Thursday, January 8, 2009

Enchanting Review: Beautiful Americans

BEAUTIFUL AMERICANS
LUCY SILAG
Contemporary Young Adult
Razorbill
ISBN# 978-1-59514-222-1
304 Pages
$16.99
Hardcover—Available January 8th, 2009

Rating: 5 Enchantments

Featuring four very different characters, BEAUTIFUL AMERICANS tells the story of four teens living in Paris for a year abroad, capturing their first few months in the program. PJ, aka Penelope Jane is escaping what happened this summer with her family in upstate New York, she struggles to fit in, especially with Alex after things go awry during their first meet at the airport. Olivia, an amazing dancer is taking the chance to study at the famed ‘The Opera’ as well as go to the exclusive Lycee. Alex, the classic rich girl who’s there to enjoy herself and last but not least, there’s Zack, the Memphis boy who’s using the chance at being away from home to truly be himself.

What can I say about BEAUTIFUL AMERICANS? All the characters are great, but I was especially partial to PJ and Zack, the two who aren’t the typical exchange student found in the pages of the book. The four main characters are given pretty well equal face time and the storyline and relationships between the foursome evolves naturally, keeping the story moving at a good pace. Secrets are revealed to the reader, especially about PJ’s past but not so much to the other characters and the ending leaves it wide open for the next book. I can’t wait to read the next installment in the series, slated for Fall 2009.

Lucy Silag grew up in Iowa and California and graduated from UC Santa Crus in 2005. She has written for Allure, New York magazine, Real Simple Travel, The Independent on Sunday magazine and Salon. She lives in Brooklyn, New York. BEAUTIFUL AMERICANS is her debut novel. Visit her online at www.myspace.com/lucysilag and check out the webpage devoted to the book at www.beautifulamericans.com

Lisa
Enchanting Reviews
January 2009

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