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Such a Pretty Girl

3.84 of 5 stars 3.84 · rating details · 5,820 ratings · 663 reviews

They promised Meredith nine years of safety, but only gave her three.

Her father was supposed to be locked up until Meredith turned eighteen. She thought she had time to grow up, get out, and start a new life. But Meredith is only fifteen, and today her father is coming home from prison.

Today her time has run out.

Paperback, 212 pages

Published January 2nd 2007 by MTV Books and Pocket Books

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Jun 08, 2013 Shannon rated it 2 of 5 stars

Have you ever felt dirty after watching an episode of Law and Order that featured too little police work and too much voyeuristic stalking of the victim? That is how I felt reading this book.

This book deals with a serious subject, sexual abuse, from the point of view of a girl who was abused by her father. While I am sure the book very accurately represents how such a girl might feel, (the OCD and number obsession was well done) there was WAY too many "I'm running from my crazy pervert father"...more

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Jul 16, 2007 Jamie L rated it 1 of 5 stars Recommends it for: no one

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Dec 07, 2008 Kelsie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: yal-outside-reading

Although this book deals with a dark and demented issue, its style, readability, and theme of justice made it impossible for me to put down. Meredith, a 15-year-old girl, was promised nine years of protection from the government when her father was charged with molesting and raping her when she was 12 years old. Her father was sent to prison and was supposed to be locked up until Meredith was 18 and legally free from her father's guardianship. But to Meredith's horror, he is released after only...more Although this book deals with a dark and demented issue, its style, readability, and theme of justice made it impossible for me to put down. Meredith, a 15-year-old girl, was promised nine years of protection from the government when her father was charged with molesting and raping her when she was 12 years old. Her father was sent to prison and was supposed to be locked up until Meredith was 18 and legally free from her father's guardianship. But to Meredith's horror, he is released after only three years for "good behavior." Meredith comments, "Of course he was on good behavior, there aren't any children in prison." Now that he has been released back into the public, Meredith (as well as her friends) know it is only a matter of time before her father will strike again. He is not the type of offender who wants to change - he is a pedophile who truly believes he loves children (boys and girls) and can't keep his hands off, regardless of what the law says. Meredith finds herself in an almost impossible situation: does she wait around for her father to attack a pure and innocent child, or does she offer herself as a sacrifice, hoping he can be put away for good?

This gripping story will have you not only disgusted by the degrading acts of incest, pedophilia, and child molestation, it will also have your heart enraptured in rooting for Meredith as she heroically attempts to fight for herself and all other child molestation and rape victims. This book, though a difficult subject, realistically portrays the evil that too many children encounter in our society: molestation and rape by a family member. Though this entire book could not be taught in the classroom, it is a good resource for teachers and students to read in order to have at least some sort of understanding of the horror that molestation and rape victims face and have to deal with. I think that excerpts could definitely be used in the classroom. This book could also be used to discuss the justice system's procedure in handling child sex offenders. Also, Meredith's mother turns a blind eye to Meredith's father and refuses to see that his actions were done by choice, not by mistake. This book could be used to explore the real-life cases and consequences of those who choose to turn a blind eye to the evils in society and accept the wrong done by others and the destruction it causes in a family, community, and society.

ALA 2008 Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers(less)

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Mar 12, 2012 Maribel Martinez rated it 3 of 5 stars

Such a pretty girl

They promised Meredith nine years of safety, but only gave her three.
Her father was supposed to be locked up until Meredith turned eighteen. She thought she had time to grow up, get out, and start a new life. But Meredith is only fifteen, and today her father is coming home from prison.
Today her time has run out.

Protagonist: Meredith antagonist: her father

A story in which justice is unfair, the judge promises nine years of prison time and comes out in only three years time....more

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May 15, 2012 Diane ϟ [ Lestrange ] rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: own, young-adult, 2012-reads, disturbing, reviews

What's the point of obsessing over cholesterol or bike helmets or even cigarettes when the biggest threats to our children are being released back into society every day? Yes, maybe 'some' of them have reformed, but what about the ones who haven't? Doesn't anyone realize that one 'touch', one 'time' will destroy a child's life ten times faster than a pack-a-day habit?

