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James Snyder
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The Beautiful-Ugly: The Trilogy Paperback – 21 Sept. 2014

by James Snyder (Author)
4.2 out of 5 stars 683 ratings
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First, both her parents disappear, in an instant, from her life after their horrific auto accident. Next, the faceless child protection agencies (that now control everything in their lives) come and snatch away her only sibling—her brother Eric—to something called a foster home. Only then do they come back for her…

Suddenly a young life that was surrounded by a loving family one moment and spiraling out of control the next…is now in freefall. That’s when six-year-old Connelly Pierce begins her incredible, fourteen-year odyssey across America and into the darkest underbellies of this strange new world she must learn to navigate. All the while, changing from that once little girl into young womanhood, and beginning to understand—if she has any hope of surviving, of finding her brother who’s now gone missing, of breaking through to the other side of whatever awaits her—she must count only on her own self, her own mind, her own heart, to get her there.

Still, there was one more thing she had to learn. And that was that fighting an ever-changing, faceless and uncaring system was one thing. But running away to fight the entire world, even with all her anger and rage, was something entirely different…

Girl, Interrupted meets She’s Come Undone
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  1. Print length
    519 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    21 Sept. 2014
  4. Reading age
    15 - 18 years
  5. Dimensions
    13.97 x 3.3 x 21.59 cm
  6. ISBN-10
    0991527062
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0991527069
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Product description

About the Author

James Snyder was born in Memphis, Tennessee and fell in love with the cadence and sound of storytelling as a child, listening to the meandering tales of his Southern grandmothers and great aunts. While still a child, his family moved to Napa Valley, California where he attended middle and high school, and began taking writing classes at the local college. He left after a year to join the military, and was a soldier with a tactical mobile operations unit in Germany when, pulling a Harz mountaintop guard duty one night during a snowstorm, he had the chance encounter with another soldier that ultimately became the genesis for his debut military thriller AMERICAN WARRIOR. He is also the author of the suspense thriller DESOLATION RUN, the young-adult/new-adult trilogy THE BEAUTIFUL-UGLY, the short story collection TALES OF THE LATE TWENTIETH CENTURY, and other literary works. "Berlin Diaries" is his occasional blog at JamesSnyder.net where he further discusses the backgrounds of his, and other, writings. He currently lives in Texas.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Bandera Publishing Company; 2nd edition (21 Sept. 2014)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 519 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0991527062
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0991527069
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 15 - 18 years
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 13.97 x 3.3 x 21.59 cm
  • Customer reviews:
    4.2 out of 5 stars 683 ratings

About the author

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James Snyder

James Snyder

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James Snyder was born in Memphis, Tennessee and lived in many parts of the United States before settling with his family in Napa Valley. Among a variety of careers and occupations, he was a soldier with a tactical mobile operations unit in Germany, as well as an executive for a Fortune 500 company.

Among others, he has published short stories in the Houghton Mifflin Black Mask anthologies, the Ginosko Literary Journal, and was a finalist in the New Letters’ Alexander Patterson Cappon Prize for Fiction. His literary works include the novels AMERICAN WARRIOR, DESOLATION RUN, THE BEAUTIFUL-UGLY, FRENCH QUARTERS, SOLDIER IN GERMANY, and the short story collection TALES OF THE LATE TWENTIETH CENTURY.

His author’s website and contact are at jamessnyder.net. He currently lives and writes in the Texas Hill Country.

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
683 global ratings

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Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • Steve Bridger
    5.0 out of 5 stars Sublime Storytelling. An exceptional Work.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 February 2015
    Verified Purchase
    In truth I have never been affected so much by a book before. If I could give 10 stars then I would 5 stars are not enough. James Snyder is a rare and wonderful talent. He not only tells a story - his writing makes you live and breathe it. You become emotionally immersed. 'The Beautiful Ugly' is searingly visceral if you're ready to be challenged, to be enraged by the wrongs of society against children, if you're ready to witness evil and then fly high on soaring strength of the human spirit then give yourself a gift and read a book you won't forget.

