Hysterical Blondeness
*Starred Review* Patricia Stillwell isn't satisfied with her looks. She leads a happy life, living with her friends Pinky and Paul. But Patricia wants to be noticed by Brett Nordquist, the son of the owner of the upscale department store where she works. To lose weight fast, she signs up for a trial study involving a drug that has an unexpected side effect: her hair turns platinum everywhere on her body. Now a "natural" blond, Patricia has that glamorous look that makes men stare and women glare. Brett asks her out and promotes her to the fine jewelry counter. But her faithful roommate, Paul, finds that his friendship has turned to love and vows that she'll never marry her rich playboy. Macpherson's tale of friendship and loyalty is filled with witty repartee and cinematic references, and the three main characters are exceptional. Funny, poignant, and clever, this story of an ugly duckling who was a much better person before she became a swan demonstrates that metamorphosis isn't necessarily beneficial and that beauty can be highly overrated.Shelley MosleyCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved