Like Vanessa

Like Vanessa

By Tami Charles

Expected to publish March 13, 2018, by Charlesbridge

I received a copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Goodreads description of Like Vanessa

Like Vanessa is the middle school version of Moxie. It is a no-nonsense story of a young eighth-grade girl growing up in the “hood.” At the beginning of the story, Nessy, and her very dysfunctional family: Pop Pop and TJ are watching the Miss America Pageant.  Vanessa Williams is the first black Miss America.   Nessy is so thrilled because she is now one step closer to her dream of becoming Miss America.  The only problem is Nessy is nothing like Queen Vanessa Williams.

Like Vanessa is the story of Nessy’s journey from watching Miss America on the couch to being in her middle school’s pageant. Nessy must learn how to deal with her skin color, her dysfunctional family, her imperfect body and all the other stress of being in middle school.

I enjoyed reading this book.  I really like how the author, Tami  Charles, made me feel like I was right there with Nessy-feeling all her highs and lows in life.  Nessy is a very lovable character that all middle school girls will be able to relate. It is a book, which once I started, I found it very hard to put down.

I also like the fact that there is a middle school teacher that takes Nessy under her wing and helps mold her into a charming young woman.