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Description edit
From bestselling, Printz Award-winning author Libba Bray, Beauty Queens is the story of a plane of beauty pageant contestants that crashes on a desert island. With a "Lost"-like island, mysteries, dangers, no access to email, And the spirit of fierce, feral competition that lives underground... read more
Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit
Summary edit
The fifty contestants in the Miss Teen Dream pageant thought this was going to be a fun trip to the beach, where they could parade in their state-appropriate costumes and compete in front of the cameras. But sadly, their airplane had another idea, crashing on a desert island and leaving the... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)
Characters/People edit
- Adina Greenberg: Miss New Hampshire, wants to be a journalist, and has never had a best friend. Is in an all-girl band.
- Mary Lou: Miss Nebraska, grows to be Adina's best friend.
- Taylor: Miss Texas. Has lived her whole life for the competitions.
- Jennifer Huberman: Miss Michigan. Very headstrong. Entered Miss Teen Dream as part of a rehabilitation program. Like comics. Dated Sosie but broke up
- Nicole Ade: Miss Colorado. Tired of her mother bossing her around.
- Petra West: Miss Rhode Island.
- Shanti Singh: Miss California. Can make popadam as her mother and grandmother taught her.
- Brittani Slocum: Miss Alabama.
- Sosie Simmons: Miss Illinois. Semi-deaf girl who isn't sure what she wants.
- Tiara: Miss Mississippi. Been in pageants her whole life for her parents and is tired of pretending and being thought stupid. Also hacks off her hair with a machete.
- Sinjin St. Sinjin: Capitan of the novel's British rockstar pirates (of a reality TV show) Likes Petra
- Harris: Idiot who thinks he's all that.
- Ladybird Hope: A past Miss Teen Dream pageant winner, now a political hopeful with a dark side.
- Duff: Part of the cast of the reality TV show, Captain Bodacious IV: Badder and more Bodaciouser.
- Agent Jones: A Corporation agent based on the island
- Tane Ngata: Mary Lou's possibly-imaginary boyfriend. An eco-warrior and ornithologist.
- Annie: Mary Lou's sister, who is not actually in the book but is important to Mary Lou
- Mrs. Mirabov: Shanti's pageant coach
- Charlie: A character played by Jessica Everett, America's Tabloid Sweetheart, in the upcoming motion picture "Wedding Day 3: Third Time's the Charm". This film i not yet rated.
- Momo B. Chacha: The dictator of ChaCha.
- Ahmed: Part of the cast of the reality TV show, Captain Bodacious IV: Badder and more Bodaciouser.
- J. T. Woodland: Member of the pre-teen boy band "Boys Will Be Boys," most famously known for their single "Let Me Shave Your Legs Tonight Girl"
- Fabio: Designated beauty pageant host
- Miss New Mexico: Real name uncertain. Wakes up with a tray in her head and leaves it there to avoid brain damage. Contemplates bangs to hide it.
- Miss Ohio: Add a description of this character.
Quotes edit
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“The earth beneath them gave way suddenly, and the girls were swept down the mountainside in a spiral of mud and sequins and screams.”
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“"I grew up in an orphanage in London. Horrible place." "Really?"Sinjin nodded. "Mmm. Saffron Hill." Petra raised an eyebrow. "Saffron...Hill?""Yes, Saffron Hill. And a terrible place it was. Made us work all day, never got enough food. Mr Bumble - the headmaster - used to beat us." "Sounds like you had a dickens of a time." Sinjin glanced at Petra's impassive expression. "Indeed, indeed. Finally, at fifteen I couldn't take it any longer. I ran away. Lived on the streets with m' pal Jack D-""Dawkins?""D'you know him?""Our mutual friend? Purely coincidental. Go on." Sinjin's grin spread. "I had great expectations about how my life would go on then...""Nicholas Nickleby! - you fell on hard times and were living in a real bleak house.""Absolutely. I was totally scrooged." What a pip." Petra's smile wobbled into a laugh. "IF you figure out how to work The Mystery of Edwin Drood into it, I'm yours for life."”
Sinjin & Petra -
“"Don't you want to pray?" Mary Lou whispered."I'm Jewish. Not big on the Jesus thing.""Oh. I didn't know they had any Jewish people in New Hampshire. You should make that one of your Fun Facts About Me!" Adina opened her mouth but couldn't think of anything to say. "Ahem. Dear Jesus," Taylor intoned more fervently. "We just want to thank you for gettin' us here safe --" There was a loud, gurgling groan. Somebody shouted "Oh my gosh! Miss Delaware just died!" --for gettin' some of us here safe," Taylor continued...”
Taylor (Miss Texas, Adina (Miss New Hampshire) and Mary Lou (Miss Nebraska) -
“I'd say, I am too f-ing fabulous for one gender.”
Petra -
“I think you're beautiful. And brave. And really f-ing cool. And you can make Charles Dickens puns.”
Sinjin -
“I love you for who you are, not for who the world thinks you should be.”
Tane -
“Like the bulrush shoots, shame and fear could be woven into a plaiting of surprising strength.”
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“Why do girls always feel like they have to apologize for giving an opinion or taking up space in the world? Have you ever noticed that?”
Nicole -
“'You know what you are, Mary Lou? You are a hopeless romantic.' 'I'm not the one who's hopeless, Adina.'”
Mary Lou & Adina -
“You guys don't know about hair trauma. I am a black woman without her grease.”
Nicole -
“According to the U.S. Department of Unnecessary Statistics, your chances of dying in a plane crash are one in a half a million. Whereas your chances of losing your bathing suit bottoms to a strong tide are two to one. So, all in all, it's safer to fly than go to the beach.”
Organizations edit
- The Corporation: A company that has cheesy advertisements and produce many beauty products. They are the ones sponsoring the Beauty Pageant.
First Sentence edit
This book begins with a plane crash.
Themes & Symbolism edit
- Inner vs. Outer Beauty: As beauty contestants the girls have a certain image they are expected to portray, however once stranded on the island, we get to know what really makes each girl special.
Series & Lists edit
This book is in 2011 Locus Recommended Reading List: Young Adult. (authoritative list)
This book is in Publishers Weekly Best Books of 2011. (authoritative list)
Authors & Contributors edit
- Libba Bray (Author)
First Edition edit
Original Language: English
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Country: USA
Publication Date: May 24 2011
ISBN: 0439895979
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Country: USA
Publication Date: May 24 2011
ISBN: 0439895979
Page Count: 400
Awards edit
- James Tiptree, Jr. Award (Finalist, 2011, Honor List)
Notes for Parents edit
Reading Level: Young AdultsHilarious social satire, but caution is advised due to some sexuality and strong language.
Subjects edit
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