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Pretty Like Us by Carol Lynch Williams

Pretty Like Us; Carol Lynch Williams; Atlanta, GA: Peachtree, 2008; 183 pp.

A simply told story, Pretty Like Us is about the friendship that develops between Beauty, who is painfully shy, and the new student, Alane, who is battling a life-threatening disease called progeria. Both girls have dealt with being social outcasts, and while Alane has learned to rise above it, Beauty finds herself terrified to befriend Alane. However, in the end, Beauty finds strength through her relationship with Alane and learns she is braver than she ever imagined.

This is a heartwarming and gentle story that has great heart. It's an excellent book that shows true beauty comes from within. Two thumbs up.

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