Weird on the Outside

by Shelley Stoehr-McCarthy

When sixteen-year-old Tracey runs away she finds that making ends meet in New York City for a young girl with few real skills is nearly impossible. That's when Tracey becomes Amanda, a topless dancer. On her first day of work, another dancer gives Amanda this "Never mix this place with the real world," but already Tracey's and Amanda's worlds seem like one big blur... Tracey is one of the most interesting female characters in recent YA fiction... In a sense this is a survival novel." (The Horn Book)An ALA Recommended Book for Reluctant Young Readers.

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

Reviews

[Terry · Rating 3 out of 5]

This could have been really interesting: a teen runs away from home into a hand-to-mouth life in NYC, barely making ends meet as a topless dancer. Along with the prurient subject matter, the social commentary could have been pointed, as the dancers in the book have precious little of the glitz and glamour that somethimes cloaks strippers. The economic and emotional frustrations of dancing are well documented. Without sensationalizing or glossing over anything, Stoehr presents the job as what it is: a working class grind. There are plenty of serious moral issues raised, and no easy answers offered.

On the down side, I didn't connect with any of the characters, who should have been a cast of great odd-ball individuals. Again, "WOTO" should have been fascinating. Yet all the drugs and descriptions of nudity didn't make it a wild read, in fact it dragged some. Still, I think it is engaging enough to keep curious teens turning the pages.

[EDITH · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy read....a good book to read if you just want to super relax. I would say this book is for younger readers. It's about a young girl who moves out of her home and begins stripping to make ends meet. It's interesting because I think many times these girls get judged for what they do but the book is written from another perspective. While it's probably not a New York Times bestseller.....it is still a book i would recommend...as long as you're not expecting a great epiphany or great lesson learned at the end.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Different from anything I have read before. Very interesting. The great thing about this book is that it doesn't glamorize or apologize for her choice of profession.

[Marisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting enough. Brings forth the sad reality of what people in desperation must do to make ends meet

[Tiffany Hiser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this a few times in high school. Lately have been wanting to read it again but couldn't find it on Kindle so purchased the hardback version