North Of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley

This book took me a little longer to read than most.  It's a pretty good sized book, but it was a feel good book.  Perfect for a girl in Junior High level reading.  It's about a girl who's life has been pretty rough.  Her dad was shamed in his profession and has moved the family to a remote place.  He's turned very abusive to everyone in the family but mostly towards the mother.  It's pretty much all verbal and emotional abuse, but they're just waiting for that one argument that would escalate into physical abuse.  The daughter has a severe birth mark on her face, which promotes her father to downgrade her and tell her that she'll never be beautiful and that it's a waste of money for the laser surgeries and clinical trials in order to try and heal her face.  Mother is eating to feel better and both boys have moved as far away from home as possible, one going to college and the other a career in Japan.  This story is very heartfelt and moving.  It is mainly about the daughter finding her way in life and finding herself.  Figuring out that she doesn't have to hide behind a mask of make up or a pretty friend or her art.  She ends up meeting a boy with a facial scar that was from a birth defect and he completely changes her life.  He makes her realize that she really is beautiful just the way she is and that she shouldn't hide from the world. She should dive into it headfirst and leave any negativity behind.  The family finally takes a stand against their father and husband in the end but the story still leaves you wondering what will happen next,  but in a good way.  Two thumbs up, I would strongly suggest reading it for any girl trying to find herself or confused about what to do next in life.  This isn't my favorite genre to read, but it was still very enjoyable.