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A review by writingcaia
Meat Market by Juno Dawson
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Another hit for Juno.
Jana Novak is not your normal beauty, sharp angles and very tall, she comes from a low immigrant upbringing, has a happy family and friends, boyfriend too, and is not so bad in school, but then all shifts, she’s found on the street and transformed into the most popular new face in fashion and magazine modelling.
All you have heard is true, the pressure of weight and size under the pretence of health, the enabling of abusive photographs, drug and alcohol abuse. The dark pit of modelling exists.
First lost and confused, not having ever dreamed of being considered a beauty icon or having that much money so young, soon she will see the appeal of it, the attention and fame, even as she slowly loses touch with her boyfriend and closest friends, even as she starts to see the shady parts of it all.
I found this book addictive, the characters beautiful and real, the story candid and heartwarming.
It was a very inclusive YA fiction and an eye opening tale that, even though it’s fiction I’m sure many real stories are similar to Jana’s and the models she meets on the way.
Totally recommend it, especially if you liked Clean by her. I actually preferred this one.
Jana Novak is not your normal beauty, sharp angles and very tall, she comes from a low immigrant upbringing, has a happy family and friends, boyfriend too, and is not so bad in school, but then all shifts, she’s found on the street and transformed into the most popular new face in fashion and magazine modelling.
All you have heard is true, the pressure of weight and size under the pretence of health, the enabling of abusive photographs, drug and alcohol abuse. The dark pit of modelling exists.
First lost and confused, not having ever dreamed of being considered a beauty icon or having that much money so young, soon she will see the appeal of it, the attention and fame, even as she slowly loses touch with her boyfriend and closest friends, even as she starts to see the shady parts of it all.
I found this book addictive, the characters beautiful and real, the story candid and heartwarming.
It was a very inclusive YA fiction and an eye opening tale that, even though it’s fiction I’m sure many real stories are similar to Jana’s and the models she meets on the way.
Totally recommend it, especially if you liked Clean by her. I actually preferred this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Sexual assault, Eating disorder, and Drug use
Minor: Transphobia
Coercion