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alexa_bmn's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
hufflebean's review
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.0
marthaives's review
4.0
This book was published for World Book Day. It's about Avery, who suffers from very bad acne and as a result is bullied in school. Her doctor, however, offers her a drug that quickly clears her skin. Suddenly the popular girls and boys at school want to be her friend.
This was your classic nerdy-girl-gets-pretty book, with the usual plot-points to go alongside it. Nonetheless, it was engaging and I think a young audience would really get something out of it. For me, there was a little bit too much culture-references going on, which felt a bit forced, but then again I'm not the target audience. The ending was very abrupt... there were strings that could have been tied up a bit neater. But the overall message was sweet and positive and the ending was very uplifting.
I think in short stories its difficult to get the pacing right, but the author managed it in this one.
This was your classic nerdy-girl-gets-pretty book, with the usual plot-points to go alongside it. Nonetheless, it was engaging and I think a young audience would really get something out of it. For me, there was a little bit too much culture-references going on, which felt a bit forced, but then again I'm not the target audience. The ending was very abrupt... there were strings that could have been tied up a bit neater. But the overall message was sweet and positive and the ending was very uplifting.
I think in short stories its difficult to get the pacing right, but the author managed it in this one.
rachelverna's review
2.0
I don't think this story works as novelle and I didn't care for the main character. Her life lesson is dumb and dramatic sentences from...parents. I wrote a properreview on my blog.
laurencebc1's review
3.0
RATING - 3.5: Avery suffers from severe acne and constant bullying because of it. Now, as she undergoes a new treatment, she finds herself hanging out with the A-listers. A nice, fun, quick easy read about finding confidence in yourself.
jackielaw's review
3.0
Spot the Difference, by Juno Dawson, is an exclusive World Book Day story aimed at key stage three. The language used and topics addressed would also make it suitable for confident younger readers. At less than one hundred pages long it is a quick read.
The protagonist, Avery, is in Year 10 (around fifteen years old) and suffers from severe acne. She has learned to keep her head down but this has not prevented the A listers in her year naming her ‘Pizzaface’. She looks at their clear skin and shiny hair with envy even though she recognises how mean minded they are.
When a new drug becomes available her mother finally agrees to allow her to try medication in an attempt to cure her complaint. Suddenly she is comfortable with her looks. The transformation is noticed and she starts to receive positive attention from the A listers, but at what cost?
The author addresses the way society regards those who do not conform to a prescribed appearance and how this makes both the conformists and those who do match up to an accepted standard feel. It is not just those who fail to cultivate a certain look who suffer abuse, sometimes as subtle as constant advice on how to ‘improve’, but also those with physical disabilities which they cannot change.
In so few pages this story scratches the surface of a complex problem that is prevalent in every social setting but is hot housed in schools where children have no choice but to spend so much of their time. No easy answers are offered as none exist.
What is suggested is a wider recognition that beneath even the shiniest surface there is darkness. Tempting though it may be to paper over, to hide the cracks, it is these which let in the light by which all may learn.
The protagonist, Avery, is in Year 10 (around fifteen years old) and suffers from severe acne. She has learned to keep her head down but this has not prevented the A listers in her year naming her ‘Pizzaface’. She looks at their clear skin and shiny hair with envy even though she recognises how mean minded they are.
When a new drug becomes available her mother finally agrees to allow her to try medication in an attempt to cure her complaint. Suddenly she is comfortable with her looks. The transformation is noticed and she starts to receive positive attention from the A listers, but at what cost?
The author addresses the way society regards those who do not conform to a prescribed appearance and how this makes both the conformists and those who do match up to an accepted standard feel. It is not just those who fail to cultivate a certain look who suffer abuse, sometimes as subtle as constant advice on how to ‘improve’, but also those with physical disabilities which they cannot change.
In so few pages this story scratches the surface of a complex problem that is prevalent in every social setting but is hot housed in schools where children have no choice but to spend so much of their time. No easy answers are offered as none exist.
What is suggested is a wider recognition that beneath even the shiniest surface there is darkness. Tempting though it may be to paper over, to hide the cracks, it is these which let in the light by which all may learn.
alyce6d980's review
3.0
"Anyone can be gorgeous. It just takes hard work and self-discipline."
Juno Dawson's short story for World Book Day tells the story of Avery, a year 10 girl who suffers horrendously with acne. The A-list in her school have cleverly branded her "Pizzaface", making her life a misery and causing her inescapable dread every time she has to go to school in the morning. So when she has the choice to take trial drug Sebavectum, she jumps at the chance.
