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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I’m rereading all the books I own, and this is one I’ve had since it first came out. I’ve read it countless times. I believe it was actually originally my sister’s (also a blonde named Terra, believe it or not), but I suppose I co-opted it sometime over the years. As a child, I certainly saw myself in the main character’s relationship with her parents, and because of that, this reread was interesting even beyond the plot line itself. I did really enjoy it, though, and can see myself keeping it and rereading it for years to come. Oh! Also! I’ve realized in my adulthood that Terra, her dad, AND her mom ALL struggle with disordered eating which felt like a very wild realization.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse
Discovery: It was the first book I saw on a random trip to the bookstore.
+ Language. Chen’s writing is exactly the kind of easy, rhythmic prose that I want to achieve for myself, the kind that lulls you in and comforts you even as it leads you into uncharted, terrifying territory. My favourite passage has to be: ”There is a time to study a map passionately, obsessively. To see where you’ve gone, where other have gone before you. To commit to memory every obstacle, every danger. Shakespeare had a term for this obsession: mappery. But there is a time, too, when you say ‘come dragons. I challenge you to find me.’”
+ Themes. The entire novel is a homage to the changes wrought by adolescence. We may not have the obvious birthmark on our faces, but there are blemishes and scars that we all wear and are eager to shed. Each of us are on journeys to find ourselves, each of us try to ignore the detractor in the corner, and none of us feel like we can actually do it. Terra’s birthmark may distinguish her from everyone else, but over the course of the novel, she learns to confidently wield that power. The title is especially poignant in light of this change in Terra: “beautiful” is a word that most girls yearn to be attached to their names, but Chen reminds us that it’s always possible to be more, to reach that pinnacle north of beautiful where we are happy to be exactly who we are.
- Structure. There are three parts to this novel: Terra Nullis, Terra Incognita and Terra Firma. The third and last part was the one I was most pleased with, and the one which was developed best. During the first half of the novel, it does seem as though Chen is feeling her way along the story and her uncertainty is obvious. By the time Terra flies to Hong Kong, Chen has more control over her writing. I only really noticed this after my third reread, so it’s not too much of a problem.
Recommendations: North of Beautiful is a passionate and ethereal narrative, worth passing on to young girls who are entering adolescence as well as older readers who might need a reminder of just how wonderful they are.
Rating: Excellent.
+ Language. Chen’s writing is exactly the kind of easy, rhythmic prose that I want to achieve for myself, the kind that lulls you in and comforts you even as it leads you into uncharted, terrifying territory. My favourite passage has to be: ”There is a time to study a map passionately, obsessively. To see where you’ve gone, where other have gone before you. To commit to memory every obstacle, every danger. Shakespeare had a term for this obsession: mappery. But there is a time, too, when you say ‘come dragons. I challenge you to find me.’”
+ Themes. The entire novel is a homage to the changes wrought by adolescence. We may not have the obvious birthmark on our faces, but there are blemishes and scars that we all wear and are eager to shed. Each of us are on journeys to find ourselves, each of us try to ignore the detractor in the corner, and none of us feel like we can actually do it. Terra’s birthmark may distinguish her from everyone else, but over the course of the novel, she learns to confidently wield that power. The title is especially poignant in light of this change in Terra: “beautiful” is a word that most girls yearn to be attached to their names, but Chen reminds us that it’s always possible to be more, to reach that pinnacle north of beautiful where we are happy to be exactly who we are.
- Structure. There are three parts to this novel: Terra Nullis, Terra Incognita and Terra Firma. The third and last part was the one I was most pleased with, and the one which was developed best. During the first half of the novel, it does seem as though Chen is feeling her way along the story and her uncertainty is obvious. By the time Terra flies to Hong Kong, Chen has more control over her writing. I only really noticed this after my third reread, so it’s not too much of a problem.
Recommendations: North of Beautiful is a passionate and ethereal narrative, worth passing on to young girls who are entering adolescence as well as older readers who might need a reminder of just how wonderful they are.
