A painful read — BORN UGLY by Beth Goobie reviewed
Born Ugly, by Beth Goobie
Reviewed by Zara
Born Ugly was a really painful read, following the life of sixteen-year-old Shirley (Shir) Janice Rutz, who is constantly abused, both by her peers at school and by her own mother, because of her physical deformities. We explore her beer-addicted world, where the only places where she is comfortable in is Bill's Grocer, where she works (all of her earnings going to the purchase of illegal beer), and Myplace, a quiet, green place where she likes to sip her beer.
The first few chapters are not very interesting, and I was considering putting the book down, especially since the vocabulary was not very advanced, and I wasn't really learning any new words. However, I like to finish a book once I have started it, and I was curious to see how it ended. And so, I pushed my way though it. It gets better near the end of the book, when we see some crime-fighting, drugs, and action. Shir meets someone who changes her life, and she learns that people are not always as they seem.
I really was shocked at the way people treated Shir. It was simply obnoxious, even going to the point where they smear dog poo on her face.
If you are having self-esteem issues, this book is for you. It really helped my self-esteem. Goobie really convinces us that true beauty is on the inside, and that we always matter. She reminds us that we can always make the situation better for ourselves.
Overall, I'd say this book is worth reading.
9 thoughts on “A painful read — BORN UGLY by Beth Goobie reviewed”
I agree, as I’ve just finished reading the book yesterday. Although the first few chapters of the book were quite slow and dull, it quickly became more interesting and dramatic. This book does show how teens today are quickly bullied if they do not look normal or ‘pretty” to the peers and how teens are lead to a destructive path cuz of bullying.
Just because someone is “ugly” doesn’t mean you should abuse them, especially with dog poop. However, this is still no excuse to purchase illegal beer. She should have realized that drinking won’t solve anything, even it it brings you out of reality for a moment (or so I’m guessing). I’m glad that she learns so at the end.
Although this book may not be the best book on self esteem for teens, it certainly is worth being read,
I agree, society puts teens through too much pressure to look appealing on the outside instead of having a kind personality underneath.
Yes nowadays people just automatically judge people based on their looks, which is really stupid and immoral.
Then again, it is in human nature to do so, after all, we didn’t exactly get to know one another when we were attracting a mate. But that was thousands of years ago, tens of thousands in fact, so we should be evolved enough not to judge on sight.
I remember reading this book! It was so shocking and heart-chilling! I can’t believe that the main character’s own mother would be so cruel to her! How can she be expected to be perfect if her life was so hard and there was nobody to help?
I totally agree with your idea that “it is in human nature,” especially when judging a stranger that you meet for the first time based on his/her looks. If someone is beautiful, we feel inclined to like that person and think of him/her in a very positive way. But if that same stranger happened to be on the “uglier” side (as society puts it), we immediately doubt that person and associate him/her with the worst attributes. Sadly, this is why people who are “more pleasing to the eye” sail through life more comfortably than “uglier” individuals.
does anyone know the conflict of the story