A review by smw33
Miss Meteor by Anna-Marie McLemore, Tehlor Kay Mejia
4.0
Miss Meteor by Tehlor Kay Mejia & Anna-Marie McLemore
Miss Meteor is about two girls who were best friends. One of those girls was literally made from stardust, caused by the meteor after which the town was named. Lita is about to turn back into stardust and endeavors to make the most of the time she has left. Chicky, her former best friend, wants to prove that girls who look like them can compete alongside Barbie clones in the town’s all-important beauty pageant.
The book goes back and forth between perspectives (Chicky and Lita), each author writing one of the characters. I appreciate this as it gives the reader further insight into the characters and events in the book. We get to witness the struggles each girl faces in the keeping of their respective secrets. These aren’t secrets to the reader, but to each other as well as the other people with whom they interact.
These authors created realistic characters with whom the reader empathizes. Teenagers identify with the complicated nature of identity, friendships, and hardships. Adults remember this time in their lives and empathize with these concepts. Readers of any age easily become emotionally invested.
This book contains queer characters! One of the main characters is pansexual. I’ve only ever seen this type of queer person in one other book. As a pansexual myself, I greatly appreciate this addition. Miss Meteor also includes a transgender character. Aspects of the book cover these topics due to the importance with regard to character identity. The authors notably do not use queer bodies as plot points. I appreciate this as well.
This is a well-executed plot that incorporates magical realism alongside contemporary realism. I would consider this book an easy read. One gets absorbed into the story, invested in the characters, and intrigued by the plot.
Miss Meteor is about two girls who were best friends. One of those girls was literally made from stardust, caused by the meteor after which the town was named. Lita is about to turn back into stardust and endeavors to make the most of the time she has left. Chicky, her former best friend, wants to prove that girls who look like them can compete alongside Barbie clones in the town’s all-important beauty pageant.
The book goes back and forth between perspectives (Chicky and Lita), each author writing one of the characters. I appreciate this as it gives the reader further insight into the characters and events in the book. We get to witness the struggles each girl faces in the keeping of their respective secrets. These aren’t secrets to the reader, but to each other as well as the other people with whom they interact.
These authors created realistic characters with whom the reader empathizes. Teenagers identify with the complicated nature of identity, friendships, and hardships. Adults remember this time in their lives and empathize with these concepts. Readers of any age easily become emotionally invested.
This book contains queer characters! One of the main characters is pansexual. I’ve only ever seen this type of queer person in one other book. As a pansexual myself, I greatly appreciate this addition. Miss Meteor also includes a transgender character. Aspects of the book cover these topics due to the importance with regard to character identity. The authors notably do not use queer bodies as plot points. I appreciate this as well.
This is a well-executed plot that incorporates magical realism alongside contemporary realism. I would consider this book an easy read. One gets absorbed into the story, invested in the characters, and intrigued by the plot.