Rating: Excellent.
I really loved this book. I think that it's great that someone would write a book about everyone being beautiful. It's really encouraged me to look for the good in other people, and especially in myself. Even what I think are my flaws, can be beautiful if I just have a different outlook on life. Beautiful story and very easy to read. Very relateable.
I really liked the message at the end and Jacob is a sweetheart, but this book is way too long and extremely boring at points.
This is a book I will recommend to my high school students. It's about being yourself, in the most trying times but also just accepting the everyday.
This book was written with grace and with wisdom. It tackles timeless, thorny issues with unflinching strength and makes you really believe that everything can be overcome. The love story is sweet and very emotionally mature for a YA book. It is a love not just of attraction or of liking, but of two people who deeply understand, accept and admire one another. This book was lyrical, lovely, and edges toward being a classic, not just another quick YA read.
"The meaning of true beauty". That really does say it all. True beauty comes from within oneself, outer beauty has almost nothing to do with it. Beauty is how cordial you are with people. Beauty is being yourself, and most important of all, beauty is you and me.
I think the way Headley captured this subject was brilliant. Terra is obviously flawless, besides the port wine stain on her face that she has had since she was a child. Some may even say it marr's her face, or it is a "pity" that she has this awful stain on her cheek. When the author created Terra as a character, she knew what she was getting into with the subject of self love and self acceptance.
Through ought the story, we travel with Terra on her day to day life,boyfriend, friends and family. What struck me the most was her family life, and the father she has to live with. I don't want to give too much away, but he is a insulting pig to Terra and her mother. Just plain awful.
I loved the incorporation of maps and facts about maps into the story. I never realized how interesting cartography could be. Headley was able to perfectly intertwine facts about geography right into Terra's life. You could easily make the correlation between the two.
At the beginning of the story, Terra did not have a great self esteem. She covered up her stain with pounds of makeup and powder to just try to convince herself she was normal. Terra has gotten so many stares over the years that she just decided to cover up her beautiful natural self. Towards the end though, she changes her view on that and I basically jumped with glee! She finally realized how perfect she was, inside and out. Makeup covering up who she was on the outside was only keeping her from her full potential.
The trip to China really pulled the whole story together. Terra and her mother Lois learn so much about themselves, while becoming closer and closer to the family they traveled with, Jacob and his mother.
Overall, this book made me extremely happy! I think this is something all girls need to read to realize their full potential and extraordinary beauty. Too many teens these days struggle with their self image as they have society pressing on them with what they need to look like and act like to be perfect. I admit to being one of those teens to struggle with who I am, but with help of a very close friend, I am now happier with myself and my body than I have in a while. North of Beautiful really opened up my eyes.
I think the way Headley captured this subject was brilliant. Terra is obviously flawless, besides the port wine stain on her face that she has had since she was a child. Some may even say it marr's her face, or it is a "pity" that she has this awful stain on her cheek. When the author created Terra as a character, she knew what she was getting into with the subject of self love and self acceptance.
Through ought the story, we travel with Terra on her day to day life,boyfriend, friends and family. What struck me the most was her family life, and the father she has to live with. I don't want to give too much away, but he is a insulting pig to Terra and her mother. Just plain awful.
I loved the incorporation of maps and facts about maps into the story. I never realized how interesting cartography could be. Headley was able to perfectly intertwine facts about geography right into Terra's life. You could easily make the correlation between the two.
At the beginning of the story, Terra did not have a great self esteem. She covered up her stain with pounds of makeup and powder to just try to convince herself she was normal. Terra has gotten so many stares over the years that she just decided to cover up her beautiful natural self. Towards the end though, she changes her view on that and I basically jumped with glee! She finally realized how perfect she was, inside and out. Makeup covering up who she was on the outside was only keeping her from her full potential.
The trip to China really pulled the whole story together. Terra and her mother Lois learn so much about themselves, while becoming closer and closer to the family they traveled with, Jacob and his mother.