Such a Pretty Girl was disturbing and a very painful subject. The kind that makes one uncomfortable, as it should be. It is sick...more

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May 01, 2009 Sarah rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

This book is raw and painful, and although it hurt to read it, I couldn't put it down. After being sent to prison for raping his 12-year-old daughter Meredith and other children, Meredith's father is released. She was promised a sentence of nine years but he's home in three and back to the same abuse. Meredith, is now fifteen and she's losing it.

The characters were all incredibly well-drawn, especially Meredith, but also the supporting characters. (I hate, hate, hate Meredith's mother.) There w...more

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Sep 23, 2008 Nian rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2008

Meredith was promised nine years of safety—safety being her father getting locked up in jail for child molestation. But they let him out after three years for good behavior, threatening to shatter Meredith’s world once again. She’s sure he will try again, and she’s sure she can’t suffer through it once more. But how can she escape this man, her father?

Truly, one of the more disturbing books I’ve read in a while. Not exactly disturbing in a bad oh-my-God-this-book-is-horrifying! way, but more of...more Meredith was promised nine years of safety—safety being her father getting locked up in jail for child molestation. But they let him out after three years for good behavior, threatening to shatter Meredith’s world once again. She’s sure he will try again, and she’s sure she can’t suffer through it once more. But how can she escape this man, her father?

Truly, one of the more disturbing books I’ve read in a while. Not exactly disturbing in a bad oh-my-God-this-book-is-horrifying! way, but more of a low whispered Wow. The topic is child molestation/pedophiles, and it’s definitely something I haven’t read about in years. It’s one of those things that people know about, but would like to just forget because of how disturbing the issue is. I love it when authors try to tackle issues that really matter and try to educate others and promote passion for certain issues. In a debut novel, too!

Although Laura Wiess has picked a heavy issue, her writing is—and I hate to say this—nothing special. Her words seem to lack excitement. It’s a harsh thing to say, but I have to be truthful. I wasn’t interested in the story. Yes, I love the issue that surrounds the story, but she lacks the ability to actually spin a tale that people would want to listen to.

I’ve always felt that writing and verbal story telling are two different things. With your mouth, you don’t really plan the details. They just tumble out. With writing, you have the ability and time to plan every detail, sentence structure, and word out. If you’re not satisfied with the final outcome, you hit the backspace/delete button. So, this author might be the best storyteller but write horribly. I’m just not compelled by her writing. Her words (and lack of flow) and Meredith’s voice—they are honestly too bland to drive such a passionate and overwhelming protagonist. And that’s the part that disappoints me: Meredith could have been a powerful role model for victims of child molestation—and she does represent that at the end of the book—but her choppy voice (thanks to the author) makes her image less important or effective. And that’s just too bad. With more editing and revisions, I’m sure this would have earned a higher rating on my behalf.
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Sep 11, 2008 Juushika rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: status-borrowed

She was promised nine years of safety, but received only three: Meridith is fifteen, living with a mother who intentionally blinds herself to the truth, and her sexually abusive father is about to be released from jail. She must find a way to protect herself from her fatherand protect the other children that he may abuse in her stead. Meridith's harrowing story is compulsively readable, but it's too short and the secondary characters and plotlines don't receive enough attention. Careful flashba...more She was promised nine years of safety, but received only three: Meridith is fifteen, living with a mother who intentionally blinds herself to the truth, and her sexually abusive father is about to be released from jail. She must find a way to protect herself from her fatherand protect the other children that he may abuse in her stead. Meridith's harrowing story is compulsively readable, but it's too short and the secondary characters and plotlines don't receive enough attention. Careful flashbacks prevent the book from devolving into voyeurism, but Meridith's proactive solution to her father's abuse sets a questionable example to young adult readers. Faulted, but not a bad read, I moderately recommend this book.

