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1) Like Vanessa
Author
Language
English
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Description
It is 1983 and Vanessa Martin, a thirteen-year-old African American girl in Newark's public housing, dreams of following in the footsteps of the first black Miss America, Vanessa Williams; but with a dysfunctional family (mother in jail, father withdrawn, drunken grandfather, gay cousin) the odds are against her--until a new teacher at school organizes a beauty pageant and encourages Vanessa to enter.
Author
Language
English
Appears on list
Description
After her father runs off with a dental hygienist, Raymie Clarke decides it is up to her to repair her family. She plans to win the Little Miss Central Florida Tire competition so her father will see her picture in the paper and come home. However, Raymie has competition in Beverly Tapinski and Louisiana Elefante. All of the girls want to win the pageant for different reasons, and none ever imagined they would become friends.