Ugliest (The Art of Being Ugly #3)

UGLIEST is a young adult novel set in a mathematics & science boarding school. This is the third book in the Art of Being Ugly series. The main character, Nic, is coming to terms with their identity, especially since they go to school in a conservative area. They’ve got a group of friends and together they decide to start posting about banned books and other political issues concerning them. This leads to Nic and a friend of theirs being moved into the female dorm. More videos and more drama follow, and Nic has to dig deep to stand up for themselves and their rights, as well as the rights of other trans/nonbinary individuals.

What I Loved:
The characters were interesting. Nic is our main character and I enjoyed the time spent with them. They’re a young teenager trying to figure out who they are and how they fit into the world, and they’re encountering resistance along the way because they don’t fit in with the norm. The author handled their identity, and how they interacted with others who did not agree with their identity, well. It was handled with care while not shying away from the touchier aspects of conversation. Nic’s group of friends also felt realistic and well-written. They were struggling with their own issues and it was nice to see the group of friends discuss their issues and how certain policies/cultural events were impacting them.

The book discussed several very important topics especially regarding book banning and the minorities that are impacted very heavily by those bans. The topic was discussed in a respectful way. It is also introduced as something that the characters are aware of, but there is enough information given for readers who may not be aware of the current wave of book bans.

What Left Me Wanting More:
The tone of this book felt off. The book is labeled as being a young adult book, but it would switch tone from a young adult book to a middle grade book. Some of the dialogue and situations that the characters found themselves in felt slightly out-of-touch from the general writing of the book. They didn't work poorly together, but there was a tonal difference in some of the situations. There is a chance the author was aiming for a lower young adult book and that might explain the tone.

Final Verdict:
UGLIEST is a book that doesn’t shy away from talking about difficult topics with a protagonist that has to find the nerve to standup for themselves and others. The tone of the book does feel a bit more middle grade or lower young adult, so at times the 17 year old protagonist feels a bit out of place. The likeability of the main character and their friends helps to balance the story. The author’s writing style was also good and it was clear what they were trying to accomplish with their book.

An important story of standing up to hate and bigotry, UGLIEST is an engaging story that isn’t afraid to discuss real life topics and how they impact people.