At Wiess's hand, Meridith's history as a victim of child sexual abuse is rendered harrowing but never unreadable. Meredith counts wall tiles and vitamin pills, but she also willfully confronts her mother with her father's abuse: Wiess balances realistic trauma against her protagonist's fighting will, giving the dark story a sense of hope. Careful, brief flashbacks help illustrate the horror of Meredith's past without devolving into empty voyeurism. The present-day incarnation of her father is a threatening, realistic antagonist. These dark aspects pull the reader in and hold him captive, compulsively turning to the next page.

Unfortunately, not all aspects of Such a Pretty Girl are as strong as the atmosphere. The book is so fast and so short that the side stories fall forgotten at the end: Wiess introduces and builds them up, but the brief ending is reserved for Meredith, leaving side stories and themes only hastily explored. Worse and more debatable is the issue of Meredith's proactive solution to the threat posed by her father. Believing she has no other options, somewhat encourage by an adult friend, Meredith intentionally sets herself in harm's way. Such a Pretty Girl is only one character's fictional story and never intends to be instructional, but the protagonist's risk takingespecially since it has only positive consequencessets an uncomfortable example for the reader.

Such a Pretty Girl is a dark book which is almost impossible to put down. Wiess does an admirable job building Meredith's suffering and her strength, which forgives the fact that other elements of the plot are underexplored. However, if this harrowing story is supposed to be inspiring or profound, I worry about the message that it leaves with the reader. Meredith puts herself at risk but emerges unscathed, and the possible grave consequences are nearly unmentioned. If the text discussed the risks or had less of a positive conclusion, I may not feel so hesitant recommending it. As it is, I think that the book needs to be taken with a grain of salt, and I recommend it only moderatelyit is compulsively readable with a well-handled atmosphere, but Such a Pretty Girl has its faults.(less)

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Jan 15, 2009 Laura rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, ya-literature

12-year-old Meredith's father is sent to prison for nine years for raping her repeatedly. But he's paroled in only three, when Meredith is 15, and, because Meredith's selfish, narcissistic mother wants her husband back, he sets about working his way back into Meredith's life and continuing where he left off.

Let's just get one thing out of the way: this book requires an enormous suspension of disbelief, at least if you have even the most tangential contact with the real justice system. First of a...more 12-year-old Meredith's father is sent to prison for nine years for raping her repeatedly. But he's paroled in only three, when Meredith is 15, and, because Meredith's selfish, narcissistic mother wants her husband back, he sets about working his way back into Meredith's life and continuing where he left off.

Let's just get one thing out of the way: this book requires an enormous suspension of disbelief, at least if you have even the most tangential contact with the real justice system. First of all: nine years for raping your own daughter? Nowhere but Bizarro World -- I don't care what kind of psychiatric testimony the guy presented. 40 years would be more like it for that crime. And parole after three years? For sex with your 12-year-old? Nuh-uh. Not anywhere in America, certainly. And finally, there would be no way in hell that the guy would be allowed anywhere near his minor daughter after his parole. Just no way in hell -- it would probably be a condition of his parole that he not get within 500 yards of her, much less live in the same condo development. But that's just what he does here. Uh, no. (Please don't leave comments saying, "You're wrong! I know someone, and her sister-in-law's cousin had this EXACT SAME THING happen to her." If you want to send me a documented story showing that something like this actually happened in the United States sometime within the last 20 years or so, fine, but please, spare me the fifth-hand accounts that you overheard at a party a couple months ago.) There's more than just a suspension of disbelief problem here -- by presenting such an unbelievable story, Wiess sensationalizes her subject.

