Like Vanessa

I absolutely loved Like Vanessa. The premise is simple, but the plot is beautiful. Vanessa and her Pop Pop watch the historical Miss America pageant when Vanessa Williams was crowned. A wonderful Portuguese music teacher decides to hold a pageant for the young ladies at King Middle School in New Jersey. The rest of the novel is a coming of age as Nessy enters the pageant and learns to love herself. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to be an early reader in exchange for my fair and honest review.

"Everybody's got their rep... Mine? I'm like oxygen -- you know I'm there, but you don't see me. I shut my mouth. I make good grades. And when the bell rings at the end of the day, I take my butt home, close my door, and dream of a place far, far away from here."


Holy crap! What a book!! I try to stay away from middle grade realistic/historical fiction because it tends to have a lack of diversity and shies away from important topics/wraps everything up in the end with a nice little bow, but Like Vanessa shattered every expectation I have of middle grade lit.

This is a book that parents need to read. This is a book that children need to read. This is a book that needs to be read in classrooms, in homes, everywhere.

It's 1983, and 13-year old Vanessa Martin is full of dreams. Dreams of her mama coming back home, dreams that her grandfather will stop drinking, dreams of winning the Miss America pageant. And when I read this book, I was caught up in all of her dreams. My heart swelled and was broken with hers.

Characters are what make or break a book for me, and they surely made this book. The people in Like Vanessa are "hungry and angry and empty and wanting." Vanessa was everything little girls and boys look for in a heroine, and the struggles that she goes through are sadly still prevalent issues that children and teens face in America today. I also really enjoyed reading about her cousin, TJ. He loves his family, deeply, and his struggle to hide his true self is something that many teens can relate to.

Like Vanessa is a seriously powerful book. It caused me to examine my own privilege in a deeper way.

This book deals with a lot of important stuff, such as racism, colorism, classism, alcoholism, abusive parents, drug issues, and homophobia, but it does it in a way that is subtle enough for Like Vanessa to still read like a middle-grade book. If I had read this book when I was ten, I probably would have not picked up on as much as I did now. I would recommend for parents to read this book with their children so that they can answer any questions they might have. But don't be put off by how raw this book is -- it is definitely full of important lessons that many young children can benefit from.

So, whether you're looking for the next book to read to your class, or a book to read and talk about as a family, or, if, like me, you're wanting to venture out of YA for a bit, I would highly recommend Like Vanessa. It will leave you thinking and wanting more. It is sure to be the best middle grade, and surely one of the very best, books of 2018.

"Now I can see...the real meaning of beauty, and it ain't got nothing to do with having light skin and a little waist. All these years of watching the Miss America pageant, and I ain't never seen a girl who looked like me. And all I ever wanted was to live up to that American definition of beauty...But I can see it now. You can't buy beauty or pray for it to come in the form of what you see on the television screen. [It's] just something you gotta be."

Vanessa has dreams of someday competing in the Miss America pagent, something she feels will bring her closer to her absent mother who once competed in pagents. She has watched the contest her whole life and has never seen any contestants who look like her so she feels it is not even a possibility. Then Vanessa Williams wins the contest and a seed of hope is planted. Maybe she should enter the school's contest, a huge step for a shy, bookish, invisible eighth grader.

At the core of Vanessa is her longing for her mother to return and help heal her broken family. During her time of training Vanessa finds her inner strength, learns about true friendship and discovers the truth of her family secrets. I love the unwavering support of Pop Pop and TJ. In spite of the fact that they each have their own struggles they help Vanessa learn who she can be.

There is a story about Nichelle Nichols, who played Urura, in the original series of Star Trek, that she wanted to quit, after the first season. She felt she wasn't doing anything special on the show, and felt she could do better elsewhere. But Martin Luther King Jr. told her to stay. That her being on the show as showing girls that looked like her, that they could be more.

