The Daughters - Hardcover

Joanna Philbin was born in Los Angeles and raised in New York City. She holds a B.A. from Brown University and a J.D. and M.F.A. from the University of Notre Dame. She is the author of The Daughters series, and lives and writes in Los Angeles. Visit her at joannaphilbin.com.

Grade 6–9—Lizzie, Carina, and Hudson are fiercely loyal 14-year-old BFFs in trendy New York. They have something in common—wealthy celebrity parents who don't always share their daughters' values. The novel is narrated by Lizzie, whose mother is the über-famous model Katia Summers, whom designers have named "walking proof of God." It's a tough act to follow, especially for gawky Lizzie, who has a large nose and frizzy hair. Knowing that she can never measure up, she hates it when they're forced to pose together at events. But when famous "ugly-model" photographer Andrea asks Lizzie to pose due to her unique, real-life look (the "New Pretty"), she defiantly ignores her publicist's commands and goes for it, and for the first time in her life, recognizes her own beauty. In the process, she begins a relationship with a boy she thought was out of her league. This fun, quick read will be enjoyed by girls who subscribe to magazines like Seventeen and love trendy designer clothing and accessories. While the writing is a bit formulaic, readers will be intrigued by the well-drawn characters and their growth over the course of several months. Tweens and young teens will eagerly look forward to the next installment.—Susan Riley, Mount Kisco Public Library, NY
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