Let's put that aside, though, and make believe, for the sake of argument, that the wildly unbelievable plot is actually chock full of verisimilitude. Wouldn't matter: although this book is a page turner, it still isn't all that impressive. Wiess is on a mission, and she will never let us forget it for one second. And as with all writers whose mission overcomes their craft, her writing has an unfortunate tendency to become melodramatic and, even worse, overly expository. Long passages describing the effects of sexual abuse don't really do much to advance your story, even when they're disguised as inner monologues. And Meredith's mother, a figure of pure evil and nothing more, actually has dialog like, ""We're supposed to stick together, family is supposed to stick together. He made a mistake! Lots of people make mistakes and no one tells on them! How could you?" and "Why did you have to ruin our family?" This sort of thing is not, to put it kindly, the apex of psychological realism. She might as well have been named Snidely Whiplash for how well she was portrayed -- if she had had a mustache, she surely would have twirled it while cackling and tying Meredith to the railroad tracks.

And frankly, even if you could point to a case that tracks this one, it would take a certain finesse, along with an exceedingly deft touch, to fictionalize so awful a story. Unfortunately, this book has neither, and too readily descends into pathos and self-importance. The author interview included at the end doesn't help matters, I'm sorry to say. Wiess's earnest remarks about the "white-hot blast of terror, fury, and despair" that she felt while writing the first draft just strengthened my impression that she wasn't interested so much in writing fiction as she was in writing a political tract.

Although the strong narrative does carry the reader along, Such a Pretty Girl ultimately isn't able to stand up under the weight of its own outrage.(less)

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Mar 20, 2008 Allanna rated it 3 of 5 stars

I almost didn't want to read this book. The premise is that Meredith, whose father was in prison for sexually abusing her (and others) is released early. And her mother wants (and gets permission) for him to move back in.

Meredith is still healing from her scars and knows that her father has not changed. And, to add to matters, her mother -- still giddy in love with him ... and in denial about the truth -- is working to have another child with him, a thought that tortures Meredith (who only knows...more

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Dec 25, 2007 Patrick rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mock-printz-2007

I'll start by saying that I was struck by the similarities between this novel and my spring 2007 book Chasing Tail Lights). The journey, the choices, the use of flashbacks, and the two main characters making similar cold blooded and calculated decisions on avenging their abuse. Yet, I was most struck by the middle section of this novel where Mer talks about what is supposed to happen to "girls like me" who have been abused. The book is loaded with creepy moments (the father touching Mer's back a...more

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Jul 07, 2007 Erin rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: yafiction

Meredith was promised 9 years with her father behind bars - by the time he got out, she'd be eighteen and free to leave him behind. Unfortunately, three years have passed, and he's about to get out.

Meredith's father was convicted of molesting her, as well as other children in their small town. Because she told, and because she testified, her mother has made her feel guilty for the past three years. And she has no idea what is going to happen now that her father is coming back.

With the support of...more

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Mar 31, 2009 Adriana rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-sexual-abuse-violence, ya-self-identity-family

This story revolves around Meredith, a 15 year old whose father sexually abused her and has just been released early after serving only 3 years of his 9 year sentence. Her mother turns the other way and is in major denial over the whole thing, and Meredith feels like she has to deal with it mainly on her own. However, she does have allies in her condo community, like her retired cop neighbor, her wheelchair bound boyfriend and his mother, and her grandmother (who happens to be the mayor). She fe...more

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Jul 28, 2009 Terry rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: gritty, brought-to-rhs-library

The wilted flower on the black-field cover is brilliantly honest packaging. In stories of incest, there is such a thin space between exploitation and maudlin that few books negotiate the hazards. “Such a Pretty Girl” expertly brings readers into that thin, claustrophobic space and holds them there. The pacing is solid, Meredith is all-too believable, and her mother is tragically realistic. Oh, and the Dad is dispicable.

