Beauty

In her first YA novel, adult author Daily offers a modern fairy tale, a cross between Big and “Cinderella,” which begins at a fair in Miracle, Ohio. After a humiliating incident, sophomore Molly Davis flees to the edge of the fairgrounds, where she meets a mysterious artist who draws her portrait as Molly wishes she was “the most beautiful girl in Miracle.” Molly’s wish comes true, and suddenly she is the center of attention at school, impressing even the most popular kids with her dazzling good looks. All goes well until Molly’s new fans threaten to crowd out her old friends and, under the evil influence of the school’s former queen bee, Molly feels herself changing on the inside, and not for the better. While the book offers some variances on familiar themes, stock characters are overplayed, and the plot relies heavily on coincidence (such as the convenient ways Molly avoids showing her new face to her parents). The message is blatant, but die-hard romantics will enjoy the heroine’s acts of redemption and the happily-ever-after conclusion. Ages 12–up. Agent: Jenny Bent, Trident Media Group. (May)