Face Value [Paperback]

Catherine Johnson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 5, 2005

A story set in east London across two generations: Paula and Ness are two girls who become unlikely friends,when Paula becomes sucked into the dangers of the modelling scene; and Lauren, a mixed race girl who is discovered by a modelling agent on a school trip and the way in which this affects her life. The two stories are interlinking and the reader gets a fantastic cross-generational picture of a vibrant, arty area of London.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 9 Up–Though Lauren never knew her mother, Paula, she is haunted by the story of the rising model who died so young in prison. When she is scouted by a London modeling agency, Lauren sees an opportunity to understand a part of her mothers promiscuous life that led to violence and abuse, and she is surprised to learn that her guardian, Nessa, is supportive, if cautious, of Laurens interest. Her newfound recognition, though, brings them to the attention of a person from Paulas past who is a danger to them both. Alternating chapters tell the stories of 15-year-old Lauren and of Nessa 16 years earlier. As both stories develop, readers learn more and more about how Nessa came to raise Paulas daughter, and how the choices that she made as a teenager shaped both her life and Laurens. Though this is a suspense story, and a good one, Nessa and Laurens relationship is what really makes it stand out. Young adult novels seldom let readers see how their teenage protagonists turn out. Seeing the adult Nessa through Laurens eyes, however, allows them to do so in a unique way that will be appealing to teens.–Stephanie L. Petruso, Anne Arundel County Public Library, Odenton, MD
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Gr. 9-12. Fifteen-year-old Lauren Bogle has just been discovered by the RAIN modeling agency, and she can't understand why Vanessa, her guardian and her mother's best friend, is so worried about following up on possible leads. She knows that her mother was once a model before her imprisonment and death, but she still can't fully understand Nessa's uneasiness; Lauren feels savvy and smart and ready to face the modeling world. Told alternately from Lauren's and Nessa's perspectives, the sordid, sad story of Lauren's mother, Paula; her gradual descent into drugs and high-class prostitution; and Lauren's potential parallel path is revealed. The violence and sex are veiled yet always present, and they run as an undercurrent to Lauren's stable, contemporary life. The intriguing modeling world remains an enigma, and readers will be aware that they know little more about the inner workings of the modeling trade at the story's end. But the allusions to a world that's never fully spotlighted creates a tension that adds to the story's suspense and continues to the satisfying conclusion. Frances Bradburn
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Oxford Childrens; First Edition edition (May 5, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0192754068
• ISBN-13: 978-0192754066
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,326,779 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Face Value Reveiw, May 22, 2005

By 

City of London School for girls - See all my reviews

This review is from: Face Value (Paperback)

I found this book extremely interesting and enjoyable to read. I think this book was aimed at young girls growing up but it can be read by anyone. This book is very powerful and I was gripped by it. I didn't put it down for one minute. This novel was brilliant and thought provoking. It made me think of the fake and plastic world that young girls or models actually live in. Catherine Johnson really captures the characters and is a brilliant writer.