With stories by acclaimed and exciting new YA writers:

Louise Hawes

J. James Keels

Ron Koertge

Chris Lynch

Norma Fox Mazer

Lauren Myracle

Jamie Pittel

Anita Riggio

Mary Ann Rodman

Ellen Wittlinger

Jacqueline Woodson

Tim Wynne-Jones

A stellar line-up of young adult writers examines our relationship with beauty in stories that haunt, amuse, stir, and fascinate.

A beauty queen with a chin-hair problem, an aspiring model who would rather take pictures than be in them, a boy in love with the gorgeous nurse he’s never seen, a girl named Beauty who feels like anything but—the teenagers in these dozen stories feel the power of beauty, whether it’s to trap, save, torment, or comfort. In an era when image seems to have triumphed over virtue and reason, this timely, discussion-provoking collection asks young readers to think about what is truly beautiful.

This timely, discussion-provoking collection asks young readers to think about what is truly beautiful. With stories by such acclaimed writers as Louise Hawes, Lauren Myracle, and Jacqueline Woodson, this collection examines attitudes towards beauty in stories that haunt, amuse, stir, and fascinate.

Ann Angel is the author of six author biographies and works of criticism. She graduated from Vermont College’s MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults program and currently teaches writing at the college level. She lives in Wisconsin.