Bennett, Sophia. The Look.

Bennett, Sophia.  The Look.   Scholastic/Chicken House      2013  327p  $17.99  ISBN 978-0-545-46438-3      ms/hs  Realistic Fiction E-BN 

Ted, 15 years old, and her sister Ava, 17 years old, are busking on the streets of London to try to make a few dollars because money is scarce at home since dad lost his job.  When a talent scout for a modeling agency notices Ted and starts photographing her, she is totally confused, as she has always thought her older sister was the fashion icon.  A short time later, Ava is diagnosed with leukemia, and the family enters a new state of fragility.  As Ted, at first secretly, then later with parental approval, becomes a sought-after model, she must balance her concern for her sister, her school work, and her modeling gigs. This is an insightful look at the modeling industry and the way it treats teenage models, as well as a heartwarming story of family love and bonding.  The poignancy of an illness changing the relationships within a family, the close connection and support between sisters, and laugh-out-loud moments based on the naivety of Ted as she enters the modeling world make this book a page turner. While the ending, involving the love interests of both sisters, may be somewhat predictable, the reader will overlook this minor flaw due to the strength of character displayed by both Eva and Ted. A heartwarming as well as satisfying read. An intriguing book jacket will cause the book browser to stop and consider the book based solely on the cover.         

Fashion Modeling                                                  --Lois McNicol