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book_concierge's review
4.0
Andrew Zansky is having a tough time as he enters his sophomore year in high school. His parents are getting divorced; he can’t stop eating though he already weighs 306.4 pounds; his mother buys him jeans that have his waist size (48!) printed on the outside label; he met the love of his life at a wedding and will never see her again. But all is not lost. He does have his friend Eytan, a fellow geek who is on the model UN team (this year they get Estonia … a step up from last year), and together they try their best to avoid the bullies and work out a plan to get great girlfriends. When he discovers that the girl he’s been dreaming of is the new girl in school, things being to look up. And they get even better when his size becomes an advantage – snagging him a place on the varsity football team. Suddenly he’s one of the “popular” kids.
Andy does a lot of growing up in that fall semester of sophomore year. He discovers inner resources he never knew he possessed and learns some hard lessons along the way. I love how Zadoff lets the reader into the mind of this sensitive teenager – a young person who struggles with the same things most of us struggled with: insecurity, body image, unrequited love, betrayal, disappointment, and fear. But Andy is also a champion; he reminds us that we each have talents and dreams that are no less important for being different from the talents and dreams of others around us.
Andy does a lot of growing up in that fall semester of sophomore year. He discovers inner resources he never knew he possessed and learns some hard lessons along the way. I love how Zadoff lets the reader into the mind of this sensitive teenager – a young person who struggles with the same things most of us struggled with: insecurity, body image, unrequited love, betrayal, disappointment, and fear. But Andy is also a champion; he reminds us that we each have talents and dreams that are no less important for being different from the talents and dreams of others around us.
stephxsu's review
4.0
It’s been so long since I’ve been impressed by and enjoyed a book about an obese kid’s attempt to fit in at his/her high school, but FOOD, GIRLS, AND OTHER THINGS I CAN’T HAVE had me grinning, cringing, and unable to put it down. Allen Zadoff writes convincingly of Andrew’s misadventures and eventual self-discovery.
As the protagonist, Andrew is charming without trying too hard, a perfectly proportioned teenager (emotionally, if not physically). Likewise, every other teenager in this book has his or her ups and downs, good sides and bad sides. O., the quarterback who befriends Andrew, is smooth at the top of the social pyramid and yet has real worries and doubts; April, Andrew’s love interest, has legitimate reasons for acting two-faced. Zadoff achieves what many other writers cannot: an effortless three-dimensional characterization that defies black-and-white and stays true to the complexities of adolescent nature.
FOOD, GIRLS, AND OTHER THINGS I CAN’T HAVE brings together the best of YA realistic fiction—empathetic protagonist, complex characters, and a relatable conflict—to be a lingering read. This is a book that cannot get too much attention, as it will be worth all the talk and badgering to just read this book already.
As the protagonist, Andrew is charming without trying too hard, a perfectly proportioned teenager (emotionally, if not physically). Likewise, every other teenager in this book has his or her ups and downs, good sides and bad sides. O., the quarterback who befriends Andrew, is smooth at the top of the social pyramid and yet has real worries and doubts; April, Andrew’s love interest, has legitimate reasons for acting two-faced. Zadoff achieves what many other writers cannot: an effortless three-dimensional characterization that defies black-and-white and stays true to the complexities of adolescent nature.
FOOD, GIRLS, AND OTHER THINGS I CAN’T HAVE brings together the best of YA realistic fiction—empathetic protagonist, complex characters, and a relatable conflict—to be a lingering read. This is a book that cannot get too much attention, as it will be worth all the talk and badgering to just read this book already.
wrentheblurry's review
3.0
A highly overweight, geeky high school sophomore falls for a new girl at his school. To impress her, he joins the football team. I won't spoil things for you, though I did find the story predictable. It was a quick, easy read. I suppose it's a good thing to have more main characters with physical attributes that fall far outside of average. Yet I didn't like Andrew's repeated lying to nearly everyone. In the end, character growth does occur, but by that time it was too late for me to care.
moon_reader's review
3.0
The beginning got me hooked but the middle was confusing and at the climax i was totally surprised but it made sense how everything happened in the main characters life. But after the climax it went downhill.... Still an ok good read.
But was totally disappointed in the end, felt like it would have and could have been better.
But was totally disappointed in the end, felt like it would have and could have been better.
readwithpassion's review
4.0
I usually don't get into books that have humor, but this book was different. I found myself laughing out loud, and I really enjoyed the narrator's story. Andrew Zansky is 307 lbs (306.4 technically), and he doesn't feel he fits in his school, literally. From a teacher's point of view, this book was incredibly enlightening. I have many students who are overweight, and I feel like I understand them, but this book made me emotionally and physically walk in the shoes of an overweight teenager. When Zadoff spoke at the conference I was at, he said this book was fairly autobiographical in a sense, as he was overweight as a teenager, but the actual events of the story didn't happen. I can't wait to share this story with my students as I truly think it teaches them to walk in the shoes of a type of student they may not have considered. While many books are about the "geeky" group, this one truly is a success.
kristid's review
3.0
Three words; touching, heartfelt, humorous!
