North of Beautiful

Justina Chen

Feb 2009 · Sold by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

About this eBook

As he continued to stare, I wanted to point to my cheek and remind him, But you were the one who wanted this, remember? You're the one who asked-and I repeat-Why not fix your face?

It's hard not to notice Terra Cooper.

She's tall, blond, and has an enviable body. But with one turn of her cheek, all people notice is her unmistakably "flawed" face. Terra secretly plans to leave her stifling small town in the Northwest and escape to an East Coast college, but gets pushed off-course by her controlling father. When an unexpected collision puts Terra directly in Jacob's path, the handsome but quirky Goth boy immediately challenges her assumptions about herself and her life, and she is forced in yet another direction. With her carefully laid plans disrupted, will Terra be able to find her true path?

Written in lively, artful prose, award-winning author Justina Chen Headley has woven together a powerful novel about a fractured family, falling in love, travel, and the meaning of true beauty.

Ratings and reviews

Everyone has true beauty held deep within. North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley is a book where you will find true beauty within the pages. You're never going to find such a great book. North of Beautiful is truly beautiful. North of Beautiful is about a girl trying to find her true beauty that's held inside of her. Terra Cooper may have an ugly birthmark, but she is beautiful in and out. North of Beautiful is about her journey to find it. Her journey takes her to China with a boy who's not so different from her. Why does this journey take her all the way across the country? Well, you’re going to find out. I have to say that this book was an amazing book to read. Terra learns some things that are very new to her. Such a she learns how to go geography with her new friend Jacob. Jacob takes her on an amazing adventure across the world to find his birth mom. Along the way, he and Terra are becoming little more than just close friends. Turns out, Jacob isn't all that different form Terra. Just as how she has a birthmark on her cheek and would make anybody turn their head. Jacob is also different from others, he deals with another problem of his own; he has cleft lip. Will she find her true north? Or will she let people keep her down for her whole teenage life? Maybe along the way you will find your true north. I recommend that you read this book North of Beautiful and see where your true north is.

No matter what other people say, this is a great book for all ages ESPECIALLY young teens. It has a great message about insecurity, standing up for yourself, and inner beauty. THIS IS A CALL FOR ALL PARENTS that if your child struggles with seeing inner child of god then make her read this book

I read this book last year and I loved it! It explains that nobody is perfect and families have a lot of trouble sometimes. But it also shows that even with family problems and imperfections, people can still find light and happiness. They learn to stop caring what other people think and just be themselves. It's really a great book! The story line was perfect!

About the author

Justina Chen is the author of Return to Me, North of Beautiful,Girl Overboard, and Nothing But the Truth (and a few white lies). While the Pacific Northwest is her home base, Justina feels equally at home wherever she goes with her pen, journal, and coconut black tea. Her website is justinachen.com.