Appearance is a big deal in Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging, which makes perfect sense since it's all about a fourteen-year-old girl… and fourteen-year-old girls are notoriously concerned with their appearances. That said, Georgia kind of takes this to the extreme. She's super insecure about her looks, which results in missing body hair on more than one occasion (and never in a good way). Plus, she and her friends spend a whole bunch of time rating each other's looks and comparing themselves to each other.
If this all sounds like kind of a bummer to you, then consider yourself warned: Though Georgia does some maturing over the course of this novel, when it comes to her looks, she finishes the story just as insecure as she starts it.
Questions About Appearances
- Why is Georgia's appearance so important to her? Give examples from the book to support your claim.
- What does Georgia think her appearance says about her? What does it actually say about her? What similarities and differences do you notice at work here?
- Is anyone in this book actually comfortable in their own skin? What does this tell you about appearances as a theme in the story?
Chew on This
Georgia believes her appearance is reflective of two things: whether she'll find a boyfriend and how mature she looks. And these two things matter more to her than anything else.
With friends who are so readily judgmental about her appearance, it's no wonder Georgia struggles with her self-esteem.