SLANT

Lauren attempts plastic surgery when racial teasing shatters her self-esteem in this introspective novel. While 13-year-old Lauren has a loving father and loyal best friend, she struggles with her identity as a Korean-American adoptee. Lauren is adamant that eyelid surgery and epicanthal fold reduction will enhance her natural beauty; she researches the procedure and secretly saves her earnings. Her grandmother’s unexpected visit and support propel Lauren to visit a plastic surgeon. Mysterious circumstances surrounding her adoptive mother’s death are conveniently revealed when Lauren’s belated birthday gift, a photo album of her deceased mother, provides her with a more comprehensive perspective on her troubled history. Refreshingly, she develops her self-assurance through her own independent maturation, without overwhelming adult influence. Lauren’s unfolding progression, heightened through photography classes and tender moments with her younger sister, result in a memorable protagonist. There are no surprises surrounding Lauren’s inevitable decision, though her budding self-acceptance is subtly nuanced, adding depth to a contemporary topic with a gentle touch. (Fiction. 10-13)