Book Review-BEAUTY QUEENS

BEAUTY QUEENS

By Libba Bray

2011

Scholastic Press

390 Pages

Taken from Goodreads:

The fifty contestants in the Miss Teen Dream pageant thought this was going to be a fun trip to the beach, where they could parade in their state-appropriate costumes and compete in front of the cameras. But sadly, their airplane had another idea, crashing on a desert island and leaving the survivors stranded with little food, little water, and practically no eyeliner.

What's a beauty queen to do? Continue to practice for the talent portion of the program - or wrestle snakes to the ground? Get a perfect tan - or learn to run wild? And what should happen when the sexy pirates show up?

My Thoughts:

Let's start with a confession. Libba Bray and I have a somewhat tumultuous relationship.
I loved her "A Great and Terrible Beauty" series but I really didn't like or "get" Going Bovine.
I took a chance on Beauty Queens. Once again the reviews varied-people loved it or hated it.
I found myself middle of the road.
I liked Beauty Queens.
It's not boring!
It's a story that keeps you on your toes with multiple characters, a plane crash, and lots of bad guys running amok. It's a page turner with a lot of action.
I was expecting a survivor/Lord of the Flies type of story based on the cover.
Well, you know what happens when you assume....and this book goes in a completely different direction.
Even when I was annoyed with the story or a character I had to keep reading because I wanted-okay, HAD to find out how this crazy tale was going to end.
This story contains the evils of Beauty Pageants, Product Placements, Commercials/Corporate Sponsorships and Reality TV. At the same time it gives us the readers the opportunity to witness girl power, complicated friendships, compassion and tolerance. Oh, and did I mention pirates?
I finished this book cursing Libba Bray's name in one moment and praising her genius take on things the next.
See, I told you our relationship is rocky!
I believe that fans of Libba Bray's Going Bovine will love Beauty Queens.
I know that I will pick up her next book and read it regardless of cover or content. Because I'm morbidly curious that way and a part of me needs to be a part of Libba Bray's crazy world.
I would recommend this book is for readers 15 and up. It contains sex, violence and many sexual relationships.
The Salmon Public Library does have this book available for check out-located in Adult Fiction.

A Mooooooving Tale

GOING BOVINE

By Libba Bray

400 ages

2009

From Inside Cover:

Can Cameron find what he's looking for? All 16-year-old Cameron wants is to get through high school and life in general with a minimum of effort. It's not a lot to ask. But that's before he's given some bad news: he's sick and he's going to die. Which totally sucks. Hope arrives in the winged form of Dulcie, a loopy punk angel/possible hallucination with a bad sugar habit. She tells Cam there is a cure if he's willing to go in search of it. With the help of a death-obsessed, video-gaming dwarf and a yard gnome, Cam sets off on the mother of all road trips through a twisted America into the heart of what matters most.

My Thoughts:

What happens when you might be dying before you have ever had the chance to live?

Poor Cameron is just sliding by pretty much not giving a crap about anything. Family irritates him. Friends get on his nerves. School work is a waste of time. Hobbies...please! Then one day he's told that he has a life threatening disease-one which there is no cure for. Suddenly time is running out for Cam before he has even had the chance to live.

Readers, be prepared to take a journey-a road trip with many twist and turns. Cam is determined to live life to the fullest-no matter what. And we are riding shot gun.

Sadly, I did not enjoy the journey. After reading so many positive reviews about this book I had huge expectations. It just couldn't deliver. I did enjoy the humor and Cam's sidekick(whatever happened to him?) But this book left me feeling empty. Like I was the only one in the room that didn't get the joke-hours later I'm still scratching my head....

I recommend this book for readers 15 and up for sexual content, death and language. This book is available at the Salmon Public Library-in the adult section.