Beauty Mark: A Verse Novel of Marilyn Monroe

Gr 9 Up–This book reads like a running dialogue through the troubled mind of Marilyn Monroe. The story carries readers from the start of her life as the smart brunette Norma Jeane through her complex and emotionally difficult transition to blonde bombshell Marilyn Monroe. Marilyn battles rejection from family and concerns about mental illness as she searches for love and stability in life. During the story, readers meet big-name celebrities like Ella Fitzgerald, Jane Russell, and Fred Astaire, while getting a glimpse into married life with powerful men like Arthur Miller and Joe DiMaggio. Written in verse, this novel feels like an autobiography as Marilyn shares her deepest and darkest secrets with readers. Weatherford’s intimate writing style will make readers feel like they’re accessing Marilyn’s private journals. The story is dedicated to anyone who has ever felt mistreated, disrespected, underestimated, or misunderstood, and will resonate with young adults.