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4.5 AVERAGE
4.5 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Ellie is a girl being bullied because she’s fat. She goes through a lot in the book but she finds way to heal in some way thanks to some wonderful people in her life.
It was quite sad but hopeful too. The writing style was quite interesting, because it was a story told like a poem.
I enjoyed it and read it fairly quickly. It’s borderline too mean sometimes but that’s how kids are. Anyways, I hope it finds some kids that need it when they need it most, because it has some important lessons and things to get from it though at the same time getting too much from this could be harmful like the mom’s attitude through it all.
It was quite sad but hopeful too. The writing style was quite interesting, because it was a story told like a poem.
I enjoyed it and read it fairly quickly. It’s borderline too mean sometimes but that’s how kids are. Anyways, I hope it finds some kids that need it when they need it most, because it has some important lessons and things to get from it though at the same time getting too much from this could be harmful like the mom’s attitude through it all.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia
Moderate: Eating disorder, Racism
Minor: Animal cruelty, Xenophobia, Classism
The book is centered around a little girl being bullied because she’s fat so keep that in mind when reading it.
Ellie is tired of her weight being the only thing people notice about her. She is more than just her size. She is also tired of all the bullies in her life, including her mom. In this book, Ellie, with the help of her support system, learns to love herself and stand up against fat-shaming.
This is a hard book to read as it definitely rings true of what it's like to grow up as a larger person. It hurt my heart to hear the fatphobic comments made against Ellie because they are so similar to the ones I heard myself growing up. Ellie's relationship with her mother was the most difficult and accurate thing to read about. So many parents put such an emphasis on their child's body being the "right size" that it is no longer about health, it is only about weight. I think the book might feel a little over the top to those who did not experience this type of childhood, but in reality, it's very real experiences that are just condensed to fit in one book. This is unfortunately the reality for so many people.
I listened to the audiobook and I think the narrator did an excellent job. She sounded the right age and helped the character of Ellie come to life. Overall, this was a good book and I hope that some kid somewhere reads this and is able to see themselves and learn from it, whether they relate to Ellie or they find themselves represented by the bullies. I also think this would be a good read for parents as well.
This is a hard book to read as it definitely rings true of what it's like to grow up as a larger person. It hurt my heart to hear the fatphobic comments made against Ellie because they are so similar to the ones I heard myself growing up. Ellie's relationship with her mother was the most difficult and accurate thing to read about. So many parents put such an emphasis on their child's body being the "right size" that it is no longer about health, it is only about weight. I think the book might feel a little over the top to those who did not experience this type of childhood, but in reality, it's very real experiences that are just condensed to fit in one book. This is unfortunately the reality for so many people.
I listened to the audiobook and I think the narrator did an excellent job. She sounded the right age and helped the character of Ellie come to life. Overall, this was a good book and I hope that some kid somewhere reads this and is able to see themselves and learn from it, whether they relate to Ellie or they find themselves represented by the bullies. I also think this would be a good read for parents as well.
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia
Moderate: Eating disorder, Racism
Minor: Animal cruelty, Xenophobia
Quick read. It was sad and sweet, I enjoyed it. Never having experienced this kind of bullying this book really gave me a new perspective.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
No theme for May, just having fun with reading whatever comes up next in the pile :)
I will say too here at the beginning, that I put that the flaws are 'complicated' because one of the big "issues" and originally thought "flaws" are not a flaw in reality and this is something the character comes to terms with throughout the story.
So overall, I really loved this book. I wish it is something that I would have had in middle school, because I think it would have helped me with how I thought about my body a lot. The book follows a young girl who is overweight dealing with hate both at home and at school but finding a place between all kinds of supporting characters. I enjoyed the position the dad played throughout the story and that he was attentive, I enjoy the therapist a lot. she is SO cool and I think if I ever went to therapy again, I would want someone like her who will let me fight out my emotions with a lightsaber.
In the end, it was a little tough for me to read this just because it is in more of a poetry style and it's also a middle schooler, but I think the poetry aspect worked out really well and I saw myself in her enough to get into it.
truthfully, my main take away is that I wish I had accepted myself when I was a lot younger, and it was interesting to see myself through this main character's eyes. I thought it was a really positive story.
I will say too here at the beginning, that I put that the flaws are 'complicated' because one of the big "issues" and originally thought "flaws" are not a flaw in reality and this is something the character comes to terms with throughout the story.
So overall, I really loved this book. I wish it is something that I would have had in middle school, because I think it would have helped me with how I thought about my body a lot. The book follows a young girl who is overweight dealing with hate both at home and at school but finding a place between all kinds of supporting characters. I enjoyed the position the dad played throughout the story and that he was attentive, I enjoy the therapist a lot. she is SO cool and I think if I ever went to therapy again, I would want someone like her who will let me fight out my emotions with a lightsaber.
In the end, it was a little tough for me to read this just because it is in more of a poetry style and it's also a middle schooler, but I think the poetry aspect worked out really well and I saw myself in her enough to get into it.
truthfully, my main take away is that I wish I had accepted myself when I was a lot younger, and it was interesting to see myself through this main character's eyes. I thought it was a really positive story.