"North of Beautiful" is a young adult novel by Justina Chen Headley. The story follows Terra Cooper, a teenage girl who feels like she doesn't fit in because of a large facial birthmark. Despite this, she's an artist and wants to travel the world.
Terra's life changes when she meets Jacob, a handsome and mysterious boy with a secret of his own. He introduces her to geocaching, a game where players use GPS to find hidden treasures. Through this game, Terra begins to see the beauty in the world around her and starts to gain confidence in herself.
As Terra and Jacob become closer, she learns about his troubled past and together they embark on a journey to find his birth father. Along the way, they explore their own identities and come to understand that beauty comes in many forms.
The novel touches on themes of self-acceptance, family, love, and adventure. It has been praised for its strong character development, engaging plot, and positive message about embracing individuality. "North of Beautiful" won the 2010 Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature and was named a Best Book of the Year by Kirkus Reviews.
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