OTHER WRITING

‘The debut novel of social anthropologist and expert on all things teenaged Leslie Margolis, Fix is the story of a young woman, Cameron Beekman, who suffered years of being ostracized and called “Beakface” because of her large nose before a simple nose job transformed her life. Now, just as she is about to start college, she has decided to undergo breast surgery in order to move up from “smart and pretty” to “smart and drop-dead gorgeous”. Meanwhile, her younger sister Allie is struggling with the concept of her own approaching nose job, and her mother contemplates cosmetic surgery to breathe life into her own struggling career. But cosmetic surgery is still surgery, and contains a plethora of medical and health risks. Cameron’s own boyfriend doesn’t understand how and why the surgery is important to her. Fix is graphic and very serious about the problems and numerous complications that can result from breast augmentation surgery, including the simple fact that it is almost never a one-time deal – women with breast implants usually need to have repeat surgeries over the course of years, even if nothing goes drastically wrong. Fix also explores two dynamic perspectives toward cosmetic surgery in the sisters: Cameron, who embraces procedures with fierce determination, and Allie, who gradually questions them more and more. Highly recommended reading, especially for girls ages 15 through 18, for its three-dimensional characters and straightforward, non-preferential treatment of all positive and negative aspects of cosmetic surgery.”
• Midwest Book Review

‘Two sisters-both born with “long and hooked” noses-act as protagonists in this book about teenage plastic surgery. Cameron, on her way to college in California, became popular after her nose job, but still feels unable to “keep up” with the perfect girls she sees around her, and now wants breast implants. Meanwhile, younger athletic Allie is not sure that her own rhinoplasty, mostly her parents’ idea, will be worth skipping a week of soccer camp, and a chance of playing on her school’s varsity team. There’s no missing that this is an issue-oriented book; even secondary story lines are designed to get readers thinking about the meaning-and price-of beauty: Cameron struggles to make a point with her photography portfolio, the girls’ mother, a former actress, schedules her own face-lift, and Allie meets a retired movie star at the senior citizens home where she volunteers who tells her, “No one ever thinks they’re beautiful enough.” Readers also learn that there were more than 11.5 million cosmetic procedures performed in this country last year, and get gritty details about procedures and risks. Teens can draw their own conclusions, but they may find it easier to root for Allie, who realizes “Lots of people had big noses. They didn’t all get them fixed. Somehow people managed.” In the end, this is a provoking, if somewhat scripted, novel.’
• Publisher’s Weekly

‘Allie is about to enter 10th grade and her parents have her present picked out for her: a new nose.  Like her sister Cameron before her, Allie is going to get a nose job to be more beautiful, like their ex-model/actress mother. The only problem is that no one has even asked Allie if this is what she wants. Everyone assumes that since Cameron’s new nose changed her life, naturally Allie would want this, too, so she could become popular and cash in on her good looks.  Allie isn’t convinced she’ll be any happier with a different nose—she’s already happy—and has priorities other than beauty that take precedence.  Cameron, on the other hand, is fixated on getting a breast augmentation, convinced that this is the next step to making her feel better about herself. She can’t help but wonder if she would have the life she does if she had her former nose, but that doesn’t stop her from making other changes. Their mother, in a bid to look younger and reinvigorate her acting career, decides to go in for a face lift.

The saving grace of this book is that all three women look at plastic surgery from different perspectives and make choices that feel right for them. This keeps the story interesting and forces a deeper look at the reasons anyone would consider going under the knife. Many issues are examined, such as self-esteem, ageism, and media ideals. The women weigh the opinions of friends and boyfriends/husbands against their own, knowing that everyone feels differently about this controversial topic. Solid writing and a unique subject make this book a great addition to any collection, with plenty of material for discussion.’
• Kliatt