And, in the 1983, for the first time since the Miss American contest began, a woman of color won. Vanessa Williams. Black girls, who thought they could never be Miss America now saw that they too could aspire.

Representation is important. It is important because, while we can imagine that we can be something, it is hard if we don't have role models that show that yes, it can happen.

And while I had a feeling that some things in this book would turn out the way they did, this doens't mean that this was all slapped together. This book made me cry at the right points, and feel for Vanessa at the right points, and all the feels were there.

And this is probably, although as the author says, she did not come from quite such a hard place as the Vanessa in this book, she too tried the beauty content route, and knows from where she speaks.

Well researched (I like that in an historical novel), and well written, and just wonderful.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

Engaging! Tami Charles has penned a masterpiece of black girl magic! With exceptional character development, it was easy to root for Vanessa and her family from beginning to end!

Instantly relatable for anyone that hasn't seen much representation of people that look like them in main stream media and entertainment outlets. Hits a lot of key points of being in eighth grade: puberty, mixed emotions, family secrets, friend groups changing, self-esteem; but in a new way that hasn't been over dramatized like in many other middle grade books.

I loved this book! I think this is a must-order for any public or middle-school library! Besides being a much-needed book with diverse characters and cultural authenticity, it is a wonderfully rich and multi-faceted story with a positive message about beauty and strength that will have readers reexamining their definitions of beauty and hopefully inspiring them to recognize their own natural beauty.

Set in the Newark projects in 1983, 13-year old Vanessa Martin, long-time Miss America pageant fan, is thrilled and inspired to see Vanessa Williams crowned as the first black Miss America (along with Miss New Jersey Suzette Charles, who was also black, as 1st runner-up). Vanessa dreams of one day being on the Miss America stage herself, though she wishes she fit the conventional standards of what is considered beautiful: long, wavy hair; light complexion, slender but curvy body. She sees her hair as too tightly coiled, her skin too dark, and her body too big and shapeless. But, an incredible voice, a school pageant, and a teacher who sees something special in her may come together to give her just the opportunity she needs to pursue her dream, IF she can find the confidence and courage.

While the central theme of this story may be facing fears and reexamining beauty, it includes several other issues that are all inter-related and part of the lives of Vanessa and her family, skillfully woven into the story and adding to it, rather than detracting from it as often happens when authors take on too much. We see the challenges of poverty, threats of gang violence, touching family relationships as well as difficult ones, how families are destroyed by drugs, and the lack of tolerance for those who were different. We also see typical middle school challenges of fitting in, being comfortable in your own skin, changing friendships, and learning how to recognize true friends.

This story has excellent character development, and I immediately fell in love with the characters of Vanessa, Pop Pop, and TJ. While Vanessa's father was a bit of an enigma and a somewhat unsympathetic character at first, I always had the feeling that his withdrawal from the family was the result of something painful and traumatic that had happened, that they were all keeping from Vanessa. I really loved the character of Vanessa's teacher, Mrs. Walton who turned out to be quite different from the well-intentioned but ill-prepared typical white teacher who wanted to "make a difference" but would quickly be overwhelmed and disappear before the end of the semester like so many others. The story moves along at the perfect pace; never dragging, but never rushed, either.

This story deals with some serious issues, but in an age-appropriate way that is not too graphic, nor bleak or disturbing. The overall tone is inspiring, challenging, and hopeful. The author includes some historical notes at the end about the Miss America pageant and Vanessa Williams, as well as about her own background growing up in Newark and competing in pageants herself, inspired like the character in the story by Vanessa Williams success. I always like it when an author includes historical context and background information. I recommend this book for ages 10 through 15, and I think many readers would find the themes relatable; fans of Rita Williams-Garcia's Gaither Sisters Series are sure to enjoy this book as well. I highly recommend it, and would not be surprised to see it as a Coretta Scott King finalist next year.

An impressive debut; I'm eager to see Ms. Charles' upcoming picture book and next middle-grade/YA novel due out in the next year or two.

