In a gritty town, a feisty teenager longs to find her mother to fix her broken family, while a musclebound boy hidden away in the shadows with a rare genetic condition wants to be part of her world; they discover in each other a glimmer of light in a dark existence of abandonment.

Robbie's life is dark and lonely. Even if he gets out into the real world, he can never escape the way he looks. Kat's alcoholic Dad falls down the stairs and ends up in hospital. She longs to find her mum to fix her broken family. Instead, Kat and Robbie discover each other.

Secrets and lies have surfaced and Kat is in a small seaside town, where her mother escaped to all those years ago. When she realizes that her own life is mended now, she leaves things be and turns back. Kat returns to redemption, a repairable Dad, and hope for herself and her new friend Robbie.

Beauty and the Freak is set in a gritty community, The End of the F***ing World on steroids, where two damaged teenagers are trapped by their own fates. 16-year old KAT lives in a clapped-out house with an alcoholic dad. Her mum abandoned them years ago, yet where she is and why she left is never spoken of. Kat believes that if her mum returns her broken family will be fixed, and her dad will stop drinking himself to destruction (literally). But for now, feisty Kat handles life solo. ROBBIE is a hulking figure who keeps to the shadows. His world is dark and lonely, and even if he gets out of his home-schooled hovel, he can never escape the way he looks. Born with myostatin-related muscle hypertrophy, he has a rare genetic condition that reduces his body fat and creates an overgrowth of muscle mass. Despite his bodybuilder-gone-wrong body, not once does Robbie wish he were ‘ordinary’; his main obstacle is other people’s judgements. His PA has been protecting him from hungry exploiters, as well as cruel kids. Robbie needs a woman from the past called NURSE NOLA; if he finds her, he’ll find a saviour. But he discovers her daughter Kat instead - and they find light in each other. The underbelly of the story speaks of depression, of a tormented mother who doesn’t want to be found. When Kat finally finds out where she is, she makes the journey to get her back, but when she gets close, she turns back. For she has everything she needs now. Her family – and Robbie.

Jackie Bateman is a novelist, screenwriter and copywriter living in Vancouver. Her first novel 'Nondescript Rambunctious' won a national first book competition in Canada, and grew into a trilogy of psychological thrillers. The second in the series, 'Savour', was shortlisted for the Relit Awards. 'Straight Circles', the final, explosive book in the series, won an IPPY gold medal in the European Fiction category. All three books are being developed into a limited television series called 'Thirst'. 'Beauty and the Freak' is Jackie’s first novel and screenplay for teens. You can find her at www.jacbateman.com and imdb.me/jackiebateman

Internal Journey/Rebirth,

Main Character

Name: Kat

Age: 16

Gender: Female

Role: Protagonist

Key Traits: Honorable, Insecure, Educated, Extraordinary Powers and Abilities, Gracious, Aspiring, Complex, Desperate, Funny, Clumsy,Badass,Decisive,Funny,Sarcastic,Insecure,Gracious,Faithful,Empathetic

Character 1

Name: Robbie

Age: 15

Gender: Male

Role: Protagonist

Key Traits: Engaging, Modest, Beautiful, Complex, Confident, Empathetic, Funny, Honorable, Heroic,Masculine,Modest,Aggressive,Charming,Clumsy,Complex,Empathetic,Engaging,Faithful,Funny,Insecure

Character 2

Name: Tom (Dad)

Age: 40

Gender: Male

Role: emotional

Key Traits: Confident, Uneducated, Aggressive, Blunt, Clumsy, Masculine, Desperate, Funny, Insecure,Charming,Clumsy,Outspoken,Funny

Character 3

Name: Grandma Flo

Age: 70

Gender: Female

Role: mentor

Key Traits: Funny, Badass, Empathetic, Engaging,Confident,Empathetic,Engaging