A good story

by Heather on May 4, 2012

“Boys, Beauty & Betrayal” by JC Conrad-Ellis is a book aimed at teenage girls that covers issues that concern these girls in this day and age. The story is told from the viewpoint of Tanisha, who is 14 years old, lives in a broken home, is in the beginnings of discovering boys (who are now discovering her), and is learning about the fragility of friendship.

Ms. Conrad-Ellis definitely wrote this book with teenage girls in mind. She covers the gamut of issues that many girls feel. Tanisha is a likeable character who definitely is going through a lot with being in middle school (which can be hell to begin with), noticing and being noticed by older boys, trying to protect a friend but losing the friendship in return, and having a mother who is most likely undiagnosed bipolar.

I had a hard time getting into this book and I don’t know why. It was written well, but I think that the characters could have been more fleshed out. The author is trying to cover a lot of themes throughout this book so that she can present a positive way of looking at life. I did like the uplifting message but I just wish that I had connected to the story better.