Ugly (younger readers): The bestselling Australian story, now published internationally - Tapa blanda

This is an incredible story - of not only a wonderful human being but an exceptional family.

Do yourself a favour and read it. Better still put this on your shelves! The Younger Reader version is eminently suitable for readers of around 10 and up.

It has taken me a while to get to review this Younger
Readers' version of Robert Hoge's successful memoir. My Year 8
students have been working on an English task which was to research
and write a feature article about an inspirational hero and one of my
young ladies had chosen Robert because she had started reading his
memoir. I had just received this review copy so handed it to her in
case she might find it helpful as well. Not only does the book come
with her recommendation, she was so delighted that Robert
responded to her email to him and she has been able to ask him
questions directly. What a generous human! Thank you Robert you
provided this wonderful young girl with an amazing learning
experience!
Today I spent a very pleasant hour or so reading this funny and moving, honest and
courageous recollection of growing up as the 'ugly' kid. Robert's story is by now pretty well
known to many adults who have either learned about his life via the book or the media but
this new edition will bring his inspirational story to a whole new readership.
When Robert was born with severe physical problems including a large facial tumour, his
family's life changed in many respects but not in the most important aspect. They were still
a loving, supportive unit who when faced with a challenge rose to it with an admirable and
enviable ease.
But let's not make light of this. This is an incredible story of
not only a wonderful human being but an exceptional family.
Do yourself a favour and read it. Better still put this on your shelves! The Younger Reader
version is eminently suitable for readers of around 10 and up.

Robert Hoge was born with a tumour in the middle of his face, and legs that weren't much use. There wasn't another baby like him in the whole of Australia, let alone Brisbane. But the rest of his life wasn't so unusual: he had a mum and a dad, brothers and sisters, friends at school and in his street. He had childhood scrapes and days at the beach; fights with his family and trouble with his teachers.

He had doctors, too: lots of doctors who, when he was still very young, removed that tumour from his face and operated on his legs, then stitched him back together. He still looked different, though. He still looked ... ugly.

UGLY is the true story of how an extraordinary boy grew up to have an ordinary life, and how that became his greatest achievement of all.