    The use of language, the insights into human nature, the descriptions of both physical and spiritual themes are breathtaking. Do not read this book if you have a sensitive nature. Do read this book if you want to wake up your mind and feel the blood pumping faster through your veins. Ultimately 'The Beautiful Ugly' is life-affirming. Take your time and relish each word and relish the work of a true master storyteller.
    One person found this helpful
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  • julie6
    4.0 out of 5 stars Great
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 June 2015
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    Great read!!
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  • Aunt Dory
    5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 21 June 2017
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    OMG some parts of this book absolutely broke my heart although hard to read I couldn't put it down. I read it in two days. What Connelly went through from such a young age(6) would have broken most people, so much inner strength is unimaginable. Well worth 5 stars
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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent read. Disturbing. Thought provoking. Hits you hard at times but my goodness it has some beautiful imagery to make you
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 10 August 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Excellent read. Disturbing. Thought provoking. Hits you hard at times but my goodness it has some beautiful imagery to make you stop and think. Great read.
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  • AlwaysReading
    4.0 out of 5 stars Disturbing
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 15 September 2016
    Yes, a disturbing read but then life does have its raw edges, especially when a child is at the mercy of a flawed society...this story holds no punches.

    What does happen when a child is orphaned? What measures are in place to keep them safe? Does anyone listen to them or understand how they feel? This book gives possible and depressing answers.

    This is about a harrowing journey, yet it does hold out hope. It could have been a shorter read, good editing would sort that.

    Overall, a worthy book and certainly thought provoking.
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  • Denise
    4.0 out of 5 stars The events of this poor little girl’s life are detailed within the memories of ...
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 21 February 2015
    “Beautiful Ugly” is a fitting title for the unsettling subject matter contained within. It is the story of a six-year-old girl, Connelly Pierce, who, along with her brother, is placed within the “system” after the sudden death of their parents. The events of this poor little girl’s life are detailed within the memories of her older, broken self. The way in which the author portrays Connelly’s life, placing the reader within the situations the girl has experienced, gives the reader an all-too realistic sense of Connelly’s tragic and ever-changing reality. This was a heart-breaking story; definitely not for the faint-of-heart.
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  • CAROLINE JONES
    5.0 out of 5 stars What a fantastic book. I loved it
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 31 March 2015
    What a fantastic book.I loved it.However I will not go into details of the plot and spoil it for anyone.A gripping story which will have you engrossed.
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  • RicTaylorhard
    4.0 out of 5 stars Haunting
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 28 February 2015
    James Snyder's haunting story of tragedy and despair of a young child kicked around by loss, fostering, abuse, homelessness, and helplessness contains a certain genius that demands determination to appreciate. The story itself is a cruel work of art that deserves five stars. However it in encumbered by being much too long and detailed. One needs discipline to plow through parts of it to fine the pearls. A much shorter and faster moving story would make it more readable and appealing. The second shortcoming lies in an over reliance on use of the omniscient third person narrative. As a result it is hard for the reader to feel a part of the story, while still appreciating the compelling narrative. I recommend it for those with a stomach for trauma and willingness to hunt for the treasures hidden within.
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Donna
    4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
    Reviewed in Canada on 16 January 2016
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    Good read.
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  • CLICKS by Madison
    5.0 out of 5 stars An eye-opening, emotional book!
    Reviewed in the United States on 7 August 2021
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    “Snyder has composed a beautifully written book, but yet the content is ugly. It is an ugly picture of the foster care system in America. But, through the ugly, this book tells a beautiful story and gives hope.”-Green Gables Book Reviews

    My thoughts-Reading “The Beautiful Ugly” by James Snyder made me feel so many different emotions! The rawness of this book will anger you. While reading this, I felt anxious, hopeful, very sad, in disbelief, anger, shock, and frustration over and over in this work of fiction that could be very real. That is a very scary fact. What happens to kids in the US when their parents die and there is no extended family? What happens to kids when they are “in the system” – who watches over them day to day? Or are they left on their own?

