Outside Beauty by Cynthia Kadohata
November 9, 2008 — Mary Childs
Shelby is 13, has three sisters and a mom who happens to be Japanese-American, and who has led an “interesting” life–Shelby and her sisters all have different fathers. They have all been taught by their mother that what’s important in life is how they look. That causes Shelby some concern because she doesn’t feel as pretty as her sisters. What value does she have if she isn’t pretty?
Everything and everyone gets tested when Shelby’s mother is in a bad car accident and ends up in the hospital for a long period of time recovering from disfiguring facial wounds among other physical damage . Since none of the sisters are old enough to be responsible on their own, they all have to go live with their own fathers, and some of the fathers aren’t so great. The months spent with their fathers teach them all, including the fathers, what a strong bond the sisters have with each other and the relative importance of “outside beauty” in their lives.
This story really presents a different type of “family” and I’m not sure a similar family in real life would get along as well as these sisters do. Perhaps I’m being too judgmental and difficult situations bring children together. What do you think?
