43 pages • 1 hour read
Karyn Langhorne FolanPretty Ugly
Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2010A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Summary
Background
Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Character Analysis
Themes
Symbols & Motifs
Important Quotes
Essay Topics
Tools
BetaSymbols & Motifs
College and Academic Success
Bluford High series is set in an inner-city high school with many characters depicted as being from a lower socioeconomic background. As such, college attendance is not seen as the assumed outcome of a high school education. Many students would have to rely on scholarship offers to be able to afford to go, which means they will have to compete with many other kids to receive funding. Because of this, studiousness and academic success serve as a symbol for a better future. As Aunt Charlotte explains to Darcy, “It’s very competitive […] But they have some amazing scholarship programs. With your grades, you’ll have a decent shot. But you’ll need good SAT scores, too” (52). This view of Darcy as college-bound is contrasted with Jamee’s academic troubles. Her failing grades and interest in cheerleading are a major source of conflict between her and her parents, who see her as not caring about her future. Jamee’s mother makes this clear when she references Jamee’s academic troubles, saying, “You’re not gonna amount to anything in this world if you keep this up” (102). Without academic success, in other words, Jamee will be trapped in the same cycle of low-paying jobs and limited financial success that many people in her community are.
Cheerleading
For Jamee, cheerleading serves as a symbol of freedom and personal expression. While college symbolizes success for Jamee’s family, Jamee’s skills lie in athletics. Cheerleading is something she’s good at, unlike school, which is more her sister Darcy’s domain. Jamee is passionate about cheerleading and gymnastics, enough that she skips after-school math tutorials to attend practice despite knowing this will get her in trouble and not improve her grades. Because of Jamee’s love for cheerleading and academic struggles, her parents see cheerleading as a symbol of wasted effort—effort that could be better spent on academics. Because of these contrasting views of the sport and the narrator’s struggle to develop an individual identity, cheerleading also serves as a symbol of individuality in the text. It allows for self-expression and gives an opportunity for shy or academically struggling kids like Jamee and Angel to receive the approval of their Coach and the support of their squad.
Beauty
Vanessa’s looks are referenced throughout the book, making both outer and inner beauty a motif that develops the novel’s examination of character. Upon first seeing Vanessa, Jamee describes her as “really pretty” (19). Vanessa appears aware of her beauty, as her mannerisms are often described as showing off her appearance: “She even tossed her hair and swung her hips and smiled as if she was selling something” (23). Upon their first real meeting, Jamee thinks, “Vanessa seemed like the kind of girl you would see in a magazine” (28). When Dez meets Vanessa’s group of friends, he also comments on her appearance, saying “them girls are mean. Like a pack of dogs, only better looking” (37). Later, once Jamee is familiar with Vanessa’s meanness and personality, she sees Vanessa differently: “The smudge and the angry sneer on her face made her suddenly look very, very ugly” (93). This references the title of the book, Pretty Ugly, and highlights the difference between inner and outer beauty. Though Vanessa may have physical attractiveness, her inner ugliness outweighs it. Meanwhile, Jamee and Angel exhibit inner beauty by choosing to support each other and not partake in bullying.
