Families who loved Putting Makeup on the Fat Boy by Bil Wright often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
Reach for this book when your teenager is navigating the intersection of big professional dreams, personal identity, and the complexities of difficult family dynamics. It is an ideal choice for a young person who feels they do not fit the traditional mold and needs to see a protagonist who is unapologetically themselves while pursuing a high-stakes career in the beauty industry. Carlos Duarte is a talented sixteen-year-old striving to become a makeup artist at a major department store counter. Beyond the glamour of the cosmetics world, the story dives into heavy but necessary themes of domestic abuse within the family, workplace jealousy, and the resilience required to be a gay Latino teen in a world that often tries to sideline him. It is a vibrant, honest, and award-winning look at finding one's voice and standing one's ground.