One thing I love is that, from a young age, my daughter has loved to read but I can’t keep up with all the different books she likes so when she asked me if I could create a Geek Girl “Model Misfit” costume for Book Week, I replied “what?”.
It’s that time of the year again, Book Week, when Mums all over Australia are faced with the most unusual requests for a costume to wear on the school parade for Book Week and usually at the last minute. I’m into my seventh year of Book Week costumes and feel a bit of an old hand at it but never have made it a big deal in as far as effort goes. I usually try to use what I have or buy pieces from the op shop.
Geek Girl is a series of books written by British writer Holly Smale. The humorous fiction follows the life of Harriet Manners, a nerdy 15-year-old girl who tries out modelling to “reinvent herself”.
“Model Misfit” tells the story of Harriet knowing that modelling won’t transform you. She knows that being as uniquely odd as a polar bear isn’t necessarily a bad thing (even in a rainforest). And that the average person eats a ton of food a year, though her pregnant stepmother is doing her best to beat this.
What Harriet doesn’t know is where she’s going to fit in once the new baby arrives.
With summer plans ruined, modelling in Japan seems the perfect chance to get as far away from home as possible. But nothing can prepare Harriet for the craziness of Tokyo, her competitive model flatmates and her errant grandmother’s ‘chaperoning’. Or seeing gorgeous Nick everywhere she goes.
Because, this time, Harriet knows what a broken heart feels like.
Can geek girl find her place on the other side of the world or is Harriet lost for good?
Some years ago now, my daughter did try a little bit of modelling in a local shopping centre competition. She was so nervous but did very well I thought for her first time. I didn’t pursue it and she was okay with that.
When I read what these books were about, I thought they summed up my daughter pretty much. Although she’s not 15 nor is she a model but she might be considered a ‘geek’ to some. She is very quirky and likes unusual things, not the norm for most tweenagers but I love that about her. I set about finding what we could do for a costume.
There are many ideas for ‘costumes’ from this book but the one my daughter went with was on the first page. It reads:
It’s a Monday morning and I’m wearing a gold tutu, a gold jacket, gold ballet pumps and gold earrings. My face is painted gold and a long piece of gold wire has been wrapped around my head. This is not how I normally dress on Mondays.
Previous Book Week Costumes
She looks wonderful, Anne! Together you’ve put together a great costume. I hope she does indeed feel better in time for the parade xx
On another note, we’re just about to start on the Rowan of Rin series here too!
Xx Fiona
Thanks Fiona. She thought she did too and is much better thank you. A lot of people didn’t know what she was dressed as but they don’t read the book I guess. I didn’t know a lot of the costumes of the other kids either but there are so many popular books now. I’ve got to read the first few chapters of Rowan of Rin so I can catch up and my son and I can read it together. From what he’s told me, it’s a pretty good story. He said it would make a good movie too.
Anne xx
Anything to encourage a love of reading! And how wonderful that your daughter is an avid reader. Also good that she had her own ideas and knew exactly who she wanted to dress up as. For next to no cost you’ve created a fabulous outfit, Anne. I wonder if book parades are unique to Australia.
Thanks very much Pam. From what I was told on a comment on my post on Instagram, I don’t believe they’re held in America. It’s an initiative of The Children’s Book Council of Australia in association with schools and libraries around Australia but I’m sure other countries would do something similar. It was really great to see the enthusiasm in the school today with teachers getting dressed up too. I don’t know a lot of the books these days so there were some pretty interesting costumes.
Anne xx
she looks so adorable and the costumes are so wonderful. Loved all of them 😀
My daughter’s High School is doing Book Week too. She has a medieval tunic and cape that she dresses up in as a knight (no armour) at local historical events, so we’re stretching the book part and she’s going as Bradamante, a female knight who’s in 2 epic poems. Your daughter looks awesome! I love when kids do something a little bit different!
Oh Karla! Don’t tell me that. My daughter starts high school next year and I thought that’d be the end of book week for her! lol (just kidding) I like it too that she does something a little different to the norm.
Anne xx