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Short Summary The Way I Used to Be by Amber Smith is a raw, emotional journey that explores trauma, resilience, and healing, as it follows a young girl’s struggle to regain her sense of self after a life-altering event shatters her innocence. Book Information Title : The Way I Used to Be Author : Amber Smith ISBN : 978-1481449366 Genre : Young Adult, Contemporary, Realistic Fiction, Romance, Coming of Age Published : 2016 Detailed Summary Amber Smith’s The Way I Used to Be tells the story of Eden McCrorey , a high school freshman whose life is forever changed after a traumatic incident. Through Eden’s story, the novel explores profound themes of identity, trauma, recovery, and resilience as she navigates the long and painful road to healing. Told in four parts, each representing a year in high school, the novel illustrates Eden's transformation as she tries to cope with her trauma and piece together her fractured identity. 1. Freshman Year: Innocence Shattered The book begins wit...

One-Sentence Summary : North of Beautiful by Justina Chen is a heartwarming and introspective young adult novel about self-acceptance, family dynamics, and discovering inner beauty in the face of external imperfections. North of Beautiful Author: Justina Chen ISBN: 9780316025058 Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Coming of Age, Romance Published Year: 2009 Introduction to North of Beautiful North of Beautiful is a contemporary young adult novel that centers on the themes of beauty, self-worth, and the personal journeys of acceptance. The protagonist, Terra Cooper , is a high school student who struggles with her self-image due to a prominent birthmark on her face. Despite her efforts to conform to society’s expectations of physical beauty, Terra learns that true beauty comes from within, and her journey to self-acceptance is intertwined with family issues, romantic relationships, and personal growth. The novel skillfully explores the impact of societal standards of beauty and the pres...