A gorgeous and magical collaboration between two critically acclaimed, powerhouse YA authors offers a richly imagined underdog story perfect for fans of Dumplin’ and Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe. There hasn’t been a winner of the Miss Meteor beauty pageant who looks like Lita Perez or Chicky Quintanilla in all its history.But that’s not the only reason Lita wants to … history.
But that’s not the only reason Lita wants to enter the contest, or her ex-best friend Chicky wants to help her. The road to becoming Miss Meteor isn’t about being perfect; it’s about sharing who you are with the world—and loving the parts of yourself no one else understands.
So to pull off the unlikeliest underdog story in pageant history, Lita and Chicky are going to have to forget the past and imagine a future where girls like them are more than enough—they are everything.
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A group of misfits work together to get Lita ready for the 50th Miss Meteor Pageant. Throughout the book, this group is faced with adversity and their own choices that cause some rifts. I enjoyed getting to know Lita and Chicky as the book goes back and forth between their narratives. I loved reading about their group of friends who offer them and each other support to be true to their own person especially in a town where it is celebrated to be the same as others. There is quite a bit to reflect on with this story but it has many important messages and will be one I will share in the near future with my children.
Book 107 towards my goal of 290! 4/5 stars for this YA scifi-y realism coming of age story. Lita had decided she wants to be Miss Meteor, even though she doesn’t fit the typical pageant mold. A great story of unlikely friendships. Tons of rep! Only docking a star because a few parts were slower, but it made me feel all kinds of feels! Definitely recommend!
You will be vibrating with both giggles and rage throughout this book! I wanted to scream for these characters and also be their best friend. I appreciated the realistic ending, but I also hated it (my hatred is directed at the state of racial and LGBTQ+ treatment in our world, not at the actual ending). I wanted to see them take down the homophobic and racist people all over town, but what strongly came across in this story was that these teens living their lives to the fullest is already so disruptive. And that was beautiful.
What a brilliant novel. Miss Meteor by Tehlor Kay Mejia & Anna-Marie McLemore is a magical novel about finding one’s identity and living it without fear.
Compelling Magical Realism
The most magical part of Miss Meteor is how the authors slipped the magic into this underdog story. Lita is a girl made of stardust, and her body is starting to return to the sky. Her only hope is to enter the pageant in hopes of staying with her friends and loved ones.
Lita’s story is lovely to follow and it catches the reader off guard in the most beautiful way. The fact that stardust makes up Lita is a great way to reimagine our deeper selves coming to the surface. No one should let fear keep them from shining and sharing their true selves, and Lita proves that. Not only to the reader but her fellow characters as well. Lita has such extraordinary courage in the face of adversity and brings to life a powerful story about staying true to oneself.
Compelling & Diverse Characters
What is also incredible about Miss Meteor is not just the magical realism and splash of fantasy that follows Lita around but the characters as well.
As mentioned above, Lita brings out the courage of her fellow characters, allowing them all to shine, and shine they do. These characters are non-binary, transgender, and pansexual and to see them all laid out in the novel is incredible. Miss Meteor highlights Latin American culture as well, diving deep into diversity. Lita and Chicky are the central characters, both coming from Latin American backgrounds, and to see Latinx culture be central to the novel is incredible for Latin American’s everywhere.
However, because these characters are Latinx, the authors use their platform not only to give representation to the queer community but also to deal with xenophobia.
There are various moments when Lita is called an alien, and while she looks at it differently, others see the hate those words spit out. Considering the events going on right now, addressing, and shaming xenophobia is essential. People forget this country was formed by immigrants and fearing people from another culture or country is never right.
Final Thoughts
Miss Meteor is a compelling read, as well as an important one. It gives the queer community courage to shine; it deals with xenophobia is a fantastic way and captures the reader with a fun, courageous characters and a splash of fantasy.
A luminous romp of a book that is both hilarious and tender. Mejia and McLemore have gifted us with a story that celebrates the eternal power of friendship.
A hilarious and heartfelt love letter in sparkling stardust prose to the outcasts who feel like they’re from another planet.
Some books you read with your heart — and this is one of them. Written with compassion, honesty, and humor, Miss Meteor is magical.