Beauty+Queens

Bray, L. (2011). //Beauty Queens.// New York, NY: Scholastic Press

**Summary**: //Beauty Queens// is about a group of Beauty Queens whose plane crashes on a deserted island. The girls then have to survive. During the course of their survival, the girls change and grow. The reader learns that The Corporation, which is putting on the show, has decided not to look for the girls, but is not letting the world know that. Then a ship of ‘pirates’ from a British reality TV show ends up on the island, and the girls revert to their old ways. One night the boys leave. The girls discover a Corporation outpost on their island. The outpost is responsible for selling weapons to a third world country. When the Corporation discovers the girls, they reorganize a new beauty pageant. However, the girls have other plans, and will use the pirates to foil The Corporation’s plans.

**Critique**: This book covers so many topics. The first and largest is social commentary. The book includes ‘commercials’ and other ‘breaks’ that provide the reader with information that the contestants do not have. The book begins with “A Word from Your Sponsors” where it mentions the “U.S. department of Unnecessary Statistics.” It also addresses stereotypes, as the beauty queens mimic stereotypes about the states/areas they come from. The book also addresses discrimination through the introduction of gay, deaf, mulit-ethnic and transgender characters. The book does this by offering the multiple points of view. The book also introduces a mini-dystopia that will appeal to girls and pair well with more serious //1984,// George Orwell, or //Farhenheit// 451//,// Ray Bradbury. The ridiculousness of this book is, honestly, what appealed to many of the students I read it with. We all read it with “Is this really happening” expressions on our faces. Then our minds became blown with the ending.

Language Arts: Math: Science: Social Studies: Physical Education: Music:
 * Multiple Point of View/Frame of Reference
 * Social Commentary
 * Dystopia
 * Discrimination
 * Views of Beauty
 * Satire
 * Populations on Resources
 * Economics
 * Survival Techniques
 * Populations
 * Advertisement / Power of the Media
 * Cultures of the Caribbean
 * Social Commentary
 * Discrimination
 * Corporations
 * Survival Techniques
 * Boy Bands