Items related to Perfect: A Novel
Depicting with humor and insight the pressure to be outwardly perfect, this novel for ages 10-13 shows how one girl develops compassion for her own and others’ imperfections.
For 13-year-old Isabelle Lee, whose father has recently died, everything's normal on the outside. Isabelle describes the scene at school with bemused accuracy--the self-important (but really not bad) English teacher, the boy that is constantly fixated on Ashley Barnum, the prettiest girl in class, and the dynamics of the lunchroom, where tables are turf in a all-eyes-open awareness of everybody's relative social position.
But everything is not normal, really. Since the dealth of her father, Isabelle's family has only functioned on the surface. Her mother, who used to take care of herself, now wears only lumpy, ill-fitting clothes, cries all night, and has taken every picture of her dead husband and put them under her bed. Isabelle tries to make light of this, but the underlying tension is expressed in overeating and then binging. As the novel opens, Isabelle's little sister, April, has told their mother about Isabelle's problem. Isabelle is enrolled in group therapy. Who should show up there, too, but Ashley Barnum, the prettiest, most together girl in class.
For 13-year-old Isabelle Lee, whose father has recently died, everything's normal on the outside. Isabelle describes the scene at school with bemused accuracy--the self-important (but really not bad) English teacher, the boy that is constantly fixated on Ashley Barnum, the prettiest girl in class, and the dynamics of the lunchroom, where tables are turf in a all-eyes-open awareness of everybody's relative social position.
But everything is not normal, really. Since the dealth of her father, Isabelle's family has only functioned on the surface. Her mother, who used to take care of herself, now wears only lumpy, ill-fitting clothes, cries all night, and has taken every picture of her dead husband and put them under her bed. Isabelle tries to make light of this, but the underlying tension is expressed in overeating and then binging. As the novel opens, Isabelle's little sister, April, has told their mother about Isabelle's problem. Isabelle is enrolled in group therapy. Who should show up there, too, but Ashley Barnum, the prettiest, most together girl in class.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
From AudioFile:
The nuances of adolescent intonation positively roll off Danielle Ferland's tongue in this tale of teen angst. When Isabelle Lee, 13, recently fatherless and currently bulimic, is forced to attend therapy, she befriends the most popular and perfect girl in her school, only to discover that her perfection is a myth. Ferland's strong narration draws the listener into a world made up largely of what is unsaid; the festering silence of Isabelle's father's death adversely affects Isabelle's family as a whole. Isabelle's struggle is fleshed out by Ferland's command of young adult sarcasm and anxiety, which helps make this potentially tragic but ultimately healing story believable. M.R.P. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine
Review:
"Friend combines believable characters and real-life situations into a fine novel that addresses common adolescent issues." -- School Library Journal, December 2004
"Friend's subtle use of language, her delicate touch brought me tears and out-loud laughter." -- The Midwest Book Review, October 1, 2004
"Friend's treatment of the subject is realistic, never cheesy even in its solution, funny, and just about perfect." -- NewPages.com, September 2004
"Girls who have enjoyed Judy Blume and similar authors will appreciate the humor and the realism in Friend’s novel." -- LMC Library Media Connection, March 2005
"Isabelle’s grief and anger are movingly and honestly portrayed. . . . a truly worthwhile read of great interest to many girls." -- Booklist, January 15, 2005
"Middle school girls who have enjoyed Judy Blume . . . will appreciate the humor and the realism in Friend’s novel. Recommended." -- Library Media Connection, March, 2005
"This novel is a fairly quick-paced, absorbing story of one young woman's world." -- VOYA, February 2005
Reading ‘Perfect’ is mother-daughter time well spent. -- Chicago Journal, June 9, 2005
This is a very strong first novel and one that every girl should read...Mothers, read this book with your daughters. -- Young Adult (&Kids!) Books Central
"Friend's subtle use of language, her delicate touch brought me tears and out-loud laughter." -- The Midwest Book Review, October 1, 2004
"Friend's treatment of the subject is realistic, never cheesy even in its solution, funny, and just about perfect." -- NewPages.com, September 2004
"Girls who have enjoyed Judy Blume and similar authors will appreciate the humor and the realism in Friend’s novel." -- LMC Library Media Connection, March 2005
"Isabelle’s grief and anger are movingly and honestly portrayed. . . . a truly worthwhile read of great interest to many girls." -- Booklist, January 15, 2005
"Middle school girls who have enjoyed Judy Blume . . . will appreciate the humor and the realism in Friend’s novel. Recommended." -- Library Media Connection, March, 2005
"This novel is a fairly quick-paced, absorbing story of one young woman's world." -- VOYA, February 2005
Reading ‘Perfect’ is mother-daughter time well spent. -- Chicago Journal, June 9, 2005
This is a very strong first novel and one that every girl should read...Mothers, read this book with your daughters. -- Young Adult (&Kids!) Books Central
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- PublisherMilkweed Editions
- Publication date2004
- ISBN 10 1571316515
- ISBN 13 9781571316516
- BindingPaperback
- Edition number1
- Number of pages232
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