    In this 5 star book, “The Beautiful Ugly“, Connolly slowly returns to consciousness-but she won’t move or open her eyes-not yet, not until she’s sure it is safe. She immediately knows where she is. And why. Her wrists have been tended to, they will heal. But, will she ever heal? Her life…what happened to her life! Her parents were gone when she was so young and the places she lived, can she even remember them all? Her only goal-what kept her going was to find her brother and then, and then…now she is here. Alone again.

    In this book, Connelly revisits her life and her choices, and what she had to do to simply survive. What comes next? Is there a next for Connelly or is this it?

    Read this amazing, eye-opening book. There truly is always hope.

    (There are some scenes in this book that some readers may want to skip over.)
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  • Bookaddict
    4.0 out of 5 stars A Parent's Worst Nightmare
    Reviewed in the United States on 30 January 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Loving responsible parents know that they alone can raise their children to develop their talents, while providing them with a secure home, safety, and happiness. But when a madly-in-love young couple are unexpectedly killed in a collision, before getting the paper-work organised, their two children find themselves with no other relatives, no provision for their future and no way to survive. On top of that, they are never actually told clearly what has happened by the bored, flighty overloaded social workers, who seem incapable of genuine compassion.
    All they have is each other, but not for long! The children are torn apart, regardless of their trauma. The boy was destined to be a scientist, like his mother. Well, that didn't happen.
    The girl took after her happy-go-lucky artistic father. The story is told about her life, her search for her brother Eric, despite the foster care system, while his life spirals downwards; the appalling abuse Connolly endured as a beautiful young developing girl, and the depths of depravity she descended into before ending up in an mental institition.
    Desperation to help her by one dedicated doctor led to the first good thing in her young life. I have read this book twice and enjoyed reading it both times but the horror and shock did not diminish. Despite it being very long due to three books being combined, I would have preferred it to be even longer so that the many gaps could be filled, such as why Angelina ran crying from the restored cottage when Connolly started painting her, and what Connolly's art work actually portrayed, and what she did with the clay in all its natural colours. Did she weld sculptures? Did she exorcise her demons? We are not told. Hints are given, then the story rushes to a somewhat unsatisfying conclusion. In some ways we are cheated, since her existance is always carrying her life story towards her artistic brilliance. Did that happen?
    Did she and Will live a long happy married life and have other children? A brilliant story though.
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  • Cathi K.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Hard to Put Down
    Reviewed in the United States on 16 June 2017
    Verified Purchase
    I will not even try to describe this book, as I don't want to spoil it for you. I will say, I'm not sure what book reviewer DS was reading when they said there was too much sex and coarse language. He/she must have either been reading something else entirely, or didn't understand the book at all. Regardless, this is one of the best books I've read all year. I can't belive a man was able to write about the things in this book so accurately and with so much emotion. That's not to say that men cannot write emotionally; rather it's what this author was writing about in part 1 and 2. He got it SO right, the emotions, the feelings and thoughts, I cannot express how accurate he described it all. There were times I laughed out loud, and then there were times when I was crying so much, and the emotion so visceral, I had to stop for a minute and get out of the book. He does emotion so well, it's like you're living it with the characters. Part 3 was the necessary gentle closure that was needed after parts 1 & 2 grab and throttle the reader.

    The author has an unusual writing style that took some getting used to. He is very descriptive, and the book almost reads like a persons actual thought process. Sometimes jumping here to there and back again, but I think that brings the reader even further into the story; almost as a voyeur. I had a hard time putting this book down. I look forward to reading more by this author.
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  • SeaWitch
    3.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant, Yet ... Not
    Reviewed in the United States on 2 November 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Would I recommend this trilogy to others? Yes.
    Would I ever read it again? No

    Though the story is brilliant at times when depicting life in the foster system – the highs, lows, tragedies, and small triumphs – the author tends to go off on tangents, leaving the reader wondering what the point is and if he'll ever reveal it. I felt many of the sex scenes and constant profanity was a bit much. A lot of it was not needed and became tedious after a while. Also, he focused on many aspects of the story and left others dry and tasteless when I felt they needed to be fleshed out more.

    All in all, I feel this author has tremendous talent and I will read more of his work. Certain descriptions stayed with me long after I stopped reading for the day.
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