Other reviewers have done an excellent job delineating strengths of the book,...more

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Nov 13, 2009 The BookWhisperer rated it 3 of 5 stars

Very heartwrenching and disturbing book portraying one of the true evils lurking in today's world. Meredith is a true survivor, and although fictional a great example for all of the victims. [return][return]Meredith is 15 years old, and trying to recover and move on after testify againist her own father for molestation. Only they told her she would have nine years, and today she just recieved the call that he is being release six years early.[return][return]While this is a quick read, it contain...more

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Mar 13, 2009 Karin rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: abusive-relationships, sexual-abuse, young-adult-fiction, realistic, rape, horrifying, 2009-abe-lincoln-nominee, survival, survivor, suspense-thriller, manipulative, borrowed-from-the-library

Meredith, age fourteen, learns that her father has been released from jail – several years early. Her mom is ecstatic (and in serious denial), but Meredith is sick to her stomach. Her father went to jail three years ago for sexually abusing her and several other children in town. She thought she would be safe from him, and then safely away from him (she’d be eighteen by the time he was supposed to have been released), before this happened. Not only is he getting out, but he’s also going to be li...more Meredith, age fourteen, learns that her father has been released from jail – several years early. Her mom is ecstatic (and in serious denial), but Meredith is sick to her stomach. Her father went to jail three years ago for sexually abusing her and several other children in town. She thought she would be safe from him, and then safely away from him (she’d be eighteen by the time he was supposed to have been released), before this happened. Not only is he getting out, but he’s also going to be living in the same apartment complex as Meredith and her mother – and knowing mom, he’s going to be spending most of his time at their place (no matter that he’ll be violating his parole).

As soon as Meredith sees her father again she knows that nothing has changed. He doesn’t regret his actions of the past – only the time he’s lost being away from her while he was in jail. Her life is about to become a nightmare again and there doesn’t seem to be anything she can do to ensure her own safety. Mom won’t acknowledge what happened (and would choose her husband over her daughter in any case), her best friend Andy and his mother are going away and won’t be there for her, and she doesn’t have any legal recourse unless her father does something specifically wrong – like abusing her again.

Meredith briefly considers running away, or living with her grandmother, but knows that she’ll only be living in fear of her father finding her somehow. In addition, she knows that if he can’t have her, he will go after other children, and she couldn’t live with herself if she can prevent him from abusing and ruining the lives of countless other kids. So, with the help of a policeman friend, Meredith rigs up some hidden cameras and decides to catch dad in the act.

It’s a horrible and desperate plot/situation. If this is what real victims of sexual abuse find themselves faced with on a regular basis, then the abusers AND society have a LOT to answer for. This selfless act that Meredith performs – endangering her fragile mental state further just to stop the man who should have been kept away from her and other children permanently – should never have been an option. Children should never have to experience sexual abuse and should never have to combat it on their own.

This story managed to infuriate me even though I felt that the plot was obvious and contrived. Of course dad wouldn’t have changed. Of course Meredith was going to end up in the worst position possible. Of course he was going to do it again. I hate it when I’m right. This is fiction, but it’s easy to imagine that this sort of thing happens all the time – what with prisons being overcrowded, and caregivers caring more about themselves and their desires than the ones they’re supposed to keep safe. It’s maddeningly frustrating. And for that reason, and because this particular story gets you *right there* it’s an important one.

There’s a reader’s guide appended and, oddly enough, a link to a sex-offenders site. But I think even more useful might be information and links to sites about sexual abuse, and resources for combating it. It’s not, after all, just knowing *who* the sex-offenders are, but knowing what to *do* about sexual abuse.(less)

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Dec 08, 2008 Erica rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: outside-reading-yal

Ok, prepare yourself before you read this heart-wrenching tale of incest and child molestation. It was recommended to me by Kelsie and at times I wanted to kill her for having me read it. It is just so sad. The story centers on Meredith, a 15 year old girl whose father, after having been convicted as a child rapist, is being released from prison after 3 years. Her mother is no help to the situation and is in fact a frustrating instigator of further difficulties. The book deals with Meredith’s ou...more

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Feb 15, 2013 Katy Jane rated it 5 of 5 stars

1. I like that Meredith talks about abused children in the future. She researches what the quality of life of most abused children looks like in the future: dating men that abuse them in the same way, doing drugs, drinking, selling themselves, having children and neglecting them or dating men that abuse the children and continue the cycle. Meredith is aware of these things which leads me to believe that she will break that cycle. She is strong enough to rise above that.
2. How is she so strong? H...more

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Dec 22, 2012 Kylah Polidore rated it 2 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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May 03, 2012 Lauryn Staley rated it 5 of 5 stars

After being raped by your father, could you imagine living in the same house has him? Such a Pretty Girl by Laura Wiess is a very impacting novel to read. Meridith was promised years of safety, but she only ended up with three. She found out her dad was coming home, and she was terrified.