‘Cameron, 18, and Allie, 15, have inherited their father’s nose. However, thanks to their mother, Julie, an ex-model and former movie star, Cameron had her nose fixed three years earlier. She is thrilled with the results and contemplating breast augmentation. After years of being ridiculed by her peers, she was catapulted into the world of the beautiful and popular at her new school, Bel Air Prep. Allie, an avid soccer player, is not bothered by her appearance and already has self-confidence and friends. Still, now that she is 15, her mother insists on making appointments for her with the plastic surgeon, with little consideration of Allie’s thoughts on the matter. Characters are more complex than they first appear, and a subplot involving Allie’s befriending a now-elderly Hollywood starlet nicely contrasts with the beauty-obsessed Cameron and Julie. Margolis deals with the topic of plastic surgery evenhandedly, showing how it can be positive, but also excessive and extremely painful. She is never preachy, making this quick read entertaining and thought-provoking. Readers will relate to each sister’s point of view.”
• School Library Journal

‘Leslie Margolis’s red-hot page-turner hooked me from the very first sentence. You won’t be able to put down Price of Admission until you reach the last sizzling word!”
• Meg Cabot, author of The Princess Diaries series and Pants on Fire

‘With more twists than a bowl of fusilli and more sizzle than a pan of bacon, Price of Admission is the carbonara of novels: rich, salty, meaty — and impossible to resist.”
• E. Lockhart, author of The Boyfriend List and Fly on the Wall

‘I can’t remember the last time I discovered a heroine as achingly vulnerable and dead-on hilarious as Jasmine Green. Leslie Margolis’s keen eye for Hollywood is utterly authentic—with all the attendant hypocrisy, humor, and tragedy—but Jasmine’s voice is what gives the novel its rare and true soul. Price of Admission is a surprise, so as far as I’m concerned, it’s a joy.’
• Daniel Ehrenhaft, Edgar Award winning author of Drawing a Blank and The After Life

‘Forget the movies! For a great night of entertainment pick up a tub of popcorn and this smart, funny, and outrageously scandalous novel.”
• Sarah Mlynowski, author of Bras & Broomsticks and Frogs & French Kisses

‘Leslie Margolis’s Price of Admission is naughty, noir, and lots of fun. And it definitely teaches you not to confuse life with the movies.”
• Maureen Johnson, author of 13 Little Blue Envelopes

“Smart, savvy, and with a refreshingly wicked streak, Jasmine Green is someone I could definitely hang out with. Thank you Leslie Margolis, for writing us a character who is just as conflicted and imperfect as the rest of us. (Not that I am in any way suggesting that I am conflicted or imperfect. Because I’m totally not.)”
• Samantha Bee, Correspondent, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart

“PRICE OF ADMISSION is a fast-paced and fun read that is likened to reading an entertainment magazine. There are lots of digs about Hollywood personalities, gossip, scandals and paparazzi that are laugh-out-loud funny. Portions of the scandalous screenplay are actually incorporated into the book and makes for an interesting novel technique that works well with this storyline.”
• Kristi Olson, Teen Reads

“For anyone who salivates over the latest celebrity gossip and can’t put down their latest issue of US Weekly, PRICE OF ADMISSION is a must-read! Leslie Margolis writes a fast-paced story with jaw-dropping surprises that will keep you wanting more.”
• Amber Gibson, Teen Reads Too

“As a studio head’s daughter, Jasmine Green’s seemingly perfect life is just a facade for some very serious problems. Despite her cushy home, endless resources, and fancy cars, Jasmine’s father is completely absorbed with his job, her brother is having an affair with their stepmother, and Jasmine herself is dating two guys at once. When one these guys dies, his screenplay is found in his apartment, and is sold to Jasmine’s father’s company. The only problem? It’s really Jasmine’s screenplay, and it’s the story of her life. Every lurid detail.

Price of Admission is a gripping, galvanizing, and outstanding novel that explores the depths of family loyalty as Jasmine does all it takes to keep her family’s dirty little secrets from being revealed. This novel doesn’t fail to meet expectations, and Jasmine’s clear and expressive voice is authentic. Rather than make excuses for her actions, she learns to face them, making her a character that no one can resist. The colorful cast of expressive and fallible characters make this lively and full of attitude read that will steal your attention away and won’t release you until the credits roll.”
• The Compulsive Reader