I received an e-galley on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars

The synopsis reminded me of Dumplin' (a book I have yet to read) but with an own-voices twist. I really try to read more diverse books and look into lives that are completely different from mine.

Like Vanessa is such a book. The book follows 13 years old Vanessa who is a huge fan of the Miss America pageant. Especially, when in 1983 African American Vanessa Williams is crowned Miss America. Vanessa sees because of Williams that black girls can win too, can be beautiful too. (This just shows why diversity is important).

I really enjoyed this book especially the last third. The first part felt a bit slow paced to me but that might as be because I read only about one or two chapters a day. <spoiler>I really loved to see Vanessa's confidence grow.</spoiler> It was hard sometimes to see this girl struggle with a lot of things 13 year olds shouldn't worry about. However, the sad truth is lots of children do. It made it realistic. This book has a strong family element which I loved, too. Vanessa's family is imperfect in many ways but they make it work <spoiler> and in the end they are happy</spoiler>

This book is a gut-punch of emotional beauty. I cannot wait to share it with as many readers as would read it.

I don't think I've ever loved a middle-grade novel more than this. Or a character more than Vanessa. This girl is so real, strong, and amazing. I am so proud of her and she's not even a real person. <i>Like Vanessa</i>, set in the 1980s, discusses many societal problems that we still face today, such as racism, colorism, and homophobia. Everything is handled so well for the middle-grade audience, spoken with a strong, relatable voice of a girl who still has her own lessons to learn. <i> Like Vanessa</i> will tug on your heart. A great debut novel, I look forward to purchasing it for my library.

Simply excellent. I set this book down and immediately began the ordering process to purchase a copy for our library. Award-winning book lovers take note, this one is going to be appearing on honors lists.

Vanessa Martin's life is very different from that of Vanessa Williams. After seeing Williams crowned as the first black Miss America in 1984, Vanessa sees this as a source of hope in her own life. She lives in a struggling neighborhood with her uncommunicative father and her sometimes inebriated grandfather, since her mother is not in the picture. Vanessa tries to make sense of her world by writing in a diary she has named Darlene, and tries to imagine a better life for herself, but isn't quite sure where to start. When a teacher at school, Mrs. Walton, approaches Vanessa to enter a beauty pageant, she is very surprised. She is heavy, doesn't dress well, and is very dark skinned, and none of those things say "beauty queen" in Vanessa's world. Even her friend Tanisha, who is more interested in basketball lately, is a bit surprised. Vanessa is an excellent singer and a good student, and Mrs. Walton assures her that those are the two most crucial aspects of the pageant; the rest can be worked on. With the help of her cousin TJ, she learns to walk in heels, takes better care of her skin and hair, and starts to dress a bit more fashionably. She has a rocky relationship with Beatriz, another pageant contestant, and finds out more information about the elusive mother whom she misses. The pageant itself is not easy, but with some surprising reveals from Mrs. Walton, Vanessa learns to trust that her own abilities and motivation are enough to make a better life for herself.

Strengths: This book works for middle school or high school, which I really appreciate. Students today don't realize how very different things were in the 1980s, and there really isn't a whole lot of historical fiction covering this period, and although there are plenty of books written during that time, few cover the black experience. The inclusion and treatment of topics such as TJ's sexuality, perception of appearance, importance of church, and child abuse make this book a layered tour de force of Important Topics delivered with a sparkly layer of lip gloss! That's a good combination, especially for middle school students who may not be as accustomed to reading about social issues.

Weaknesses: The font on the cover could have so easily been a cool 1980s one. There are SO many. There could have been a few more 1980s details. I was uncomfortable with how much Vanessa's success was tied to her appearance, but that is absolutely true of the time period. It may take some explaining to students.

