When D.U.F.F. first came out, I had been really excited to see it anmd regret saying it took until now to actually read it. I remember so many books being out when I was a younger teen on serious issues girls were truly facing in day to day life, but they'd seemed to have disappeared from the main stream. I finally bought this book about 3 hours ago and blewe right through. Immediately I felt for our main character, I instantley recalled how it'd felt when I'd realized I was the ugly friend and how shocking it was when one of my beautiful friends got angry at me for being pretty with little effort. I also remebered the shame I felt when I ran into the arms of a boy because I thought that would validate me and my worth. I'm so excited to see so much empowering literature becoming popular for teens in a time when they need it most, when we hit our 20's we forget how hard high school was and laugh at kids struggling, not remember the support we silently sought.
D.U.F.F picks up immediately in a great first person from Bianca's point of view. Sitting miserably alone at a bar turned teen hangout, while her gorgeous friends dance it up. Being her usual bitter, cynical self, enter Wesley, the gorgeous school playboy. Only adding to her irritation, he stays and talks and informs her how hot her friends are and him talking to her makes him look good. Now we get her new vocab word introduction, D.U.F.F. - Designated Ugly Fat Friend. B knew she wasn't the pretty one in her group but that harsh realization gets under her skin, coupled with issuers at home, her stress boils over and she finds herself liplocked with Wesley at the "bar" - thankfully the only drink on tap is soda. Wesley responds eagerly, until Bianca dumps her soda on him and bolts. The next week at school is agonizing as all she can think about are Wesley's hands and lips. As their secret relationship quickly escalates, she has finally found a sure fire to completely escape all her problems. Barely speaking to her friends or accepting the way her home life is drastically changing B can't keep up with her new drug and does some more running away. Right into the arms of the boy she has had a crush on for a few years - polite, sweet, reliable and cautious Toby is everything Wesley isn't. But is that what she really wants? When a realization rocks her world, everyone has been or felt like the DUFF, there's no escaping it' but it doesn't define who you are. While Bianaca finds herself and what she wants she realizes this isn't a crappy romance movie, this is real life and the only one who can save you is in fact yourself.
This is such a powerful book, applicable to literally anyone who is or was a teen girl at any point. It reminds us of how lost we were and how important our friends are and how life changing self love can be. After reading this book, I curled into myself and hugged sad teenage Ashley and commended her strength and courage because high school isn't easy Teaching everyone to love themselves for who they are and not letting labels destroy or define you. Slut, whore, bitch, tease, ditz, D.U.F.F. - thy're all just words people use to make themselves feel better (taken straight from the book) Kody has given all girls a voice. No matter how popular, smart, pretty or whatever, a girl is, we are all fighting the same battle so be kind. You never know what someone says to their own reflection. Read this book and embrace yourself, whether you're in high school now or in your 20's or even older. Do yourself the favor of self love.
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