Plot Summary: Beth has always been awkwardly tall, with huge glasses, scars, and crazy hair to match. What she's always had is her voice - it's beautiful and can take over any room. She feels at home at show choir, but she's not soloist material. She leaves the attention getting role to Meadow. However, once Meadow can't handle a song because of the range, Beth steps in and there's no denying her voice is meant for center stage. Once it's clear that Beth will be their lead heading into the international show choir competition in Lucerne, Meadow steps in to give her a makeover so her looks will match her voice. Beth's beautiful now and at Lucerne she meets Derek, and shock after shock, he likes her! Once back in Michigan Beth and Derek (who lives just over the border in Canada) stay together, but it's soon clear he's keeping something from Beth.
Critical Evaluation: We've all seen this story before. Girl has makeover, girl gets guy, something is wrong, girl and guy have to overcome odds. While the story isn't original and the author isn't shy about making sure you get what's happening, there are some really tender moments that will drag the romantics (like myself) into the story. This is one of those guily pleasure reads that you might not rush to reccommend at a dinner party, but you will secretly read at the beach or as you cuddle into a chair on a rainy day. The twist doesn't surprise, but does seem right given the rest of the story and there are flashes of something more that make me think Morrison is capable of better. A fine version of this kind of story, nothing to write home about.
Reader's Annotation: Beth's always had the voice, but after a makeover she's got the looks too. Watch out show choir world championships - the beast has been tamed!
About the Author: Angela Morrison is a graduate of Bringham Young University and the mother of four children. She has lived all around the world following her husband's career.
She only began writing after her youngest child started full time school and receivd her MFA from Vermont College at that time. She is active in the Mormon church and is a certified deep sea diver.
Information retreived from web.me.com/AngelaMorrison
Genre: Romance, Realistic Fiction
Curriculum Ties: N/A
Booktalking Ideas: Childhood illnesses, role of beauty and the beast within the story.
Reading Level: 11+
Interest Age: 14+
Challenge Issues: N/A
Why is This Included: Show choir angle gives a new perspective to the doomed romance angle.
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