Elogio alla bruttezza
(Praise for ugliness) Book not yet available in English
Summary:
“I am ugly. I’ve always been ugly, and there’s no hope of having the same fate as the ugly duckling, that actually turned out to be a swan. A fairy tale with a twist: that’s what it is, to tell you the truth.” This is how Marcella pictures herself. She is fifteen years old, her parents struggle with their own problems and her older brother, a handsome and lucky guy, won’t talk to her. But sometimes a twist turns into an opportunity to rewrite history from the side of those who have never been lucky nor in love. So Marcella decides to turn her end-of-year essay into a Praise for Ugliness. With her best friend Giorgia – who wears huge braces on her teeth – she brings her desire for revenge and her sense of humour to the pages. More surprises are yet to come: among the soulless and handsome friends of her brother, there is someone who is able to look at her in a different way and to make her find love… A novel to be read at once, to discover that despite life’s disappointments and rejections, love will sooner or later come knocking at our door. [Publisher’s website]
Edited by: Centro MeTRa - Università di Bologna (Italy)
Comment:
This book challenges stereotypes and encourages self-acceptance. The ironic and daring voice of the fifteen-year-old protagonist guides readers through the identity conflicts, which often characterise adolescence, and offers a new point of view on the perception of one’s own body. The book invites to discover one’s own talents and to look for self-realisation beyond body perfection and peer pressure. After reading the novel, young readers will become aware that everyone can find their place in the world, no matter what they look like.