Plus

June 1, 2009
Gr 7 Up-Bee Wilson graduated high school a year early and attends Columbia University as a premed student. After her fashionably socially conscious boyfriend, Brian, dumps her, the teen drowns her sorrows in muffins, fancy New York brunches, and take-out Chinese. With an extra 25 pounds on a once-size-12 body, Bee is "discovered" and asked to audition for a Prada fashion campaign. Before she knows it, she rockets to the A-list as a "supe" (supermodel). Bee attempts to retain her status on the dean's list, craves the chance to get Brian back, and faces down a catty competitor. Still, at only 17, she has trouble balancing her relationship with her best friend, a potential romance with an up-and-coming rapper, and her reputation with fans. "Plus" offers fluff with heart, as Bee is something of a brainiac Cinderella who is taken by surprise that her looks can get her places that her smarts can't. Readers have little opportunity to get to know her before she is catapulted to fame but it is clear that she matures throughout the novel. While she must stare down critics of her weight, it is not the main focus of the story, which is a relief. The book has the same tone as Mary Hogan's "Pretty Face" (HarperTeen, 2008), as the protagonist loves herself and wants to be healthy. Contemporary music and fashion-label references will date this title, but it is still a first purchase."Sarah Krygier, Fairfield Civic Center Library, CA"

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