Release Date: 12/06
Publisher: MTV Books
Reviewed by: Jocelyn Pearce
Rating: 5 Stars

In SUCH A PRETTY GIRL, Laura Wiess grabbed and held my attention from the first page to the last. New Jersey
teenager Meredith was supposed to have nine years of safety from her father, so she'd be eighteen and out of the house
when he was released from prison. But three years later, when Meredith is fifteen, her father gets out for good behavior. No
matter what he did to Meredith and to other children before her, Meredith's mother is more than ready to take him back.

Meredith isn't alone, though. She has her grandmother, the mayor of the town, who wants Meredith to move in with her to
escape her father. She has Andy, her best friend, the guy she is in love with, who was also scarred by Meredith's father as a
child. She has Andy's mother, who moved across the street from Meredith's family just to keep other children from the
horror from which she couldn't protect Andy. She has Nigel, a retired policemen who has a plan to get Meredith's father
back in jail and away from children. Even though Meredith is far from alone, she still feels that way when she can't even
count on the people every kid is supposed to be able to count on: her parents.

Meredith wants to get her father back in prison. She wants her mother to go back to visiting him instead of having him in
their house. She wants to be able to go into her own home without fear. She wants other kids to be safe, too. She doesn't
know what that's going to take, and she's certainly not unafraid, but she isn't going to let him hurt her, or any other kids,
again.

This moving, powerful novel is one that should not be missed. Once you start reading it, you won't be able to put this book
down. I wasn't! It's an emotional book that is beautifully, powerfully written and unique, and it'll stay with you long past the
last word.

Laura Wiess's characters are as well-written as the rest of the book, very realistic (in some cases, scarily so). They're
three-dimensional characters in an equally (and, again, scarily) believable story that will certainly be a favorite of anyone who
reads it. I know it's one of mine now! Don't miss this book.