Such a Pretty Girl

By: Laura Wiess

Narrated by: Angela Jayne Rogers

Fifteen-year-old Meredith hoped to never again see her father, who did something unspeakable to her. But after only three years in jail, he's coming back home - and she's terrified. Critically acclaimed young adult author Laura Wiess' novel deals frankly with the sensitive subject of child abuse.©2007 Laura Weiss (P)2007 Recorded Books

Critic reviews

"Tough, darkly humorous, yet achingly vulnerable." (Kirkus Reviews)

Worth listening to.

The narrator was great. Great emotion in her voice. You would think that the author would have went into more when it came to the relationship the girl had with her mother and how unstable she must have been to forgive such a thing and even blaming it on her own child. The story lacks that disturbing feeling you'd get like with a similar story like Precious. But then again,this happens everyday all over the world. The stories aren't always as violent but I bet they don't feel different to the victim. Overall it is a good listen and by the end you feel proud of the girl for being so brave. Very rewarding ending. Hope that doesn't ruin it for you!

konikins

Compelling and poignant. Listened to in two sittings.

Good one time listen

It wasn’t bad, but I felt the author pulled the punches. I would have liked more detail in both the flashbacks and the ending. I feel like there was much more going on with the mother. That there wasn’t enough payoff.

The book was great!

Over all it didn't meet my expectations. The story wasn't as good as the sample made it out to be. But I actually really ended up liking it! I really didn't see the ending coming and it was a great shocker! Although the narrators voice is a bit annoying.

Heavy

What if your father molested you and five other kids, was sent away for nine years but got out in three?
What if your mother took his side, saw his rape a mistake?
What if she wanted to have another baby with him?

Meredith's father is back, much to her mother's delight. He may have fooled the parole board, but Meredith knows she isn't safe. Her neighbor, Nigel, a retired cop knows she isn't safe. Her friend Andy, another of his victims, knows he's just as dangerous. The system failed Meredith. Her parents failed Meredith. Meredith has to save herself.

Laura Wiess gave Meredith such an authentically heartbreaking voice. A survivor, still wounded and afraid the fifteen-year-old has been emotionally abandoned by her mother, even worse, blamed. I wanted to reach inside my Kindle and shake some sense into her mother. Unfortunately, mothers who side with their abusive husbands aren't just characters, they are very real. They sometimes even blame their daughters for being provocative, as if a child could be responsible for her own molestation.

SUCH A PRETTY GIRL is at times difficult to read. There are no easy answers, no quick fix. Wiess masterfully shows (not tells) the story, in heart thumping emotional detail. You won't forget Meredith.

I was a little lost

I kind of feel like I wasted five hours, but it was because I wanted to know how it ended and that’s the problem. It ended weird. It is very clear the story was sad. I would never want anyone to go through what Mere went through but it was a little too back-and-forth for me to really grasp what happened. See for yourself. Enjoy.

Loved.

Loved it. I just wanted more, more detail, more on what happens to the mother (god I hated her I just wanted to see her suffer more) more on how the dad feels after everything (I wanna know he’s suffering LOL) and I needed more Andy and her at the end so it could feel totally complete. Either way, so amazing.

Hauntingly Realistic!!!

This novelist did such a great job getting into this "pretty girl's" head that I found myself not believing it was fiction...amazing story with a great narrator. I was hooked from the first paragraph. I loved how the backstory was interwoven with current happenings.

Casual

For such a heavy topic, it’s quite a casual listen. It’s similar to listening to a string of thoughts of someone whose been traumatized and forced to be surrounded by the perpetrator. Relatable in that way. A decent read. Not outstanding but a nice ending all things considered.

Not that insightful

This is a good book if you are looking to listen to something in which your attention will wander or you put it down for some time and pick it back up. It is not "deep", informative or even that interesting.