Pretty Girl-13 Review

Pretty Girl-13
by Liz Coley
Genre: YA
Format: ARC received from Around the World ARC Tours in exchange for my honest review
Expected Publication: 03.19.13
Midnight Minute: A 13 year girl is kidnapped, 3 years later she returns home with no memory of the time that has passed.
From Goodreads:

 Pretty girl
13 when she
went missing

lost

to her family
to her friends
to the world

found
but still missing
her self

In Liz Coley's alarming and fascinating psychological mystery, sixteen-year-old Angie Chapman must piece together the story of her kidnapping and abuse. Pretty Girl-13 is a disturbing—and ultimately empowering—page-turner about accepting our whole selves, and the healing power of courage, hope, and love.

Midnight Thoughts:

~ I don't know what I expected, but this book was much different from what I thought it'd be about- in a good way.
~ The back of the book compares it to the Elizabeth Smart case, and it does show some parallel, but because I'm old and can remember old people stuff it reminded me of the book When Rabbit Howls, or maybe even All Around the Town by Mary Higgins Clark- books that might interest readers who want to further explore DID.
~ Pretty Girl-13 features amnesia, which for some reason is pretty prevalent in YA fiction these days, but Coley's approach to explaining the reason behind the memory loss was something I haven't seen in YA before. 
~ The main character, Angie, is thirteen when she's taken, and sixteen when she returns home, but for her no time has passed.  Coley does a great job exploring Angie's emotions with trying to cope with feeling the same in a stranger's body.
~ All is not completely well with her family either- despite how happy they are that she's home, Angie is having trouble connecting with them and the fact that despite what they say, their lives had moved on without her.  It totally reminded me of the third season of Alias, because I am a nerd.
~ Angie starts therapy, and that's probably my favorite aspect of the book, how she deals with information of her missing years and all the many revelations that brings. 
~ There is one part of her therapy that includes a trial therapy that while completely unrealistic was nevertheless fascinating.  I think there is a huge controversial discussion to be had about this procedure.  Huge!
~ Angie has a lot going on, and makes some truly horrible choices after she gets back, but even though I was cringing over her actions, I understood them. 

~ Here's a quote from the ARC that I loved but can't guarantee will be in the finished book- "What a patchwork quilt she was- bits and pieces sewn together by disaster."

~ Upon Angie's return, her mother is intent of her daughter returning to school and re-joining her friends, but if I'd been in Angie's shoes I would have demanded home schooling.  Truth!
~ The friendship that Angie rekindles with Kate and new friends Ali and Abraim was another aspect I really enjoyed.  I also really loved Abraim, even though he's not the normal swoon worthy bad boy of YA books.  He's kind of a nerd.  He's the type of guy women should date bur rarely do.
~ Okay, time to talk about what I didn't love- I found it completely unrealistic that Angie's return was kept a secret for as long as it was.  There is no way in this day and age.  No way.
~ Towards the end certain story lines wrapped up just a little too neatly, and one ended in a way that makes me want to scream.  The part about what happens to Bill was beyond infuriating to me, but... realistic.  A lot of families deal with this particular issue in the same way, which is disheartening.
~ I want to discuss this book! I wish I could say more, but I think this is a better read if you don't know a lot going into it.  So hit me up if you've read this book, or stumble across this review after the book is released!
~ Oh, I was crying at the ending.  Heart torn apart.  Good job, Coley, good job.

Timeless Characters:

Angie- our main character, starring in her own hellish version of the movie Big.
Angie's parents- I liked that Coley showed them as flawed, and also what they went through after their daughter's disappearance.
The Kidnapper- we don't know a lot about him, but what is revealed is pretty disturbing.
Lizzie, Greg and Kate- friends of pre-kidnapped Angie, naturally Kate is the best (seriously, it's the name!)
Ali and Abraim- new friends, nerdtastic!
Yuncle Bill- Angie's young uncle
Angie's Therapist- has a name, but I failed to write it down before sending the book on... but she's very key to the story line, I promise.  Dr. Evans maybe?
Dr. Hirsch- his name I wrote down- he's leading the clinical trial.  
 

Midnight Moment:

It's hard to pick one moment, since there are a lot of twists and turns, but I think when I figured out the initial trauma that caused Angie to be able to cope with her kidnapping as well as she did was the first one.  I know that's all vague and mysterious (much like myself!) but I just don't want to ruin it.

Stop The Clock:

This book is, in parts, brutal and uncomfortable. Coley does not hide from the controversial themes, but finds a way to talk about them without glorifying them. Still, be prepared that the book does take an unflinching look at sexual abuse. I rather like how honest Coley is, and how Angie is allowed to be confused over how she feels about it. In fact, this book might be a good way to open a dialogue with young readers about sexual abuse.



Liz Coley — Website | Liz Coley

Pretty Girl-13 gets a Midnight Book Rating of: