Project and content management for Contemporary Authors volumes
WORK TITLE: All Out of Pretty
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: http://www.ingridpalmer.com/
CITY:
STATE: CO
COUNTRY: United States
NATIONALITY: American
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Born in OH; married; children: two sons.
EDUCATION:Graduated from Denver Publishing Institute; Northwestern University, M.A.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
Ingrid Palmer is an American writer and freelance editor. Born in Ohio, she graduated from the Denver Publishing Institute. Palmer also earned a master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University.
Palmer published the novel All Out of Pretty in 2018. After Andrea’s loving grandmother dies, she is forced to move out of the home by her drug-addicted mother, Ayla. Ayla attempts to earn an income by taking money from the men she sleeps with, while Andrea begins living out of a car. Ayla’s new boyfriend, Judd, allows both women to move in with him, but Andrea is forced to become complicit in his drug selling business by packaging and distributing them. As things begin to spiral out of control in her life and as Judd becomes more physically abusive, Andrea decides that she must extract herself from her situation by attending college, reluctantly abandoning her mother. She worries, though, that she may be losing her forever in the process.
A contributor to Kirkus Reviews stated: “Though her struggles are hard to read about, Andrea is both flawed and fierce enough to pull readers through them with her.” Writing in Voice of Youth Advocates, Charla Hollingsworth claimed that “All Out of Pretty is a bleak novel at times; but it is realistic.” Hollingsworth also noted that it “could serve as bibliotherapy by single readers.” Booklist contributor Enobong Essien found the novel to be “an exciting introduction to a talented writer.” Essien insisted that “this is a gripping read.” In a review in School Library Journal, Rachel Reinwald remarked that “there are no wasted words, and the mounting events will keep readers on the edge of their seats.” Writing on the Foreword Reviews website, Hannah Hohman pointed out that “Andrea is a complicated protagonist who draws out protectiveness and sympathy from her audience even as her actions veer into deeply questionable territory.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, February 15, 2018, Enobong Essien, review of All Out of Pretty, p. 74.
Kirkus Reviews, February 15, 2018, review of All Out of Pretty.
School Library Journal, February 1, 2018, Rachel Reinwald, review of All Out of Pretty, p. 107.
Voice of Youth Advocates, February 1, 2018, Charla Hollingsworth, review of All Out of Pretty, p. 59.
ONLINE
Foreword Reviews, https://www.forewordreviews.com/ (May 16, 2018), Hannah Hohman, review of All Out of Pretty.
Ingrid Palmer website, http://www.ingridpalmer.com (June 2, 2018).
Originally from Ohio, Ingrid Palmer has always had a touch of the pioneer spirit. She once crewed a sailboat through the Georgian Bay, drove sled dogs in Quebec, and went river rafting in Germany. These days, she writes young adult novels in the small Colorado mountain town where she lives with her husband, two sons, and a cat that likes to play fetch.
When not writing books or enjoying the great outdoors, Ingrid works as a freelance editor. She has a master's degree in journalism from Northwestern University and is a graduate of the Denver Publishing Institute. ALL OUT OF PRETTY, her debut novel, releases from Creston Books in April 2018.
FAQ: http://www.ingridpalmer.com/faq/
Originally from Ohio, Ingrid Palmer writes young adult fiction in the small Colorado mountain town where she lives with her husband, two sons, a cat that likes to play fetch, and a golden retriever that doesn't. When not writing books or enjoying the great outdoors, Ingrid works as a freelance editor. She has a master's degree in journalism from Northwestern University and is a graduate of the Denver Publishing Institute. ALL OUT OF PRETTY is her debut novel. Visit Ingrid online at ingridpalmer.com or follow her on Twitter @IngPalmer.
Palmer, Ingrid: ALL OUT OF PRETTY
Kirkus Reviews. (Feb. 15, 2018):
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2018 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
Palmer, Ingrid ALL OUT OF PRETTY Creston (Young Adult Fiction) $16.99 4, 3 ISBN: 978-1-939547-48-4
After the death of her grandmother, Andrea fights to survive a violent life with her addict mother.
Sixteen-year-old Andrea lives quietly with her grandmother, putting all her energy into academic achievement. If she can get a full scholarship to college, she can escape the shadow of her estranged, drug-addicted mother, Ayla. But when Gram suddenly passes away, Ayla resurfaces to claim custody. Andrea, a pretty, white girl whose light blue eyes are the envy of her peers, gets used to Ayla partying all night, spending all their money, and taking financial advantage of men. When they're evicted, a white man named Judd lets them move in on the condition that Andrea earns her keep helping with household chores and his drug-running business. The slightest misstep leads to physical punishment. Andrea tries to keep her head down and focus on school, but she stumbles into new friendships that put her and those she cares about at risk. She can't let anyone get close now; all she can do is try to survive--and she will do anything to survive. Andrea's constant abuse is heartbreaking, and her complicated relationship with Ayla is well-wrought. Though her struggles are hard to read about, Andrea is both flawed and fierce enough to pull readers through them with her.
An achingly realistic portrait of abuse and addiction. (Fiction. 14-adult)
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"Palmer, Ingrid: ALL OUT OF PRETTY." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Feb. 2018. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A527247986/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=e9c13879. Accessed 16 May 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A527247986
Palmer, Ingrid. All Out of Pretty
Charla Hollingsworth
Voice of Youth Advocates. 40.6 (Feb. 2018): p59.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2018 E L Kurdyla Publishing LLC
http://www.voya.com
Full Text:
Palmer, Ingrid. All Out of Pretty. Creston Books, April 2018. 350p. $16.99. 978-1-939547-48-4.
4Q * 3P * S
Andrea has grown up with the love and comfort of her grandmother and the chaos of her drug-addicted mother, Ayla. As long as she lives with her grandmother, Andrea's life is stable and routine--but whenever her mother returns for a visit, life becomes one big jumble. Andrea's carefully built normal routine is shattered when her grandmother dies suddenly. Ayla returns to take custody of Andrea and quickly spends all the rent money on drugs. Once evicted, Andrea and Ayla spend nights in drug houses, cars, and the homes of strangers. Andrea worries about where her next meal will come from and mourns how her life changed so fast. Ayla eventually hooks up with Judd, a sadistic drug dealer, who offers Ayla drugs and a roof in exchange for the use of Andrea as a drug courier. Things are not all bleak for Andrea, though; in the area near Judd's home, she finds two friends who help make her life bearable and hold her up in her quest to remain unbreakable.
All Out of Pretty is a bleak novel at times; but it is realistic. The issues of homelessness, parental drug addiction, parental neglect, and parental abuse are issues that many teens face. This novel could serve as bibliotherapy by single readers or by a book club; it is also full of hope. Palmer has included a discussion guide in the book to help readers process this intense novel. --Charla Hollingsworth.
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Hollingsworth, Charla. "Palmer, Ingrid. All Out of Pretty." Voice of Youth Advocates, Feb. 2018, p. 59. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A529357132/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=f8ff3e9e. Accessed 16 May 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A529357132
All out of Pretty
Enobong Essien
Booklist. 114.12 (Feb. 15, 2018): p74.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2018 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist/
Full Text:
All out of Pretty.
By Ingrid Palmer.
Apr. 2018.344p. Creston, $16.99 (9781939547484). Gr. 9-12.
Palmer's powerful debut explores how far a person will go and how much they can endure for survival. Honor-roll student Andreas life is turned upside down and inside out when her grandmother dies. In the custody of her estranged, drug-addict mother and living with her mom's abusive drug-dealer boyfriend, Andrea finds herself pulled into a world where her book smarts are of little use. With the prospect of college as her only escape, Andrea tries to keep her head down and survive just long enough to get out. But when things take a dark turn, she realizes her freedom may cost her everything and everyone she cares about. Palmer masterfully balances Andreas strength and helplessness, demonstrating how easy it is for anyone to become a victim of abuse. This is a gripping read that leaves the reader both eager to find out what will happen next and terrified to discover what else Andrea must endure. An exciting introduction to a talented writer.--Enobong Essien
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Essien, Enobong. "All out of Pretty." Booklist, 15 Feb. 2018, p. 74. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A531171627/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=d97f1822. Accessed 16 May 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A531171627
PALMER, Ingrid. All Out of Pretty
Rachel Reinwald
School Library Journal. 64.2 (Feb. 2018): p107.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2018 Library Journals, LLC. A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/
Full Text:
PALMER, Ingrid. All Out of Pretty. 350p. Creston Bks. Apr. 2018. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9781939547484.
Gr 10 Up--Andrea is plucked by her drug-addicted mother, Ayla, from her loving grandmother's house after the older woman dies. Andrea becomes homeless and lives in a car, while Ayla tries to get money and food from guys she sleeps with. When Ayla gets a new boyfriend, Judd, they move in with him, and Andrea is forced to help him package and distribute drugs for her keep. Judd is abusive and Andrea doesn't know what to do. She doesn't want to abandon her mother, but when things turn even worse, the teen starts a plan to save herself. The complicated relationships that involve Andrea are realistically drawn, down to the psychological trauma that each one entails. The flawed main characters have their own issues that Palmer presents in an authentic way. Readers will sympathize with all of the characters, even the antagonists. The debut author does not leave any traumatic thought unturned. This is textbook-contemporary YA, but it feels fresh under Palmer's expert writing. There are no wasted words, and the mounting events will keep readers on the edge of their seats as they cheer on the protagonist and cringe from the horrendous situations she experiences. VERDICT An excellent selection for YA shelves.--Rachel Reinwald, Lake Villa District Library, IL
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Reinwald, Rachel. "PALMER, Ingrid. All Out of Pretty." School Library Journal, Feb. 2018, p. 107. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A526734137/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=b1809784. Accessed 16 May 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A526734137
All Out of Pretty
Ingrid Palmer
Creston Books (Apr 3, 2018)
Hardcover $16.99 (350pp)
978-1-939547-48-4
All Out of Pretty is a horrifying story about a young girl with nothing left to lose—and what she does in her desperation.
Andrea lives a normal life. She worries about school, has plenty of friends, and enjoys the fringe benefits of being pretty. She also lives with her grandmother—a situation preferable to dealing with her irresponsible mother. When her grandmother dies, Andrea’s life changes overnight.
Andrea’s mother, Ayla, has drug and alcohol problems, and is used to living off of her hookups. Though forced to take care of her daughter, she does not change her lifestyle one bit. Andrea is left waiting outside bars for her mother to emerge. She eats whatever she happens to find in the homes of the men her mother sleeps with. When Ayla hooks up with a dangerous drug dealer, he offers Andrea the food and shelter that she craves—at a price.
The deeper Andrea goes into her new lifestyle, the farther she pulls away from who she was. Her beauty makes her stand out; she often wishes it away, willing to trade it for more practical things. She feels twisted and ugly inside. She holds new friends at a distance for their own protection.
Andrea is a complicated protagonist who draws out protectiveness and sympathy from her audience even as her actions veer into deeply questionable territory. Do the ends justify the means? That question recurs throughout the novel, which finds an ultimately innocent girl engaging in many dangerous, wrongful behaviors.
All Out of Pretty is a disturbing novel that follows a young woman who is threatened into submission and who lives opportunity to opportunity, all simply to to survive.
Reviewed by Hannah Hohman
March/April 2018