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Reviewed by Janet Jensen for Readers' Favorite
“Say what you wanted about Molly’s extracurricular outfits; at least she had the guts to take a fashion risk. It was the thing that had drawn me to her last year, at the start of middle school. Marquette forced all incoming sixth graders to attend a weekend camping trip-slash-orientation before the start of the semester, which sounded lame but turned out to be the perfect place to scout a few new BFFs for my transition into middle school and you had to love a girl who showed up to a team-building hike in a camouflage tank dress, matching olive-green eyeliner, and hiking boots with a slight wedge heel. I’d told her she looked like Appalachian Barbie. And she’d stuck by my side ever since.”
These are the words of Kacey Simon (“Simon Says”), the engaging and witty narrator in "How to Rock Braces and Glasses". Glib, sharp-tongued, adept at all things social, and at the pinnacle of her middle school mountain, she steers us on a merry two-week chase through the turbulent adolescent world of Chicago’s Marquette Middle School. When Kasey topples from her throne as teen queen, ending up with glasses and braces, she has to face some painful truths about herself. Like a typical adolescent, Kasey only gives us a brief glimpse of what may be behind her “mean girl” facade. She is tough, resilient and determined, but will that be enough to get her what she wants? And does she really know what she wants?
With its quirky descriptions, vivid character sketches and crisp, lively dialogue, the book is fast-paced and engaging. In this audio version, Casey Holloway’s youthful voice and lively inflections are a perfect fit for the text. "How To Rock Braces and Glasses" offers an intriguing look at the great and not-so-great moments of middle school. I also enjoyed glimpses of Chicago, one of my favorite cities. This is a fun and insightful read for anyone who ever wore glasses and braces, or anyone who is/was a teenager.