Her father, who was sent to prison for sexually abusing Meredith and other children in their small town, has been released on good behavior. He was supposed to be locked up until Meredith's eighteenth birthday,...more After being raped by your father, could you imagine living in the same house has him? Such a Pretty Girl by Laura Wiess is a very impacting novel to read. Meridith was promised years of safety, but she only ended up with three. She found out her dad was coming home, and she was terrified.

Her father, who was sent to prison for sexually abusing Meredith and other children in their small town, has been released on good behavior. He was supposed to be locked up until Meredith's eighteenth birthday, when she could legally be free of both her abusive father and her delusional mother who believes on a fantasy that the three of them will be a happy family once more. But Meredith is only fifteen, and her father is out of prison...and her mother is bringing him home. And Meredith won't let him hurt her, or anyone else, ever again. No matter what the cost.

When her father arrives home he tries to greet her. She tells him she will have NOTHING to do with him. He is hurt, but won't give up. She runs staight to Andy's for protection. Andy is her boyfriend. He is in a wheel chair because of an accident he got in. She is a little younger than him, but they love eachother. And he knows exactly how she feels, because Andy was raped by her dad as well.. When Andy finds out he is home he becomes furious! Her dad is mad that she left so he leaves to go house to house to find her. He goes to Andy's house but his mother answers the door. She told him she wasn't there. Later, meridith went home. Her dad warned her that things were going to change and she can't go where ever she wants, whenever.

Her dad starts to hit on her, making sexual comments. Meredith has a friend that is a cop. He gives her a teddy cam. It's a teddy bear, but the eyes are a camera. So whenever he comes too close she can turn it on and he will get caught. Andy tells Meredith that he has to go away for awhile to get fixed. There is a man hours away that is going to help him walk again. She is heartbroken because he won't be there to protect her. One night her dad comes into her room. Pulling at her clothes and taking his pants out. She screams and turns on the camera. Her mom walked in and he got up. She turned in the camera and he was sent to prison again. She moved in with her grandma. One morning her grandma said "there's a boy at the door, he's very tall." It was Andy and he could walk.

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Feb 24, 2012 Meghan rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: engl-492-outside-reading

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Meredith, along with several other children in her community, was the victim of a child molester. The difference between Meredith and the other kids is that the molester was her father. Once her father was convicted and sent to prison, she finally felt safe. But when she finds out that he has been released early, she dreads what is to come. Her mother is in complete denial and convinces herself that her husband was unaware of what he was doing. And because Meredith revealed his secret, her mothe...more Meredith, along with several other children in her community, was the victim of a child molester. The difference between Meredith and the other kids is that the molester was her father. Once her father was convicted and sent to prison, she finally felt safe. But when she finds out that he has been released early, she dreads what is to come. Her mother is in complete denial and convinces herself that her husband was unaware of what he was doing. And because Meredith revealed his secret, her mother holds it against Meredith and sees her as an obstruction between her and her husband's relationship. With the help of her boyfriend Andy,(who had also been a victim of Meredith's father)and her neighbor,(who happens to be the retired cop who arrested her father) Meredith is determined to send her father back to prison and no longer be a victim to her situation.

I did enjoy this book, but for some reason I just couldn't give it four stars. It only took me a little over two hours to read, but I think there could have been a little more background information provided to add the content. The story seemed slightly similar to Laurie Anderson's "Speak" in the way that Meredith spoke about her situations. Both of the books included flashbacks to the specific incidents, but this book had much more detail. It was also more disturbing in the fact that Meredith's attacker was her own father. Meredith did, however, open up about what happened to her with several people close to her, unlike Melinda's character in "Speak."

