Caught up in the world of fashion and make-up, Kim is obsessed with her image. Every decision she makes centres around her appearance. Kim is the focus of her world, and she sees and treats her "friends" as a means to help her reach her goal of becoming "Barbie." Her boyfriend, Jay, is good to have around because he compliments her good looks, and her friend Julie can take pictures. Typical of many this age, Kim feels that no one understands her, including her parents and, with the exception of her family studies teacher, Ms. Ferris, neither do any of her teachers. In her quest for that perfect modelling job, Kim sacrifices everything else: she cuts school, lies to her parents, and steals money from her college account. It is only when she is "caught in a lie" that she finally begins to realize what is truly important and really to see the people in her life for who they truly are.

      I would recommend this book as a good read for any young girl. Speaking through Kimberly Rainer, Sylvia McNicoll captures the spirit of a 14-year-old and clearly develops the main character and her journey to finding herself. The conflicts that Kim faces are believable and are reflective not only of today's misplaced emphasis on the physical but also of situations common today. Kim's experience with the Chevron Agency and Elaine Chev are echos of similar scams that seem all too frequently reported on the evening news. However, McNicoll, although realistic, chooses not to dwell on the negative. The lessons that Kim learns are gentle reminders to all of us: things are not always what they appear, and physical beauty is only skin deep.

Recommended.