At some point in the last couple of years I thought I saw this book on a Paris in July post but I couldn't find it anywhere when I was looking for it again recently. Wherever I heard about it, I have borrowed the book from the library a couple of times before finally picking it up to read recently. I couldn't return it without actually reading it again!
Mireille is somewhat disappointed to learn that she has only come third in the annual Piglettes competition which is the online competition for the ugliest girl at school. After all, she has won it for the last two years. Whilst Mirielle is, of course, hurt by this title she now does her best to own it in defiance of the bullies, especially Milo, the boy who started the contest who also was one of her close friends when they were much younger. She puts on a great show of defiance, but still.
The other two finalists, Astrid and Hakima, have more understandable reactions to the "honour". Astrid has only moved to the school in the previous year and Hakima is a couple of years younger than the other two and both are very hurt. When Astrid visits Mirielle, they decide to approach the other girl and so a new friendship is born.
The three girls live in the small town of Bourg-en-Brasse. Mirreille lives with her mother and her step-father but her greatest wish is to meet her real father who happens to be married to a very important politician. When she finds out that her father is going to be at the Presidential picnic in Paris on July 14 she decides that she wants to go Paris and crash the picnic. Astrid and Hakima both have their own reasons for wanting to be at that same party. For Astrid, it is the opportunity to meet her all time favourite rock band, Indochine, and for Hakima it is to confront the general who sent her soldier brother into danger while on active military service. Whilst 10 of his men were killed, her brother survived but is now wheelchair bound and no longer leaves the house.
Decision made, the challenge is to decide how to get to Paris and how they are going to fund their trip. In answer to those questions, the girls decide to ride bikes pulling a trailer from which they are going to sell three different types of home made sausages, including a vegetarian version in honour of Hakima's religious beliefs. And so begins a grand adventures which will challenge them, build their friendships, provide new adventures and life lessons. Of course, three young girls can't undertake this kind of journey by themselves. They are accompanied by Hakima's brother, who Mireille calls The Sun, who completes the journey in his wheelchair.
Whilst the sausage selling is a key foodie aspect of the story, it's not the only one. Mireille's grandparents own a successful restaurant and so good food has always been important to her. There are plenty of other food restaurants and there was even a destination that the girls visited en route purely because of the love of one particular type of cheese.
One reason why this is an unusual read for me is that this is a YA book. Once upon a time I would read the occasional YA novel but according to my statistics this is only my second YA novel in more than 10 years.
I really enjoyed a lot of things about this book. I really enjoyed the road trip aspects with visits to several different towns, riding through the Loire valley and different adventures along the way. I did love the way that the girls were able to build their friendship and support each other.
I did struggle a little bit with the whole premise because it was so cruel. And it wasn't only just the initial contest. As the trip continues, the media attention increases and there were plenty of comments from other people about the girls being fat and ugly. It is something that you can see on social media everywhere these days, especially when you read the comments on posts and articles. I also didn't love the way that Mireille spoke to and about her mother and stepfather, but I guess I am viewing that through my lens as a mother rather than through the eyes of a 15 year old girl who is hurting and who just wants to be acknowledged by her father.
This book was a real mixed bag. There was so much to like about it with adventure, humour, food and friendship!
One interesting thing about this book is that it was originally published in French under the title Les Petites Reines, and the author did her own translation into English!
I am sharing this review with Paris in July hosted by Emma at Word and Peace, with the Books in Translation challenge hosted at The Introverted Reader and with Foodies Read hosted at Based on a True Story.
Saturday - Chilli (new)
Sunday - Steak Eggs and Chips
Monday - "Fired" Chicken, mash, broccoli and gravy
Tuesday - Bacon, Vegetable and Risoni Soup
Wednesday - Salad Dressing Chicken and Rice
Thursday - Spaghetti Bolognaise
Friday - Takeaway
