Fat Hoochie Prom Queen by Nico Medina

 (Photo taken from Goodreads)

Title:  Fat Hoochie Prom Queen

Author:  Nico Medina

Publisher:  Simon Pulse

Language: English

Format:  Paperback

Pages:  290 pages

ISBN-10:  1416936033

ISBN-13:  978-1416936039

Source:  Purchased, Booksale

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Rating:

 

I was digging through a huge heap of books in the secondhand bookshop when I spotted this one.  Why did it catch my eye?  Well, because apart from its brightly-colored cover, the title was totally familiar.  Fat Hoochie Prom Queen was one of the books referenced in Dash and Lily's Book of Dares and at that time, I thought the title was just made up.  Imagine my surprise when it turned out to be real!  I gasped out loud when I saw this and did not let it go ever since. 

The Gospel According to Goodreads

"What does it take to be the queen?

Margarita "Madge" Diaz is fat, foxy, and fabulous. She loves herself, and is adored by almost everyone else...except queen bee/student-body president Bridget Benson. These two girls have a history that's uglier than a drag queen after last call. During a heated argument, they decide there's only one way to end their rivalry: be named prom queen and the other backs off — for good.

Of course, everything looks different in the sober light of morning, but pride is at stake and the race is on. Madge is committed to doing whatever it takes to secure the title, but so is Bridget. And everyone's got something to hide. 

Welcome to Winter Park High School, where the dirt's not just gonna fly...it's gonna go into freakin' orbit."

I really thought this was just another shallow teen novel.  I was not really expecting much from it apart from the fact that I need to own it if only so I can bring up the title joke anytime.  But whoah, after a few clumsy attempts to connect with it at first, I was sucked in by the raging fabulosity that is Fat Hoochie Prom Queen!

The characters' voices stand out and sound very real that they jump right out at you.  It was almost like they were there with you the whole time, doing everything they did in the story and you were part of of the story.  Even Bridget Benson, the main antagonist, sounded very believable and human (reading about her, I can't help picturing Miley Cyrus as her).  Every character had a flaw but also had a lot of strengths.  Madge was big and proud of that fact.  She owned her body shape and used it to her advantage.  She's big, beautiful, and also had a big heart.  Lucas, her best friend, was as gay as gay could be and a really great friend to her.  They enjoyed the last of their high school year to the hilt and may I just say, their partying was almost at par with a lot of college parties I've known.  They took almost everything to the extreme, and some were a touch unrealistic but the author has written such an in-your-face story that it might even convince you that a cat is actually a dog that can't bark.


As for the writing, it's nothing like a high-end literary piece (what was that?), the story is very easy, light, and predictable - there's nothing new in the concept and after a few chapters I've guessed a bit of the ending.  The momentum in the beginning was almost frustratingly slow and I could not connect with it immediately - though when I finally did it blew me away - but it totally hits the spot.  I do believe that it's up there with the best in teenage novels about prom queens and fat, foxy young women.  There were a lot of parts that I thought was taken to the extreme, but it only added to the excitement of reading this book - some parts you know does not happen much in real life, but it thrills you to know that it MAY happen.  


With regard to the ending though, I wished it had a better twist.  There was an interesting premise for what happens to the ending but sadly, it did not follow through.  And I also felt that it was a bit rushed - but it was still worth it.  Maybe the author thought that if he explored some of the twists further that it would not be too enjoyable for the readers because it would suddenly turn heavy and melodramatic.  Speaking of drama, this book did not just have it, this book was written because of it!  When you put up a story about a big hot girl, her gay best friend, and prom, you can never have too much drama.

Overall, for an entertaining book about friendship, partying, being fat and sexy at the same time, and of course the race for prom queen, grab a copy of this book.  Nico Medina is now one of my new favorite authors and I can't wait to read other books he has written. 

Prom by Laurie Halse Anderson

(Photo taken from Goodreads)

Title:  Prom
Author:  Laurie Halse Anderson
Publisher:  Puffin

Language: English

Format:  Paperback

Pages:  224 pages
ISBN-10:  0142405701

ISBN-13:  978-0142405703

Source:  Purchased, Booksale

*Part of my 2nds Reading Challenge* 

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Rating:

The Story According to Goodreads

"High school senior Ashley Hannigan doesn't care about prom, but she's the exception. It's pretty much the only good thing at her urban Philadelphia high school, and everyone plans to make the most of it—especially Ash's best friend, Natalia, who's the head of the committee. Then the faculty advisor is busted for taking the prom money, and Ash suddenly finds herself roped into putting together a gala dance out of absolutely nada. But she has help—from her large and loving (if exasperating!) family, from Nat's eccentric grandmother, from her fellow classmates. And in putting the prom together, Ash learns that she has choices about her life after high school."

This story was so laugh-out-loud funny, I got weird looks even in the house.  I was able to finish this book in one sitting as it was fast-paced, well-written, and draws you into the story itself you feel like you're part of it.  Laurie Halse Anderson has been known for her serious, strong, and powerful writing as demonstrated on Speak and Wintergirls, and her book Forge is one of the 2011 candidates for the John Newbery Medal.  I cannot really imagine her writing something as light as Prom, and yet, when I read it, I do believe Anderson is capable of creating such a fun read.  Although telling a story about typical teenage dilemma, hiding behind the surface is a deep perspective on identity, friendship, family, and relationships. 

Almost a modern Cinderella story, this story assembles an interesting mix of characters:  Ashley herself is pretty witty and cool.  You can see her transformation throughout the book from an irresponsible girl who only cared about her boyfriend and having a terrific future with him without thinking about how to achieve that future to a young woman who knows what to do, how to deal, and what she wants out of life.  Her friends are a cool bunch of girls, very down-to-earth and witty - the kind of girls I would love to hang out with in high school.  Her family and the rest of the school round up the funny, endearing, and quirky cast that is Prom.  Each character is drawn vividly, with individual issues and strengths, and you can relate with each of them.  Their dialogue is crisp and distinguishable, and so is the narration from Ashley's point of view.  The voice is solid and accurate for Ashley's personality and transformation.

As for the writing, it was highly convincing and appealing, that even the seemingly shallowest of conflicts - not being able to go to prom - is highly emphasized that the reader could feel the intensity of the problem.  Although actually superficial, the conflicts are raised in a way that makes the reader sympathize with what is happening, to feel for the characters.  Because this is a book for teenagers, an adult might dismiss this as a superficial teenage novel; however, reading this book, you cannot judge this as trivial or insignificant to serious teen-related matters of current times because this is a foundation of that subject.  Ashley has no idea about her strengths or her capabilities and therefore, feels inferior which results to unreliability and irresponsible behavior.  However, once she gets past that and discovers self-awareness, she decides to take control of her life and steer it into a remarkably different and better route than what she has been planning for herself.  If teenagers were even only half as self-aware and empowered as Ashley was by the ending, they would also be able to make better choices and work for their goals.  This book is not just about the prom - it's about encouraging a person to acknowledge who and what he/she really is, accepting him/herself, and recognizing his/her strengths and capabilities in order to effectively mold his/her life the way it should be.  And that, in my opinion, is what Anderson writes mostly in her other more serious books.  So yes, I can now imagine her really writing this book.

And by the way, I loved what was written in the About the Author section:  "...The night of her senior prom, she was shoveling manure on a pig farm in Denmark..."   As for me, I did not go to prom.  I was busy reading.