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list price: $12.95
edition:Paperback
also available: eBook
category: Young Adult Fiction
published: Apr 2011
ISBN:9780889954571
publisher: Red Deer Press

Born Ugly

by Beth Goobie

tagged: bullying, drugs, alcohol, substance abuse, self-esteem & self-reliance
Description

Westchester 2011 Honorable Mention2013 Saskatoon Book Awards: Young Adult Literature Award nominee

To say Shir is unpopular is a understatement. In fact she's less than homely, therefore a target of casual cruelty in high school. Even though she wishes to remain invisible, bullies find ways of tormenting her, viciously. Worse still, she's an outcast in her own family.

There are two areas where Shir can overcome her negative self image. One is at her part-time job where the kindly Mr. A has hired her as the driver of his grocery delivery truck. The other is at her secret retreat - myplace - where she can sip her beer and watch the river, undisturbed.

But neither sanctuary is safe; Shir discovers that Mr. A's kindness is part of a plot to use her as an accomplice in shady dealings, and her haven by the river is intruded upon by a boy who simply won't go away. While these invasions shatter her initially, both lead to her throwing off the mantle of victim and asserting herself for the first time in her life.

About the Author

Beth Goobie grew up in a family in which the appearance of a normal childhood hid many secrets. She moved away to attend university, became a youth residential treatment worker and studied creative writing at the University of Alberta. She is the award-winning author of over twenty novels, including The Pain Eater, The Lottery, the CLA Award-winning Before Wings, and the adult novel The First Principles of Dreaming. Beth makes her home in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

Contributor Notes

Beth Goobie graduated from the University of Winnipeg and the Mennonite Brethren Bible College. She is an award-winning writer of young adult fiction including I'm Not Convinced, Mission Impossible and Before Wings. She lives in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

Recommended Age, Grade, and Reading Levels
Age:
14 to 18
Grade:
6 to 7
Editorial Review

"This taut thriller showcases the award-winning Canadian author’s gift for creating memorable teen characters who confront tough issues alone—in this case, teen bullying, portrayed in gritty, claustrophobic detail by its victim...Goobie’s third-person voice relentlessly puts readers directly in Shir’s head, pulling no punches in creating a memorable, believable character." -- Kirkus Reviews

"This book will be enjoyed by those who like to root for the outsider and are not afraid of reading edgy material. This is a good addition to young adult collections." -- VOYA

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