Beautiful Outsider

When being beautiful becomes your biggest obstacle, how do you find where you truly belong? Seventeen-year-old Allison Reed thought moving from small-town Montana to suburban Colorado would be her chance for a fresh start. What she didn't expect was that her natural beauty would make her a target before she even walked through the doors of Jefferson High. Girls are intimidated by her looks. Boys either worship her or assume she's out of their league. Everyone thinks they know who she is based on her appearance alone. Desperate to find her place, Allison tries out for the lacrosse team despite never having played the sport—and discovers she has real talent. But team captain Veronica Chen sees Allison as a threat to everything she's worked for. What starts as cold shoulders and "accidental" hits during practice soon escalates into a calculated campaign of harassment that extends far beyond the lacrosse field. When Veronica's attacks threaten not just Allison's safety but her academic future and college prospects, Allison realizes she has two choices: run away like others before her, or fight back. With the help of unexpected allies—including Marcus, the thoughtful artist who sees past her surface to who she really is—Allison must find the courage to stand up for herself and others. But taking on one of the school's most popular students means risking everything she's worked to build. Beautiful Outsider is a powerful story about finding your voice when the world wants to reduce you to your appearance, learning that true strength comes from authenticity, and discovering that sometimes the most important battles are the ones that teach you who you're meant to become. Perfect for fans of Dumplin', The Hate U Give, and Eleanor & Park