I was incredibly angry with the justice system as I was reading this book because I just couldn't believe that anyone would allow a child molester to be anywhere near their victim, especially if the victim was his own daughter. Maybe I am a bit naive, but I would hope that in a real-life situation, people would be doing whatever they could to keep this girl out of harm's way. And if I knew ANYONE like Meredith's mother, I would be damned if she ever treated her daughter like that and got away with it. Crazy woman.
I would not teach this in my future classroom because of the graphic description of Meredith's situation. I'm not sure if I would recommend this book to a student who has been a victim of this crime only because of how Meredith's father is caught in the end. I would never want a victim to feel that the only way to escape their attacker is to put themselves in danger to get a video of their attacker in the act. (less)

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Feb 16, 2012 Emily rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: readsfrom2012

Meredith's father returns from jail after only being in prison for three years, when his sentence was set for nine. He was back and the whole town was angry, especially Meredith. Not just angry but terrified. He had the capability of convincing everyone around him he was the best father, husband and little league coach a town could ask for. But his victims know the truth and they want revenge. With her father in her mothers house again, Meredith finds refuge with Andy and his mother. Andy rememb...more

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Dec 31, 2011 Lauren Fidler rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: abusive-relationships, bad-mothers, books-i-can-read-in-under-3-hours, creepy-sex, daddy-issues, dysfunctional-family-drama, not-for-the-weak-of-heart, not-good-for-mothers-of-daughters, rape, reluctant-hero, sex-and-drugs-and-rock-and-roll, show-me-on-the-poppett, suburbanightmare, young-adult-fiction-secret-shame

if Living Dead Girl had a happy ending, it would be this book.

you know, as happy as a book about sexual abuse can be.

sexual abuse is not an easy subject to write about, nor is it easy easy to read about. it's compounded when the abuse is perpetrated by a parent of the victim, as it is here.

i feel weird reading these novels - i understand that the point of literature isn't always to be easy, breezy, and readily digestible. heck, it doesn't even have to be enjoyable. but it should have a point.

i...more

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Sep 26, 2011 Jenni rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-lit

I loved Such a Pretty Girl with the same deeply personal portion of me that felt M. Night Shyamalan's Signs was an awesome movie.

My favorite passage is as follows:

"...I know how bad the odds are for girls like me.

We wait to be rescued, but for whatever reason, no one comes. We figure that if no one protects us then we must not be worth protecting so we become prey and are easily picked off. Our wounded, kicked-puppy gazes attract sly predators and we sell ourselves for clearance sale prices, m...more

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Sep 11, 2011 Bhagirathy rated it 4 of 5 stars

In Such A Pretty Girl, Laura Wiess grabbed and held my attention from the first page to the last. New Jersey teenager Meredith was supposed to have nine years of safety from her father, so she'd be eighteen and out of the house when he was released from prison, but three years later, when Meredith is fifteen, her father gets out for good behavior. No matter what he did to Meredith and to other children before, Meredith's mother is more than ready to take him back.

Meredith isn't alone, though. Sh...more In Such A Pretty Girl, Laura Wiess grabbed and held my attention from the first page to the last. New Jersey teenager Meredith was supposed to have nine years of safety from her father, so she'd be eighteen and out of the house when he was released from prison, but three years later, when Meredith is fifteen, her father gets out for good behavior. No matter what he did to Meredith and to other children before, Meredith's mother is more than ready to take him back.

Meredith isn't alone, though. She has her grandmother, the mayor of the town, who wants Meredith to move in with her to escape her father. She has Andy, her best friend, the guy she is in love with, who was also scarred by Meredith's father as a child. She has Andy's mother, who moved across the street from Meredith's family just to keep other children from the horror from which she couldn't protect Andy. She has Nigel, a retired policemen who has a plan to get Meredith's father back in jail and away from children. Even though Meredith is far from alone, she still feels that way when she can't even count on the people every kid is supposed to be able to count on: her parents.