This is the first part of the short story that annoyed me - I just really hate fake drugs. Apparently it's based on a real type of medication, but I think it would have been much better to not give it a name.
Anyway, Avery starts taking this medication, and her skin clears up. She's ecstatic - the bullying will stop! - and soon enough the popular crowd are trying to absorb her into the A-list and make her one of their best friends. Avery gets the guy she's always daydreamed about, and everyone is happy - apart from her best friend, Lois, who is shoved to the sidelines.
Then the campaign for Head Girl begins, and Avery decides to run against the school's Queen of Mean, Scarlett, to end her reign of terror.
As you can tell, there's a lot going on in this short story - perhaps too much, because I didn't feel connected to the characters and I didn't really care about what happened. It was all a little predictable: unpopular girl becomes popular and tries to dismantle the hierarchy from inside, while losing herself the whole time. I've read books like it before (off the top of my head, 'Stella' by Helen Eve is a close comparison) but without the factor of acne being involved - I actually really appreciated such a frank and straight-talking approach to the problem, because a heck of a lot of teenagers suffer with their spots but they aren't often mentioned in books because they aren't glamorous.
I think this could have worked better as a full novel rather than a short story because - with the character development, the burgeoning relationship between Avery and Seth, the rivalry between her and Scarlett and the knowledge that the Sebavectum trial had been cancelled - there was a lot more that could have been expanded upon, and a lot more potential. The ending is rather preachy, but if it had been set in the greater context of a novel it would have been more effective: the moral of the story could have been spread throughout, rather than forced in quickly at the end.
I didn't hate this short story, I just felt as though there was a lot more that could have been done with it, so I'm on the fence about it.
Juno Dawson's short story for World Book Day tells the story of Avery, a year 10 girl who suffers horrendously with acne. The A-list in her school have cleverly branded her "Pizzaface", making her life a misery and causing her inescapable dread every time she has to go to school in the morning. So when she has the choice to take trial drug Sebavectum, she jumps at the chance.
This is the first part of the short story that annoyed me - I just really hate fake drugs. Apparently it's based on a real type of medication, but I think it would have been much better to not give it a name.
Anyway, Avery starts taking this medication, and her skin clears up. She's ecstatic - the bullying will stop! - and soon enough the popular crowd are trying to absorb her into the A-list and make her one of their best friends. Avery gets the guy she's always daydreamed about, and everyone is happy - apart from her best friend, Lois, who is shoved to the sidelines.
Then the campaign for Head Girl begins, and Avery decides to run against the school's Queen of Mean, Scarlett, to end her reign of terror.
As you can tell, there's a lot going on in this short story - perhaps too much, because I didn't feel connected to the characters and I didn't really care about what happened. It was all a little predictable: unpopular girl becomes popular and tries to dismantle the hierarchy from inside, while losing herself the whole time. I've read books like it before (off the top of my head, 'Stella' by Helen Eve is a close comparison) but without the factor of acne being involved - I actually really appreciated such a frank and straight-talking approach to the problem, because a heck of a lot of teenagers suffer with their spots but they aren't often mentioned in books because they aren't glamorous.
I think this could have worked better as a full novel rather than a short story because - with the character development, the burgeoning relationship between Avery and Seth, the rivalry between her and Scarlett and the knowledge that the Sebavectum trial had been cancelled - there was a lot more that could have been expanded upon, and a lot more potential. The ending is rather preachy, but if it had been set in the greater context of a novel it would have been more effective: the moral of the story could have been spread throughout, rather than forced in quickly at the end.
I didn't hate this short story, I just felt as though there was a lot more that could have been done with it, so I'm on the fence about it.
charlottereadsthings's review
3.0
This is a World Book Day 2016 title for the "older readers."
The story follows Avery who struggles with confidence because of her skin condition for which she is bullied quite badly at school for. When her dermatologist offers her a place on a new drug trial, she jumps at the chance. As Avery's skin changes, so does her social standing as the popular kids at school and it her new-found popularity tests just how much Avery is willing to give up to be cool.
It highlights the importance of being yourself and not caring what others think.
The story follows Avery who struggles with confidence because of her skin condition for which she is bullied quite badly at school for. When her dermatologist offers her a place on a new drug trial, she jumps at the chance. As Avery's skin changes, so does her social standing as the popular kids at school and it her new-found popularity tests just how much Avery is willing to give up to be cool.
It highlights the importance of being yourself and not caring what others think.
dulcie's review
2.0
juno is still one of my favourite authors, but I didn't really enjoy this book. if you like the premise, Id recommend the Manifesto on how to be Interesting by Holly Bourne :)
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