4/5
I really, really like Prettiest Doll. Gina Willner-Pardo impresses with this coming-of-age novel.
Prettiest Doll is about thirteen-year-old Liv finding her way around the stress of life, parents, and pageants. It's written in her voice, which is one of the best parts of the novel: she sounds like a thirteen-year-old, yet is also mature and direct. Willner-Pardo naturally calls attention to thought-provoking themes but with the subtlety one would expect from a young teen. The novel addresses topics like self-identity without falling into the cliche of "smart is so much better than pretty." I never felt like the author was trashing pageants, but rather admiring the work pageants required while also hinting that perhaps they weren't for everyone. I love Liv, and I am very, very impressed with the ending. Willner-Pardo finds the right words to perfectly capture so many emotions, and she carries the high quality through until the very end.
Prettiest Doll is about finding yourself, and it's extremely well-written. I would definitely recommend it to those looking for a quick read that handles self-identity and growth, and to those who appreciate good writing.
