Dazzling teen novel gives off an Ally Condie or Scott Westerfield vibe.
“A few noses wrinkled as if ugliness smelled bad.” For Alina, this treatment from her peers is part of her daily routine in Pria. Why can’t she be as wonderful as all the other girls her age? Why is she the only one with an occasional blemish on her skin or that seems to leak unnaturally every month? Everybody in Pria is consumed with their own beauty, their next tryst, their fantastic athletic skills and amazing bodies, and their unending perfect lives. All of which seem to elude Alina. Not only is she scorned at school, but her caretaker is becoming more standoffish, rarely having a meaningful conversation with Alina. Suddenly, she has a realization. She doesn’t just feel different; she is different and is a threat to the perfect veneer plastered over Pria.
The Perfect Outcast is a young adult marvel that explores a beautifully flawed girl and her place in society. This dazzling teen novel gives off an Ally Condie or Scott Westerfield vibe while introducing readers to the shiny, glamorous land of Pria. From shimmering trees and crystal birds to humans with extraordinary athletic prowess, Alina’s world seems like a utopia. But Hansen helps readers, through Alina’s eyes, to realize that flawless skin and boundless energy aren’t nearly as important in life as the freedom to make choices. The emergence of an independent, decisive, and confident Alina is the most edifying part of this fun dystopian story. If you’ve ever felt like you don’t always fit in, The Perfect Outcast is a brilliant and wondrous tale that provides a little perspective on issues that plague us all.
