Uglier: A moving YA novel about a teen finding their gender identity (The Art of Being Ugly Book 2)
Oklahoma City. Nic Summers is ready for a fresh start. Entering her first semester at a boarding school far from her narrow-minded hometown, the talented teen artist hopes to continue exploring her gender identity in a safer environment. And after meeting a boy she likes, connecting with another student, and discovering a supportive teacher, she’s relieved things are looking up… until once again she faces a cruel bully. Trying to stay positive, the shy creative focuses on nurturing her fledgling friendships and honing her skills under the guidance of a kind mentor. But after Nic’s crush is vengefully outed as trans, she blurts out something awful and fears she’s ruined everything. Can she mend shattered trusts and reclaim her authentic self?
Plot/Idea: 7 out of 10
Originality: 7 out of 10
Prose: 8 out of 10
Character/Execution: 9 out of 10
Overall: 7.75 out of 10
Assessment:
Plot/Idea: Uglier depicts a captivating story of adolescent growth. As Nic Summers begins attending a new school, readers will witness their journey to discover who they really are and applaud their courage as an agender teen. Though some plot points are predictable, most of the story is a touching tribute to coming-of-age angst.
Prose: Vincent's novel possesses a strong voice through teenager Nic, who, even as they're wading through self-discovery, displays a clear sense of their own needs.
Originality: Vincent presents gender identity themes in a refreshing way, and Nic's perspective is both engaging and enlightening.
Character/Execution: Readers will empathize with Vincent's main characters as they experience the uneasiness of adolescence, make mistakes, and mature. Though this novel is a sequel to Vincent's Ugly, readers will glean plenty of backstory to understand protagonist Nic.
Date Submitted: July 04, 2023
