Pretty Like Us

It is written in first person; Beauty McElwrath, a twelve-year-old girl, is the protagonist.

The story is written in a southern country dialect and takes place in a small town in Florida.

She dreads it even more when she meets Alane Shriver, who suffers from an aging disease.

She runs away from school twice to forget some of the mean things that she is willing to do in hopes of gaining friendship.

Her mother, grandmother, and teacher all encourage her to make friends with Alane, but Beauty fears the disapproval of her classmates.

She eventually makes friends with Alane through an illegal midnight drive to the beach and an incident with a wild pig running into Beauty's mother's prized car.

He wants to marry Nina but is waiting for the entire family to be ready for that change in relationship.

She has worked for most of Beauty's life as a mechanic, which is not a job that is approved for a woman in her small hometown.

He now hangs out with the popular crowd at school, ignoring and making fun of Beauty.

The novel also suggests that Beauty is learning to follow this motto more and will grow into a strong woman like her mother and grandmother.

(Horn Book) Another review took a completely different approach and says that Beauty's "voice is consistent and easy to believe.

(School Library Journal) Yet another review states that "Williams demonstrates strong insight into the sixth-grade mind."