Being Me (PB)

Genre: Youth fiction Title: BEING ME AUTHOR: Lori Williams Being Me is written in journal format; each of the main characters contributing journal entries as the story unfolds. We are introduced to Sky the prom queen and self- absorbed leader of the school "beautiful people." Mexican student, Joanne starts out as one of Sky's followers but soon comes to realize that life offers much more. Sage, whose parents are divorced deals with her own personal family crisis as does Brandon, who lives in a trailer park and is the class clown. Tiffany, who calls herself the "ugly, buck toothed girl" is about to discover that she has inner beauty and depth of character that is severely lacking in pupils like Sky. As life at Prescott High begins to fall apart for our characters, their true personalities begin to show through. Who is facing a fall? Which one will find a boyfriend at last? Will one of them be seriously injured? Lori Williams explores the psyche of adolescence in Being Me with such insight and understanding that teens everywhere will identify with her characters. This book should be recommended reading for all grades 6, 7 and 8 classes as a way to enlighten students to the hidden meaning of the actions of their peers while entertaining at the same time. Dialogue is definitely "teen speak" and the format is delightful. Author Lori Williams received an English degree from University of Houston. She teaches junior high and alternative high school; currently English and reading at an academy for incarcerated boys in Hondo, Texas. Lori Williams has enjoyed writing most of her life and is well versed in the subject of teens and their world as both a mother and a teacher. Highly recommended by Reviewer: Shirley Roe, Allbooks Reviews.

I read this book three times. The characters remind me of people at my own school. It made me laugh and cry.