Pretty Ugly

Trace Angel’s character arc throughout the book. How does she change? How does Jamee’s repeated support for her relate to Angel’s development of Identity and Individuality?

Jamee strongly resents comparisons to her sister Darcy, who is a mostly static, passive character used as a foil to Jamee. Is Jamee correct in resenting Darcy? How might their parents’ acceptance of Jamee’s interests impact how Jamee views her sister?

Compare Jamee’s Aunt Charlotte and the bully Vanessa, both of whom make discriminatory comments about others. Do they have the same intention in expressing their prejudice, and do they accomplish the same goal? If not, what words or actions imply this?

How does the student body’s unspoken policy against “snitching” affect the conflict between characters? Is the desire to handle a problem without involving authority figures a positive quality or a negative one?

Trace Tasha’s character arc through the book. How does her development contribute to all three of the novel’s themes?

How does the motif of beauty help develop the book’s message about the importance of good character?

The author places importance on the impact of family dynamics on personal identity and self-worth. How are all members of Jamee’s family impacted by their circumstances and their treatment, both from each other and from people outside the family?

Angel and Jamee find different ways of standing up to Vanessa. Compare and contrast their actions in the final scenes of the novel and explore their impact not only on the narrative, but also on the novel’s overarching message.