Such a Pretty Girl [Paperback]

A darkly compelling novel about a young woman who must defend herself against her abusive father. “In the character of Meredith, Laura Wiess has created a girl to walk alongside Harper Lee’s Scout and J.D. Salinger’s Phoebe. Read this novel, and you will be changed forever” (New York Timesbestselling author Luanne Rice).

They promised Meredith nine years of safety, but only gave her three.

Her father was supposed to be locked up until Meredith turned eighteen. She thought she had time to grow up, get out, and start a new life. But Meredith is only fifteen, and today her father is coming home from prison.

Today her time has run out.DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Meredith frequently refers to numbers throughout the novel -- how many tiles there are in the bathroom, the amount of multivitamins she takes, and four being her safety number. Why does Meredith find such comfort in numbers?
2. Discuss the theme of paralysis inSuch a Pretty Girland how it applies to each character.
3. Ms. Mues shields me just to thwart my father. She doesn't really care for me. She's a plotter, a planner and what better way to avenge her son than to destroy her enemy's daughter? To gain my trust and use me to achieve her goal, much like my father used Andy... (page 73). Do you think this is true? What is Ms. Mues's motivation for moving into Meredith's neighborhood?
4. Four is my best number, but there are four years between my parents too, and I would rather fall down dead than find out we're anything like them (page 74). How is the relationship between Andy and Meredith different than the relationship between Meredith's parents? Do you think Meredith is repeating her mother's mistake?
5. A victim soul is a pious individual chosen to absorb the suffering o f others (page 86). Who do you think acts as the victim soul in this novel? Does this person accept his/her role willingly?
6. Andy's demons chase him julÏ