Such A Pretty Girl by Laura Wiess

Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK
Pub.Date: January 2nd 2007
Age Range: 12 and up
Pages: 212
Format: paperback
Source Of Copy: from publisher - S&S UK.

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.

Laura Wiess's debut book, one that gave you chills for its raw reality. Choosing a sensitive and difficult subject, the author surely did a great job of portraying the situation as well as unfolding the story.

Laura Wiess's books always carry an atmosphere of mystery and darkness. The story was carefully written yet it doesn't feel too polished or the likes. I also love the fact that the emotions of the characters are really heartfelt. To sum up, Such A Pretty Girl is a very balanced book, not too depressing but never loses the real feel of such a kind of story either.

I love the plot really much. It suits perfectly with the fast pace of the story. The story itself is short, which I wish it was the opposite, but it helps bringing the whole thing to its climax in a faster and more impressive way. The problems of each character are tangled together, making it more excited as you go near the end of the book.

The greatest of the books must be the characters. They're so memorable in their own way. Mederith was weak and scared but that wasn't much in her appearance. Ryan was a special friend who had a painful past. Medirith's mother, so lost and selfish in her own dream. Then her father, the source of the nightmares. Everyone joined together to make Such A Pretty Girl such an amazing book.

The end feels a little bit rushed but I guess it has to go with the flow of the rest of the story. It's not what I expected but at least everything is solved after all.

Recommended for everyone.

Rating: 4/5