What I really think: This is a must purchase for middle schools and high schools, and will find a wide variety of readers. As for the importance of appearances-- perhaps we need a little more of that in the world today, if only so students would wear jeans instead of leggings or track pants to school! I was always able to go right from school, in my skirts or dresses, to work in the So-Fro Fabrics in the mall! (Below: I actually made the ensemble on the left in a turquoise cotton with a cream eyelet pinafore. And I wore it to school. And no one laughed. Different times. Image from Etsy. Probably a Simplicity pattern.)

I cannot say enough about this story. If you are looking for impactful culturally diverse YA, this is your book! I was totally immersed in the MC's life from the first few pages. Everything I want to rave about would be a spoiler, so this is a very short review.

I don’t care about pagents but I cared about Vanessa, and that’s an indication of how compelling this book is. It tackles tough topics without being preachy or heavy handed. I loved it!

This novel is an amazing coming of age story for our modern young adults. Not only does Vanessa grapple with the typical teenage issues like fitting in, being easily embarrassed, etc., but she also has to deal with being a young girl living in a pretty rough neighborhood and navigating her world without a mother figure in her life. All of these things are tough enough, but couple that with her low self-esteem and you find a young lady who has developed significant social issues and an unrelenting fear of water. This book was written for little black girls everywhere who have ever felt too dark, too tall, too big, or just too out of place. They need this book and it's wisdom. It has been long overdue.

I had the opportunity to read a digital ARC of this middle grade novel from NetGalley in exchange for this review. I was drawn to this story because the main character, Vanessa Martin, dreams of one day becoming Miss America after Vanessa Williams becomes the first black woman to win the crown in 1983. I was thirteen and an eighth grader in 1983 also, and so absolutely gobbled up all the cultural references sprinkled throughout the book.
I also remember what it was like to be that age, when other kids could be so snotty and mean to those who weren’t popular or good-looking like them. Vanessa studies hard to get good grades, would rather read a good book than run around with the popular girls, and has an awesome voice from singing in her church choir every Sunday. When her choir teacher, Mrs. Walton, pushes her to enter the First Annual Miss King Middle School Pageant, Vanessa reluctantly agrees to give it her best shot. It isn’t easy for her because her father is adamant that he does not want her to participate, her mother left the family many years before, and her grandfather (Pop Pop) and cousin (TJ) are the only ones at home to help her prepare.
The author does a good job of capturing the adolescent voice and drama of Vanessa’s character. I remember how terrifying it could be to sing for an audition on a stage in front of half the school, many of whom are whispering and giggling. Vanessa goes through so much during the preparations for this pageant: the pain of her family’s heartache from her mother’s absence, the growing pains of friendships being strained, and trying to become the kind of girl who wins competitions like this pageant. I love that kids from all backgrounds will be able to recognize themselves in Vanessa’s story. I think this would be a great book to share with kids in grades six and up.

Like Vanessa is a middle school grad novel about a girl named Vanessa. She feels trapped in her own world and has dreams to be like Vanessa Williams, the first black woman to win Miss America. She spends her days at school trying to stay unnoticed and confides her feelings in her diary called Darlene. Though she lives with family she feels slightly disconnected with them and longs for her mother who left and has never returned. The book has a smooth and almost lyrical narrative. Each section/chapter starts off with a diary entry from Vanessa, and then verse/poem such as this:

"Every night, I’m gonna whisper this poem to the wind. And just maybe those words will turn into reality. Make me beautiful. Free me from the darkness that makes the outside world see me as less than pretty . Take me back to the place where I was once happy. Because here in this jungle, there ain’t nothing but weeds and tears and dreams trapped beneath the asphalt."

Vanessa reads a lot of Toni Morrison and Maya Angelou and its feel reflected not only in her diary, but throughout the narrative.

Vanessa’s story of winning the pageant is not only a journey of self discovery of the woman she wants to become but also a journey of self-love. She shows us that it’s not always easy to love yourself since people have a tendency to pick out all of their faults. She also shows readers to cherish what gifts you have. It’s a heartwarming book sometimes tinged with sadness but it left me feeling wholesome.

