Such a Pretty Girl

Interesting, well written read.

Laura Wiess has written a compelling novel that deals with a painful subject. Meredith was sexually abused by her father, who has recently been released from prison. She is an anguished, wounded character struggling to overcome. And as the reader, I could feel the conflict inside her; would she ultimately be victim or victor?
Meredith was wise beyond her years, forced to grow up too early by her father's iniquities. Still, she felt unable to protect herself from her father, who had clearly not been successfully rehabilitated.
I think a talented writer not only creates characters for the reader to fall in love with, but often also gives us one or two to despise. Wiess created a truly loathsome character in Meredith's mother. She was ignorant and insipid and from the father's first day back home, repeatedly violated the court order not to leave him alone with Meredith. She was nearly as despicable as her pedophilic husband.
The system failed to protect Meredith just as abysmally as her mother did. Meredith seemed to fall between the cracks, leaving her frightened and vulnerable. Redemption would be her own doing, and that of a few people, her maternal grandmother, a caring neighbor, who were willing to get involved instead of merely looking the other way.
Besides being very well-written, Such a Pretty Girl is thought-provoking. Topics to be considered; can pedophiles be successfully rehabilitated? How effective is the sex-offender registry in its current format? Is it appropriate to take matters into our own hands when we see the system is failing to protect children? Are we even willing to?

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

Amazing.

This book is amazing.
Me and my girlfriend stayed up all night reading it.
We didn't put it down once, couldn't put it down.
keeps you on the end of your seat.
I recommend it, definitely!

3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

Reviewed by Jocelyn Pearce for TeensReadToo.com

In SUCH A PRETTY GIRL, Laura Wiess grabbed and held my attention from the first page to the last. New Jersey teenager Meredith was supposed to have nine years of safety from her father, so she'd be eighteen and out of the house when he was released from prison. But three years later, when Meredith is fifteen, her father gets out for good behavior. No matter what he did to Meredith and to other children before her, Meredith's mother is more than ready to take him back.

Meredith isn't alone, though. She has her grandmother, the mayor of the town, who wants Meredith to move in with her to escape her father. She has Andy, her best friend, the guy she is in love with, who was also scarred by Meredith's father as a child. She has Andy's mother, who moved across the street from Meredith's family just to keep other children from the horror from which she couldn't protect Andy. She has Nigel, a retired policemen who has a plan to get Meredith's father back in jail and away from children. Even though Meredith is far from alone, she still feels that way when she can't even count on the people every kid is supposed to be able to count on: her parents.

Meredith wants to get her father back in prison. She wants her mother to go back to visiting him instead of having him in their house. She wants to be able to go into her own home without fear. She wants other kids to be safe, too. She doesn't know what that's going to take, and she's certainly not unafraid, but she isn't going to let him hurt her, or any other kids, again.

This moving, powerful novel is one that should not be missed. Once you start reading it, you won't be able to put this book down. I wasn't! It's an emotional book that is beautifully, powerfully written and unique, and it'll stay with you long past the last word.

Laura Wiess's characters are as well-written as the rest of the book, very realistic (in some cases, scarily so). They're three-dimensional characters in an equally (and, again, scarily) believable story that will certainly be a favorite of anyone who reads it. I know it's one of mine now! Don't miss this book.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Such a Pretty Girl by Laura Weiss Review

Meredith was only twelve years old when she was molested by her father. Now fifteen and living life, her mother receives a phone call stating that the father is getting released from jail early. Meredith relapses into depression, but her Mother is ecstatic. Her father Charles comes home and tries, once again to rape his daughter. With the defense of the statue of the Holy Mary, will she be able to overcome her father?
Meredith is somewhat depressed but a very strong young girl who wants to put an end to her dad molesting children. Meredith's father, Charles, is sick in his mind and molested not only his own daughter, but other children too. Sharon, who is Meredith's mother, strongly believes her husband was confused when he molested children and blames Meredith for ruining the family and their reputation. Andy is the only person who is close to Meredith. He is a miserable alcoholic at the age of seventeen because he was paralyzed after graduation, and has never walked again. He too was molested by her father, but they secretly date behind Sharon's back.
""You didn't blame him, did you?" Her breath is sour in my nostrils. "You know he didn't mean it, he loves you, he really does. It was a mistake, Meredith, so nobody's really to blame. You understand that don't you?"" - Sharon.
The passage shows all the family's struggles in one paragraph. This was said by Meredith's mother Sharon. By Sharon saying this to her own daughter shows she would do anything for her husband. By Meredith telling the nurses of what happened to her, it would ruin the family in her mother's eyes. Meredith tells and now has to deal with her mother's anguish by herself.
The novel Such a Pretty Girl by Laura Weiss was amazingly written. She pulls you in and makes you feel Meredith's pain and anger throughout her childhood. There is no easy way out when someone has dug a hole that deep for you. The book taught me to put your strong foot forward and to never turn back to the past and live for the future. Every point in this book makes you believe that things will get better if you keep your head up. Meredith stays strong and does not run away from her problems. She takes control and puts her father away for good. The hero in this book is Meredith, always searching for the greater good.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

