I Was a Teenage Fairy

I Was a Teenage Fairy is a young adult novel written by Francisca Lia Block. The protagonist, Barbie, is a dissatisfied daughter of a Stage Mom who pushes her into modeling as a child. Her only real ally is a tiny fairy who offers her advice and companionship.

"Mab: (as Barbie prepares for a party) Do everything I would do."
 * A-Cup Angst: Barbie is frequently criticized for having small breasts. This makes sense, however, since she is a very slender model and large breasts would be unnatural on her frame.
 * Baby Got Back: Mab enjoys checking out men's behinds.
 * Better Than Sex: Griffin's night flight with Mab, according to him.
 * Buffy-Speak: Barbie and Mab's private code. A "biscuit" is an attractive man; a "crocodile" is someone they hate.
 * The Casanova: Todd.
 * Chekhov's Gun: The camera Todd gives to Barbie on their first night together is later used to
 * Depraved Bisexual:.
 * Disappeared Dad: Barbie's father.
 * Do Not Call Me "Paul": Barbie's mother changes their name, Markowitz, to "Marks", which deeply offends Barbie's father and contributes to the reasons for her parents' divorce.
 * Don't Do Anything I Wouldn't Do: Subverted.
 * Don't Do Anything I Wouldn't Do: Subverted.


 * Embarrassing Tattoo: Todd's body is covered with the names of girls he has been in relationships with before. At the end of the novel,.
 * Estrogen Brigade Bait: Todd in-universe, since he's a famous actor.
 * Fairy Companion
 * Fairy Sexy
 * Gayngst: Griffin believes Waverly's abuse is his own fault for being gay.
 * Hippie Parents: Todd ascibes his "freewheeling" nature to them.
 * I Was Quite a Looker: Barbie's mother "won Miss San Fernando Valley in 19 ... let's just say I was a winner!".
 * Incompatible Orientation: Griffin loves  who is heterosexual.
 * Interrupted Suicide:
 * Ladykiller in Love: Todd becomes one when he meets Barbie.
 * Loves My Alter Ego: A variation with Barbie and Griffin; even though she's in love with Todd and vice versa, her possible Imaginary Friend loves Griffin, and they bcome a Beta Couple to Todd and Barbie for a while until.
 * Maybe Magic, Maybe Mundane: It's left deliberately vague whether Mab exists, or whether she's a manifestation of Barbie's (and Griffin's) anger, courage and hope.
 * Meaningful Name: Barbie's name represents her entrapment within the life of a model.
 * Pretty Fly for a White Guy: Ashley, Todd's (mostly) ex-girlfriend, threatening Barbie to "watch it, Miss Thang".
 * Replacement Love Interest: Blatantly lampshaded in that way only great fairy tales can get away with.
 * Shiksa Goddess: Barbie's Gentile mother to her Jewish father, though the "goddess" aspect has worn off considerably over the years.
 * Shipper on Deck: Mab for Todd/Barbie and.
 * Shout-Out: To the Clap Your Hands If You Believe moment in Peter Pan.
 * The Snark Knight: Mab.
 * Stage Mom: Barbie's mother names her after a plastic doll in hopes that Barbie will become a beautiful model (and not much else).
 * There Are No Therapists: Barbie's self-harm (dragging her knuckles against a wall to make them bleed), reckless behavior (hitchhiking with men after dark) and occasional argument with Mab in someone else's hearing go unnoticed.
 * Vitriolic Best Buds: Barbie and Mab, mostly due to Mab's tendency to bluntly and sarcastically state the things that Barbie is afraid to acknowledge.
 * Zen Survivor: Barbie.
 * Zen Survivor: Barbie.