Beauty Queens by Libba Bray
In a word: absurd. In another word: wonderful. To sum up: wonderfully absurd.
Some time in the not-so-distant future a plane full of Miss Teen Dream contestants crashes on a deserted island. Not many Teen Dreamers make it. Only about fifteen girls survive. One has a tray table stuck in her forehead, one is determined to practice her routines (no matter that the pageant will most likely not go on), one joined just to sabotage the pageant (and is now stuck with the others), and yet another isn’t even strictly female. But they have spunk and ingenuity and they are survivors. Nevermind the illegal weapons deal, the secret base on the island and the political intrigue. That’s just icing on the cake.
If you’re a fan of the absurd writing of Douglas Adams or Carl Hiaasen you will probably laugh out loud over this one. What’s really great is under all the sarcasm and weirdness is a real message. Girls can do anything when they are given the opportunity to succeed. This is a book with heart at its core and wackiness everywhere else.
