Rating: 
Summary: "Beauty Queen" doesn't even get on the runway.
Review: I really wanted to like this book--I really did especially after having read the diary, "Go Ask Alice" which had been a powerful book when I was a teenager. Glovich's character, Samantha, however, comes across even more insipid that the "anonymous" author of "Go Ask Alice."Samantha comes from a broken home; her divorced mother is an alcoholic who lives with a greasy ex-con who is always making sexual advances to Samantha. To escape from this nightmarish world of abuse and neglect, she becomes a stripper who quickly spirals downward into the seedy world of heroin addiction. What makes her entries so pathetic is that she continually refers to her drug as her "magic potion" and continuously gives herself injections in almost every entry. She does so much heroin that I was genuinely surprised that she didn't die about halfway through the book. I found myself feeling nothing for her or her predicament. Her insipid ramblings got so bad that I wanted to stop reading more than once, but I continued to read it in the hopes that it would get better, but I was wrong. The back cover features a quick note from Glovich which details her own struggle with heroin addiction as she wrote this book in order to experience the Hell that her young character experiences. It's too bad that Glovich didn't chronicle her own experience rather than try to attempt writing this YA novel. If _I_ were a young adult reading this book, I'd probably laugh all the way through it--_that's_ how poorly written it is. It's unfortunate that this book is so poorly written because its premise sounded so good. As a Children's Librarian I try to read as many Young Adult and Juvenile fiction as I can. I certainly wouldn't recommend it for _my_ library due to its poor quality.
Rating: 
Summary: This book was very daring and good.
Review: Even though this book was a bit of a daring thing, I thought it was very good. It shows you what can happen to you when you are addicted to heroin, and what your life becomes. Sam is a character that you love because she has a problem with self-esteem and needs help with it, even if that help is herion. You just want her to feel better and get back to the way she used to be, nice and not in any real trouble or sadness. The topless dancer part goes right in with the herion, and the whole book just fits in together.
Rating: 
Summary: Good...but it was missing a few things.
Review: From people I know that have used heroin, and many other books I've read on the subject, my understanding is that a person usually gets sick a few times before they become entirely addicted. Sam seemed to get hooked very quickly after being shot up once. Also, Angelo the gangster was a great character, but I found it hard to believe that he would risk his persona to "publish" Sam's diary. Of course, that would give him legitimacy. Lastly, I would have liked more illustrations of Sam getting dope sick. I think the powerful descriptions of what the body goes through in withdrawal sends a strong message out to kids who are romanced by the notion of being "junkie cool." Anyway, I really enjoyed the book and I will recommend it to a lot of the kids at the high school I work at. The message does come through loud and clear, only I would have liked a few more elements expanded. I hope the author writes some more!
Rating:
Summary: another sad story of drug abuse
Review: It has been 26 years since the publication of Go Ask Alice and it seems like the storyline of: teenager + drug abuse = death is still worthy of publication. This time the drug of choice is heroin. Many people will not want their children to read books like this, they'll say it will foster the mindset of promotion of drug abuse, but I don't think that is true. I have never taken drugs, and reading about a person taking drugs has never prompted me to indulge. (I have also seen 1000's of acts of violence on Tv and in the movies, and I have yet to committ felonious assault.) If you deciede to read this book, please read Go Ask Alice too. If this book does not scare you, then I'm not sure what would.
Rating:
Summary: "Beauty Queen" is a serious book about heroin.
Review: "Beauty Queen" tells you about the truths and horror of a killer drug, heroin. Reading this book showed me how one girl dealt with her addiction and the life as a stripper. It was sad to know how much she relied on heroin, her "magic potion," and not even think she has a problem until her addiction catches up with her. Reading this book will show you how a lot of people don't understand the dangers of heroin, and the serious damage it can do to a person like this.
Rating:
Summary: LUved it
Review: i really enjoyed reading this book. sum parts where a little scary to me because sometimes. but overall it was was really good. one of those books u can't wait to see wat happens next or even fears wat happens next.
Rating: 
Summary: Dark Journey -- You'll get pulled in!,
Review:
When 19-year-old Samantha Strasbourg is dumped by her boyfriend Teddy she thinks life is completely over. The daughter of an alcoholic mother and a hock player father who abandoned both of them, Sam struggles to accept the depression that has taken over her life. In a search to gain independence from her mother and her mothers' predatory boyfriend Sam moves into her own apartment and starts the journey to become an actress.
Along the way Sam continues to see a therapist and although she would like to salvage some sort of relationship with her mother she realizes that this may never happen. Her mother continues to abuse drugs and alcohol and allows her abusive boyfriend to squander her money. Sam and her best friend Nicole decide to start working at a topless club (The Web)to make more money and while they are bother underage Sam dances and Nicole trains to become a bartender.
On Sam's first night of dancing, she realizes she is too nervous to take her top off. Behind stage, Sam sees a fellow dancer using heroin. Sam does join her and immediately becomes addicted to the feeling created by the heroin. Sam writes in her journal that she can only take off her top is she has shot up heroin. She writes that she loves the way the drug makes her feel and dance.
Sam meets a man, Angelo, who is a regular at The Web. Sam and Angelo become very close. He is extremely wealthy (could it be because he is a wiseguy??) and buys Sam whatever she wants. Sam resists telling Angelo about the heroin. Later on in the book, Sam starts a sexual relationship with a cop named Blaine. Although Sam thinks that Blaine is fabulous, Nicole, Angelo, and everyone else at The Web disagree. Sam disregards everyone's warnings and continues to see Blaine. Her heartbreak when things don't work out leaders her deeper into the world of heroin use. This book really pulled me in, and it is a thrilling reading experience I must recommend. Other recent books I loved include: Ghostworld, The Losers' Club by Richard Perez.
Rating:
Summary: Come as you are
Review: Beauty queen is one of the best books i have read in a long time. It shares the ups and downs of heroin, and shows how it can ruin your life.
This book was all around wonderful. Happy moments, sad moments, everything a book should have, defiently a five star rating.
These are the kind of books i love to read, and i am 15.
I recommend this book to everyone!
Rating: 
Summary: could have
Review: This book could have been so much better. It seems like the author was too high off her Heroin addiction (read the back of the book) to make this a really good story. Everything was predictable and drab. I feel sorry for Sam but I did not feel for the character or the story as it progressed along.
Rating:
Summary: eye opener>>amazing
Review: A friend handed me the book in the library as a joke because of the title. I read the back, and it sounded interesting. When I read this book, I didn't want to put it down. Clich? or not, I think it was very good. It shows how trying drugs once to help you relax can lead to needing it all the time.
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