MISS SMITHERS

The uncertain heroine of Alice, I Think (2003) returns for another hilarious turn as the Most Maladjusted Teen in Smithers, British Columbia (pop. 5,000). Having acquired both a best friend and a boyfriend, Alice is now poised to conquer the world by entering the Miss Smithers Pageant, a months-long competition that will test her speaking ability, fashion sense, and resolute lack of talent—as well as both friendship and relationship. Alice is under no illusions: “Being the nothing who gets nothing doesn’t seem like that great a strategy. I’ve been using that technique for the last sixteen years. . . .” As in its predecessor, the real strength of this offering is Alice’s voice, a combination of piercing observation and classic teen self-absorption, punctuated here by her efforts as an underground ’zine journalist. What makes it even stronger, however, is the organizational principle lent by the Miss Smithers contest: its varied and ridiculous events (including possibly the funniest fashion show in modern literature) pace Alice’s search for self-definition as she tries by turns born-again Christianity, life as a bad girl, and the discipline of the martial arts. Utterly, absolutely sidesplitting. (Fiction. 12+)