I loved the overall theme of the story, how realistic the characters are and how smoothly the plot progresses. It gives readers a message about beauty standards:

"You can’t buy beauty or pray for it to come in the form of what you see on the television screen. Beauty is just something you gotta be."

I normally don’t like verse within a novel but I felt it really added to the general writing style and narrative. The author does a great job of creating a richly diverse book with a strong narrative. I love how she took her own experiences of participating in pageant shows as source material and based characters off of people she knew. It made the story more personal.

This wonderful story is about Vanessa who wants to be Miss America. She learns to find her own beauty and her own voice from her family and a trusted advisor as well as try to find out some of the things her family has been keeping from her. This will find an excellent audience in middle school and high school girls.

Thank you to Charlesbridge Publishing and Netgalley for the free advance Kindle copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 for this amazing, important story by Tami Charles . Vanessa Martin is given hope when Vanessa Williams becomes the first black woman to win the Miss America pageant. Even though her own mom, a former beauty queen, has left her family in the projects of Newark, Vanessa still dreams of competing in pageants. Constantly told that she is too dark and too big, she almost doesn’t even try out for her middle school’s pageant. With the help of her family and a special teacher, she is able to see that her own inner and outer beauty is just right. This is such an important story and should be in all library collections. Library friends - this is out TOMORROW 🙌🏻 (3/13/18), so be sure to add it to your collections. I already have a few readers in mind for this one!

Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

What an excellent historical fiction middle grade book, and from a debut author, too!

To me, this is a book about relationships. The relationship that Vanessa has with her own body, with each member of her family, with her friends (and enemies), and the world around her are central themes. It's a story in which many little girls who want to part of a beauty pageant growing up will see themselves, and yet the issue of race adds a unique perspective with challenges that many readers likely haven't considered before.

I would definitely recommend adding this book to a middle school collection. There is so much to learn, and discuss, from the subject matter it addresses, and the writing makes it extremely enjoyable to read.

Like Vanessa is a lovely confection of a book, perfect for middle-grade readers. Not too dense, but substantial enough to not be forgettable.

Like Vanessa

by Tami Charles

Charlesbridge

Children’s Fiction , Middle Grade

Pub Date 13 Mar 2018

I am reviewing a copy of Like Vanessa through Charlesbridge and Netgalley:

This semi autobiographical novel Like Vanessa is set in public housing in Newark New Jersey. Vanessa Martin’s life is a far cry from Vanessa Williams the first African American women to stand on the stage and be crowned Miss America.

Vanessa struggles with a Mother she doesn’t really know, a Grandfather whose an alcoholic as well as a battle with self confidence. A new teacher ends up setting up a pageant which helps Vanessa gain self confidence and perhaps find out more about herself and her family.

I would definitely recommend Like Vanessa to the Middle grade girl in your life.

Five out of five stars!

Happy Reading

Character driven coming of age story of thirteen year old Vanessa, who is growing up in the projects with her bitter father, loving but alcoholic grandfather, and teenage brother. This is also the year that Vanessa Williams became the first African American to win the Miss America Contest. Several subplots explore Vanessa's quest to know who her mother was, who her new music teach is, and who her brother will be. All this as she finds her herself. Love this book.

This is a great middle grade/YA novel! I love the setting and the time period of the early-mid 80's. I've never seen any fiction about the impact of Vanessa Williams as our fist Black Miss America and this is a refreshing way that it's being represented. I will be recommending this book. Please keep publishing books like this.

A lovely portrait of young womanhood. I loved Vanessa's fresh, honest, unique voice. Recommended!!

“Her words take me by surprise. No one’s ever wanted to be like me. Heck, until very recently, I didn’t even want to be like me.”‬
‪This book is about so much more than a beauty pageant... family, friends, and learning to ♥️ yourself. You’ll end up cheering Vanessa on too! #MGlit