Overall, this book made me extremely happy! I think this is something all girls need to read to realize their full potential and extraordinary beauty. Too many teens these days struggle with their self image as they have society pressing on them with what they need to look like and act like to be perfect. I admit to being one of those teens to struggle with who I am, but with help of a very close friend, I am now happier with myself and my body than I have in a while. North of Beautiful really opened up my eyes.
What a beautiful story. Although I didn't really like the "middle" of this book, the beginning and end were so true, so "you don't have to be one hundred percent perfect to be beautiful". Every high school girl should read this.
I loved this book. There is not a single word I can think of to explain how meaningful and touching it was to me.
North of Beautiful is Terra's story. She was born with a port wine stain that spans from her temple to her chin on her right cheek. Which no amount of surgery is able to remove. She has an overly controlling and critical father who no one in the family has the guts to stand up to and a mother who has a steadily increasing weight because she seeks the comfort of food to deflect her husband's verbal attacks. Terra's home life is far from good. She has artistic talent and wants to go cross-country to an East Coast college. Following a minor car accident on the way home from Seattle, Terra meets a Chinese goth boy, Jacob, who was adopted from an orphanage in China as a toddler. Terra's eldest brother sends tickets for her and her mom to come visit him where he lives in China, Jacob and his mom embark on the journey as well. As Jacob and Terra get closer and closer through the duration of their trip, they learn the meaning of true beauty and learn more about themselves.
This is a fabulous novel. I found it so touching and heartfelt, I even was tearing up in certain places at the beginning and more so near the ending. The ending was perfect, I wouldn't change a thing about it if I could.
Headley shows what most mothers are willing to sacrifice for their children. Even though it hurts themselves, and that in itself is amazing. She also demonstrates how strenuous it is to have a sucky home life as well as an over-controlling father. That made me sad, seeing how he treated his family, and yet how no one had the courage to call him on it.
I loved Jacob, he was the most amazing character. I can't even describe how much I loved him in this book!
I had so much other things I had wanted to say about this book, but for the life of me I can't remember another thing. Anyways, fabulous book, definitely a must-read.
North of Beautiful is Terra's story. She was born with a port wine stain that spans from her temple to her chin on her right cheek. Which no amount of surgery is able to remove. She has an overly controlling and critical father who no one in the family has the guts to stand up to and a mother who has a steadily increasing weight because she seeks the comfort of food to deflect her husband's verbal attacks. Terra's home life is far from good. She has artistic talent and wants to go cross-country to an East Coast college. Following a minor car accident on the way home from Seattle, Terra meets a Chinese goth boy, Jacob, who was adopted from an orphanage in China as a toddler. Terra's eldest brother sends tickets for her and her mom to come visit him where he lives in China, Jacob and his mom embark on the journey as well. As Jacob and Terra get closer and closer through the duration of their trip, they learn the meaning of true beauty and learn more about themselves.
This is a fabulous novel. I found it so touching and heartfelt, I even was tearing up in certain places at the beginning and more so near the ending. The ending was perfect, I wouldn't change a thing about it if I could.
Headley shows what most mothers are willing to sacrifice for their children. Even though it hurts themselves, and that in itself is amazing. She also demonstrates how strenuous it is to have a sucky home life as well as an over-controlling father. That made me sad, seeing how he treated his family, and yet how no one had the courage to call him on it.
I loved Jacob, he was the most amazing character. I can't even describe how much I loved him in this book!
I had so much other things I had wanted to say about this book, but for the life of me I can't remember another thing. Anyways, fabulous book, definitely a must-read.
There's a lot going on in this book. About beauty, and self, and whatnot. But let's be real: I'm here for the tea.
This is one of those books where for every page she fails to break up with her boyfriend, your enjoyment diminishes a little. A twiddle there. A twaddle gone. But.
Pretty solid overall.
This is one of those books where for every page she fails to break up with her boyfriend, your enjoyment diminishes a little. A twiddle there. A twaddle gone. But.
Pretty solid overall.