Meredith wants to get her father back in prison. She wants her mother to go back to visiting him instead of having him in their house. She wants to be able to go into her own home without fear. She wants other kids to be safe, too. She doesn't know what that's going to take, and she's certainly not unafraid, but she isn't going to let him hurt her, or any other kids, again.

This moving, powerful novel is one that should not be missed. When it is released in January, be at your local bookstore, ready to get a copy! Once you start reading it, you won't be able to put this book down. I wasn't! It's an emotional book that is beautifully, powerfully written and unique, and it'll stay with you long past the last word.

Laura Wiess's characters are as well-written as the rest of the book, very realistic (in some cases, scarily so). They're three-dimensional characters in an equally (and, again, scarily) believable story that will certainly be a favorite of anyone who reads it. I know it's one of mine now! Don't miss this book. (less)

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Apr 15, 2011 Sarah Rosenberger rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: older-teen, teen-fiction

Meredith's father was sent to jail for molesting her and several other children in their town. Although he was supposed to serve a nine year sentence, he is released on parole after only three years. Meredith thought she would be safe from her abuser until at least the age of eighteen, but her mother welcomes her father back with open arms, saying she wants them to be a family again. What options are there for 15-year-old girl when she is forced to allow the man who raped her back into her life,...more

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Mar 07, 2011 Katyh rated it 2 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Wanted to like this, but found it way too unbelievable. So a girl has been molested/raped by her father. Turns out he had molested a bunch of other kids (boys and girls). She testifies against him, and he's sent to jail for 9 years but gets out in 3.

Her mom bases her entire self-worth upon the approval of her dad and is super duper psyched that Darling Diddler Daddy is coming home from prison. Yay! Wonders why the girl can't just forgive and forget. Wants daddy to move back in with them, but acc...more

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Jan 14, 2011 Jennifer rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I choose the book "Such A Pretty Girl" by Laura Wiess, because I heard it had to do with a girl trying to live her life with a father that has molested her and now he came back and she doesnt know what to do. She tries so hard to stay away from him, but he hold her hostage from leaving her house to go hang out with Andy. Andy is her friend/ boyfriend, and they are madly inlove with eachother, but Andy is in a wheel-chair and Meredith doesn't really know why. One of Meredith's neighbors gave her...more

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Dec 05, 2010 JoYee Chu rated it 5 of 5 stars

I grabbed this book off the shelves because i thought it was Living Dead Girl which i have read, which actually got me to join goodreads.com in the first place. Anyway, i picked it up, and immediately i thought, "child molestation". And i was (sadly) right. The book cover screamed volumes on the content, considering what i've read from Living Dead Girl and just the phrase, i knew what it was.

Whilst that's the case, i couldn't put the book down, i know it is no use trying to hide away from it, it...more

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Aug 12, 2010 Judy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2010, ya

Meredith is a 15 year old girl who spent 3 years without her father's sexual abuse. Now, her father has just been released from prison, and Meredith's life is once again in turmoil.

I was engaged by Wiess' writing style and I enjoyed getting inside Meredith's head. I thought she was mature for her age because of all that she has been through, and I liked the characterization of her spiraling out of control. Her mother was someone I despised and the way she fought with her daughter for her husban...more

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About Laura Wiess

Laura Wiess is the author of the critically acclaimed novels Such a Pretty Girl, chosen as one of the ALA’s 2008 Best Books for Young Adults and 2008 YALSA Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers, and Leftovers. Originally from Milltown, New Jersey, she traded bumper-to-bumper traffic, excellent pizza, and summer days down the shore for scenic roads, bears, no pizza delivery, and the irresistible allure...more

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Quotes from Such a Pretty Girl

“A victim soul is a pious individual chosen to absorb the pain and suffering of others.” — 24 people liked it

“The ache starts in my chest and spreads through my veins. The abuse I can handle; it's the happiness that cripples.” — 20 people liked it

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