wow

Your reading my comment
2. Now your saying/thinking thats a stupid fact.
4. You didnt notice that i skipped 3.
5. Your checking it now.
6. Your smiling.
7. Your still reading my comment.
8. You know all you have read is true.
10. You didnt notice that i skipped 9.
11. Your checking it now.
12. You didnt notice there are only 10 facts

Copy and paste to 1 book, tomorrow will be your best day ever! no matter WHAT!!!!!

1 out of 7 people found this review helpful.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED - This book is great!

* This is the first book I read from Laura Weiss and it was amazing. I couldn't put the book down, this book was great and I want to tell you so much but I don't want to spoil anything for anyone. But this book is just AMAZING!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Great book!!

Really great story. I could not put it down.

Other bookk

What re other books like this one with the same story line????
Does anyone knowwww??.?

this was an amazing book i couldnt put it down i highly recommen

this was an amazing book i couldnt put it down i highly recommend it

Serena

U start. See u in morning going bed.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Amazing

This book was absolutley amazkng . Hands down .

Read this awesome book!

Such a Pretty Girl was a great book. It was suspenseful and intriguing and I could not put it down. It tells the story of Meredith, a fifteen-year-old girl whom her father sexually abused for many years. He was supposed to be in jail for nine years. Meredith thought she would be safe because by the time her father would get out of jail, she would be eighteen and could leave. But he gets out in just three years. Meredith’s mother expects her to be happy that her father is home again and wants to be a real family. Her mother chooses to ignore the fact that her husband is a sex offender. But Meredith knows that her father has not changed and could abuse her or any other child at any time. Meredith does have a few people to help her such as her boyfriend and a retired policeman living in her condo complex and her grandmother who is more than willing to take Meredith in. But Meredith knows that wherever she goes her father will find her. She decides that she will do whatever it takes to save herself and other children from her father’s abuse.
Laura Wiess successfully writes a suspenseful, intriguing, and realistic story. She uses flashbacks to explain more about Meredith’s childhood with her father. And she uses the idea of victim souls to create an interesting and compelling novel. She makes the character of Meredith so realistic that you feel like she is a real person. Laura Wiess makes you want to help Meredith and anyone else who have ever been sexually abused. Reading this book made me feel as if I was going through this with Meredith and it made me realize that no one should ever go through that suffering. This thought-provoking and moving book will become one of your favorites.

Good book.

Great ending.

Perfect.

The way she writes is amazing, this is my favorite line from her book.

"My front teeth throb as the memory of the charm bangs against them."

0 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

!

this is alot better then i thought it would be!

0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

AMAZING

I've re-read this book so many times, it hooks you by the first chapter. you'll never want to put it down!!

the awsomest book that keeps you reading all night!!!!!

the specific detail given with emotion that drips out of every word written!! the suspense and mystery might just make this book perfect, this book makes the basic conflict (good vs. evil) different and great!!this is a good read

(: marvelous book !

one word : wow . this book is one of the best books that i've ever opened . its very well written and keeps you wanting to read more and more . i could hardly put it down ! the story is qreat and the characters are awesome . a definite thumbs up .

dark and thrilling.

SUCH A PRETTY GIRL is all about one girl's touch with her father. Three years ago, Meredith's dad was thrown into prision for sexually assaulting her, and other kids in their town. He was supposed to be there for 9 years. Turns out it only has to be three. He comes home to Meredith's mom, who believes he has changed, a new man, and one she wants to have another child with. Luckily, Meredith has neighbors to help her out. Andy, her currently crush and best friend, and who is also wheelchair bound, and Nigel, the police officer. Will her Dad change? This comes into test when he is left alone with her, for just one day..... SUCH A PRETTY GIRL goes through the struggles, and the emotional rollercoaster on how to survive for any girl in that situation.