The Trouble with Pretty

In the midst of the historical election for the United States' first female president, Aster Lamonte, a teenage girl struggling to love and accept herself, cannot escape the idea that a woman's self worth is measured by her beauty. After enduring the pain of a boyfriend cheating on her, she places herself in the shadows of her beautiful mother and seemingly flawless best friend, Leah. But through writing poetry and taking a class that encourages her to analyze and believe in the power of words, Aster begins to see "pretty" in a whole different way allowing her to learn the many layers that comprise the people who once appeared so simple. Told through both narrative and poetry, Aster's story reveals what happens when a girl learns her true value goes beyond the reflection she sees in the mirror.