Reading Level: Young Adult(4 out of 5)
Terra Cooper is tall, blond, and has an enviable body but with the turn of her cheek everyone stares at the red birthmark that covers half of her face. Born with a port wine stain all the treatments over the years have not helped so Terra keeps her face hidden under layers of makeup. She's ashamed of her face and her controlling father never lets her forget about her "flaw".
Sometimes when I read a book a character just rubs me the wrong way. Terra's father did just that. He is a map maker that was exiled when he said that China found America first. This has made him mean and bitter and he verbally takes it out on his wife and children. I really wanted to step into the book and slap him. He is a bully and I don't like bullies.
Terra's plan is to graduate high school a year early and go to a college as far away from her father as possible but her father tells her he won't pay for any college but the local one. Terra feels defeated just like her mother who consoles herself with food. One day Terra almost runs over Jacob and her life gets turned around. He challenges her assumptions about herself and her life and she wonders about her true path.
This story really is about finding yourself and learning to love yourself. Very good read.
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