This novel was so refreshing! I can't remember the last time I actually enjoyed a novel about an obese person trying to fit in, in High School. Usually with this type of story, I'm frustrated and cringing. But with FG&OTIVH (yeah I'm not going to type that out again!) I couldn't stop turning the pages about this likable, realistic and charming character.
Andrew is classic. He is a very believable high school guy. He's not the fattest kid in his school, he's the second fattest, and in some sort of warped sense that's even worse, because Andy can't even be the best at being fat. He knows he eats to much, but he uses food as his coping mechanism for all the crap that's going on in his life; divorce, bullying, crushes, football. Andrew doesn't do a complete 360 in this novel and lose a hundred plus pounds, but it's almost better that way. It's realistic. He does however, resolve some of the issues that aren't helping his weight, and hopefully that will ultimately lead to a healthier lifestyle.
The writing was awesome, the plot was engaging, and the characters were spectacularly portrayed.
Definitely recommend it.
This novel was so refreshing! I can't remember the last time I actually enjoyed a novel about an obese person trying to fit in, in High School. Usually with this type of story, I'm frustrated and cringing. But with FG&OTIVH (yeah I'm not going to type that out again!) I couldn't stop turning the pages about this likable, realistic and charming character.
Andrew is classic. He is a very believable high school guy. He's not the fattest kid in his school, he's the second fattest, and in some sort of warped sense that's even worse, because Andy can't even be the best at being fat. He knows he eats to much, but he uses food as his coping mechanism for all the crap that's going on in his life; divorce, bullying, crushes, football. Andrew doesn't do a complete 360 in this novel and lose a hundred plus pounds, but it's almost better that way. It's realistic. He does however, resolve some of the issues that aren't helping his weight, and hopefully that will ultimately lead to a healthier lifestyle.
The writing was awesome, the plot was engaging, and the characters were spectacularly portrayed.
Definitely recommend it.
kaitrosereads's review
4.0
Hmm. What can I say about Food, Girls, and Other Things I Can’t Have? Other than that it has a super long title. =]
Allen Zadoff has created a hilarious character in Andrew Zansky. Half the time I was torn between laughing at the guy and feeling sorry for him. He just managed to get himself into some very embarrassing and awkward situations. I could not have lived through some of the things he went through. He was just so cute and not your typical fictional fat kid.
The situations in the story were very realistic of a high school teenager. I don’t know if non-fictional teens would have been able to get over some of Andy’s embarrassments as quickly as he did but otherwise they were things that could definitely happen. Andy can’t seem to find his place in high school and only after an encounter with the school’s bully does he see the light. With the help of some new friends Andy finds out that football is the answer to all his high school problems. It draws the girls and keeps him in shape to finally stand up to the bullies of the school. His quest for popularity seems successful but it brings some consequences and choices that he has to make on his own, without the pressures from his peers.
Overall, Food, Girls, and Other Things I Can’t Have isn’t necessarily one of my favorites but it’s definitely close. I loved reading about Andy and I loved that the book kept me laughing. I guess my only real complaint is that it was more for a guy than a girl. Other than that there wasn’t really anything that disappointed me about this book. I would definitely recommend it, especially if you know a teenage boy that loves football!
Allen Zadoff has created a hilarious character in Andrew Zansky. Half the time I was torn between laughing at the guy and feeling sorry for him. He just managed to get himself into some very embarrassing and awkward situations. I could not have lived through some of the things he went through. He was just so cute and not your typical fictional fat kid.
The situations in the story were very realistic of a high school teenager. I don’t know if non-fictional teens would have been able to get over some of Andy’s embarrassments as quickly as he did but otherwise they were things that could definitely happen. Andy can’t seem to find his place in high school and only after an encounter with the school’s bully does he see the light. With the help of some new friends Andy finds out that football is the answer to all his high school problems. It draws the girls and keeps him in shape to finally stand up to the bullies of the school. His quest for popularity seems successful but it brings some consequences and choices that he has to make on his own, without the pressures from his peers.
Overall, Food, Girls, and Other Things I Can’t Have isn’t necessarily one of my favorites but it’s definitely close. I loved reading about Andy and I loved that the book kept me laughing. I guess my only real complaint is that it was more for a guy than a girl. Other than that there wasn’t really anything that disappointed me about this book. I would definitely recommend it, especially if you know a teenage boy that loves football!
debi_g's review
4.0
I wasn't sure at the beginning, but ended up thoroughly enjoying this YA book for a male audience. Fans of Playing with Matches will likely enjoy this one.
Best quote: "All the people you want to be perfect end up being human. It kind of sucks."
Best quote: "All the people you want to be perfect end up being human. It kind of sucks."
sorman0110's review
4.0
I really enjoyed this quick and witty read! It's the story of Andy, who weighs 306 pounds, falls in love, gets bullied (and fights back), and tries out for the varsity football team. This is a common story that we have all read before or seen a movie about before, but the writing made me laugh out loud at times. Great book! C. 2009, genre-realistic fiction
blakehalsey's review
4.0
A great read with a funny, honest male protagonist. Andy struggles in high school--with his weight, with fitting in, with girls. Football gives him a way in, but also gives him a way to figure himself out. The pacing was really great in this book and I really connected with Andy. A realistic look into high school.