The Looks Book (Paperback)

by Esther Drill (Author), Heather McDonald (Author), Rebecca Odes (Author)
Key Phrases: beauty ideals, Ice Queen, Modern Primitive, United States (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
From the creators of the teen website gURL.com and the authors of the national bestseller Deal With It! comes this chirpily upbeat sophomore effort ("a three-part investigation into how looks affect our lives-and how we can take beauty into our own hands") that will undoubtedly appeal to style- and looks-obsessed adolescents and tweens. An impressive amount of information is crammed into these whimsically art-directed and sometimes busy pages: there's history (fashion through the ages) anatomy (body types and body parts), psychology (body image) and even comedy (the plentiful cartoons that poke gentle fun at female body obsession). Everything from nose jobs to breast size to pubic hair gets discussed in a non-threatening and usually bubbly way (Christianity put the "official kibosh" on makeup; "boobs are pretty great" whatever their size). There are, of course, the requisite celebrity references; here they're most effectively used to illustrate different fashion types: there's Grace Kelly as Ice Queen, Jennifer Lopez as Diva, Mae West as Goddess and Venus and Serena Williams as Power Jocks (accompanying illustrations deconstruct their looks). While frothy fashion and beauty factoids abound, the basic message of empowerment-that girls should be happy with their inner and outer selves-is presented here with intelligence and humor.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Gr. 7-10. The founders of gURL.com and authors of Deal with It! (1999) offer a breathless volume about beauty and style, with an explosion of drawings, a profusion of quotes and photos, and more colors than a mall lipstick counter. A whirlwind history of beauty, with nods to biology, aesthetics, and art history, leads into a few pages on size, shape, and care of the body. The "Body Parts" chapter, covering everything from eyes and feet to "boobs' and "butts," aims to be reassuring and inclusive. "Decorating the Body" and "Body Modification" introduce more than two-dozen styles, from Vamp/Goth to Girl Next Door, from Diva to Futurebabe, complete with ways to achieve the look and historical and contemporary "stars" who epitomize it. The bibliography is extensive and fairly scholarly. "Your style is not your self," the authors write, but they clearly expect to tap into the teen girl's longing for the perfect look. This will have a sizeable audience, and the teen members of gURL.com will eat it up. GraceAnne DeCandido
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics) (September 24, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0142002119
• ISBN-13: 978-0142002117
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 7.7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #727,701 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great for a teen girl you love!, January 16, 2003

By A Customer

I just bought this book for my almost-13-year-old niece. I spent the entire evening poring over the chapters myself! I hope it will help her maintain a positive self-image throughout the devastating teen years. The thing I liked best about it is that it explains how fashions and make-up styles follow cycles, and the kinds of things these industries do to create demand for their products. And talk about diversity! It celebrates the beauty of all body types and sizes, deals honestly with burgeoning sexuality and sexuality identity, and also emphasizes a very important point: things like wearing make-up, shaving your legs or following fashions are really a "choice" rather than an obligation for teen girls. You don't see information like this in most of the magazines aimed at girls in this age group, since they're part of the "machine" that creates and drives demand for cosmetics and fashions. It was nice to see a different viewpoint presented. Nice also to see the quotes included from teen girls who frequent the authors' website. Wish there had been something like this when I was a teenage girl!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I feel better about my looks now, April 28, 2003

A Kid's Review

I felt so much better about myself reading this book. It has girl's comments on their bodies and how they feel about them, and it shows how fashions change and how media images aren't real. There's a lot of stuff that helps you appreciate your body, plus a chapter on different looks you can try, to express yourself. Plus, the illustrations and chatty, fun writing style make it fun to read.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finding your INNER look, April 6, 2003

By A Customer

This book covers just about ALL QUESTIONS! It has info about beauty and style as far as the egyptian and greek times! It shows how certain styles and body types have gone "in" and "out" of fashion. It also has info about different body parts. There's even letters and emails from girls who talk, comment and ask about the body part. The looks part of the book is excellent too! From Diva to Vamp, Bombshell to Femme Fatele, you will find a look that suits you! In fact, for me and many others, you will find you like a combanation of two or more styles! I hope you really like the book! I do!