I would like to share a new YA Novel sharing the story of teens and LGBQT. I don’t agree with LGBQT but its happening more and more in our lives. I would to tell you to be prepared if you read Ugly: An honest and heartfelt YA novel about a gender nonconforming teen (The Art of Being Ugly Book 1) by Kelly Vincent (Author) which I received a copy of from the Author and Voracious Readers in exchange for this review. Inside this post is my affiliate links if you click on the links and make a purchase I will make a purchase off the items you purchase.
There was several reasons I choose to read this novel and the first reason was because it’s a YA coming of age novel we read about Nic, a girl who is sophomore in high school bullied for being overweight and not “girly”. Her peers treat her so mean and she doesn’t have friends as she struggles to identify her sexuality and with my son being a teenager and his friends facing these same problems I thought it might help me understand them more that I do and help my family know what to say to them.
Nic only has one friend and that is her best friend Sam. Sam and her family are moving soon to Scotland leaving Nic all alone in a world where everyone picks on her and calls her names in and out of school. Even people on the streets and in stores refer to Nic as a guy. Nic is very confused as to who she is.
Nic is not certain of her sexuality or her gender and Nic is a very shy person and is not very good with people. She has a hard time making eye contact with others. Which reminds me of my son Charlie in a lot of ways. Nic and Sam make a plan to try and get Nic a few friends before Sam leaves so she won’t be all alone. Sam tries to help Nic step outside of her shell and talk to people. She tries to get her to go to parties with her but Nic does not like parties. Again like my son who likes to hide in his room isn’t healthy.
For Sam and herself, Nic does try to take that step to make friends but the thing is it takes two, when she does try to reach out it is always slammed back in her face crushing her heart once again. Oh, and then trying to figure out boys? It’s still difficult in adulthood, let alone those teenage years. No wonder Nic is so confused. Just like my son again.
When an incident at school triggers the counselors, Nic finally starts getting some help. A secret from her past emerges, but they don’t go too deeply into it for a while which is a significant thinking point for her, though. I hope if you have teenage children that you will take the time to check out Ugly: An honest and heartfelt YA novel about a gender nonconforming teen (The Art of Being Ugly Book 1) and that you take the time to sit down and read this book as a family which will help with all the changes in the world.
Ugly is a heartfelt contemporary YA novel. and if you like rooting for the underdog, true friendship, and relatable LGBTQ+ characters, then you’ll love this empathetic coming-of-age tale. I remember as a child being told to just be myself and more and more people say this to Charlie and just like Nic I hated when she’s told to “just be herself”, but that’s exactly what’s most important to her, and what she manages to accomplish despite the pressures, the insults, and her loneliness .I was intrigued by the genderfluid flag which I hadn’t ever seen but was able to share with my family and for use to discuss the flag inside his homeschool classes.
About the book:
She’s struggling to know her authentic self. When a teenager loses her best friend, can she muster the strength to forge a different path?
Small-town Oklahoma. Nic Summers feels deflated. Overweight and cruelly labeled as an “ugly Lesbian” despite liking boys, the fifteen-year-old artist is devastated when her best and only friend announces their family is relocating to Scotland. And after a well-intentioned makeover freaks her out, the desperate introvert tumbles down an internet rabbit hole questioning her gender identity.
Trying but failing to make new friends before she’s left all alone, Nic is plagued by self-doubt. And when her soul-searching leads her to stumble on the label “gender-nonconforming,” she fears sharing that revelation might only make things worse.
As she battles uncertainty and cruel judgment, can Nic learn to feel comfortable in her own skin?
In a sensitive exploration of real teen struggles, author Kelly Vincent deftly weaves a compelling story of individual identity and social expectations. Navigating anxiety, confusion, and loneliness, Vincent crafts an authentic journey through one of life’s most difficult tasks: Figuring out and accepting who you truly are.
Buy Ugly to live the truth today.
Meet the Author: Kelly Vincent
Kelly Vincent (they/them) wrangles data weekdays and spends the rest of their time playing with words. They grew up in Oklahoma but have moved around quite a bit, with Glasgow, Scotland being their favorite stop. Kelly now lives near Seattle with three cats who help them write their stories by strategically walking across the keyboard, with their award-winning first novel, Finding Frances, a fine example of this technique. Kelly’s novel Ugly is the Honor Book in the Books for Older Readers category of SCBWI’s 2022 Spark Award. Kelly has a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing from Oklahoma City University’s Red Earth program. Find them at kellyvincent.net, @kvbooks on Instagram and Twitter, and @kv_books on TikTok.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
