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4saradouglas's review
5.0
Virginia is an overweight girl whose family members are all gorgeous, thin, and perfect. Her mother is constantly pressuring her to diet and her father is always commenting on how he likes his women thin. Virginia can’t help but hate her body and always follows her “Fat Girl Code of Conduct” when it comes to boys. When her brother is accused of date raping a girl, Virginia’s world becomes even harder to deal with.
This is a truly fantastic book that everyone should read if they’ve ever had issues with their bodies. And who hasn’t? Virginia is a fun character to get to know and she is very easy to relate to. The book deals with larger issues than just body image and handles them all very well. Overall this book is very insightful and inspiring and could help teens deal with a lot of issues that are common in their world.
This is a truly fantastic book that everyone should read if they’ve ever had issues with their bodies. And who hasn’t? Virginia is a fun character to get to know and she is very easy to relate to. The book deals with larger issues than just body image and handles them all very well. Overall this book is very insightful and inspiring and could help teens deal with a lot of issues that are common in their world.
rachcannoli's review against another edition
4.0
This book really grew on me. At first it's a bit whiny and her family are truly unconscionable, but then again the main character is supposed to be 15 so I suppose that makes sense. My rating would really be more of a 3.5, but I relate so hard to Virginia that the book hit me hard in a lot of places it won't with everyone. I can unfortunately say, with experience, that this book is pretty accurate to what it's like being overweight, especially when young and no one else really looks the way you do. The important people, like Shannon, won't even blink twice. They see you for who you are and while they're not blind to your size, they don't care because it's not important, just another fact about one of their fav people. Boys don't really care, they either like you or they don't, as shown in this and I absolutely adore Froggy and am so happy Virginia has some positive energy in her life.
My problem with this book is it tries to do WAY too much without really giving it time. I think it handles the big issues with the main character really well: parents not understanding and being overbearing about her weight when they mean well but just come off as assholes, having to deal with changes like friends not being there or siblings moving on so you lose that support system, and figuring out who you are as a person not just who others perceive you. But the big issue they don't really tackle well is her brother and what he did. I like his actions affecting Virginia and the concept of someone you think so highly of not being who you thought, but we never really see any moments of Byron being a good brother (at least in Virginia's eyes) to her or even doing anything great. He's kind of the worst from the beginning so it's not surprising to me when the scandal erupts. I also feel like they don't give him enough consequences and don't really cover it well. I know the story is about Virginia so it mainly matters how it affects her, but I still think they could have fleshed it out a lot more.
I also wish there was a bit more of Virginia finding herself and more happy moments at the end. It does leave off in a really positive light and I have hope for a bright future for Virginia, especially college where she's bound to find her niche even more and truly blossom. But so much is dedicated to Virginia feeling less than, I would have loved a bit more scenes of how she's going to be all right and has found herself while realizing not to care so much about what other people, especially her parents, think of her.
Overall, I enjoyed the book a lot more than I thought I would. It was a bit paint by numbers fat girl YA novel, but had some interesting bits and too real moments that kept me engaged. I recommend to anyone, but specifically for any girl who's struggling at a younger age about their size or how they look, it's important to know you're not alone and that things will get better, just have to learn a bit of self love, the hardest but most rewarding thing of all.
My problem with this book is it tries to do WAY too much without really giving it time. I think it handles the big issues with the main character really well: parents not understanding and being overbearing about her weight when they mean well but just come off as assholes, having to deal with changes like friends not being there or siblings moving on so you lose that support system, and figuring out who you are as a person not just who others perceive you. But the big issue they don't really tackle well is her brother and what he did. I like his actions affecting Virginia and the concept of someone you think so highly of not being who you thought, but we never really see any moments of Byron being a good brother (at least in Virginia's eyes) to her or even doing anything great. He's kind of the worst from the beginning so it's not surprising to me when the scandal erupts. I also feel like they don't give him enough consequences and don't really cover it well. I know the story is about Virginia so it mainly matters how it affects her, but I still think they could have fleshed it out a lot more.
I also wish there was a bit more of Virginia finding herself and more happy moments at the end. It does leave off in a really positive light and I have hope for a bright future for Virginia, especially college where she's bound to find her niche even more and truly blossom. But so much is dedicated to Virginia feeling less than, I would have loved a bit more scenes of how she's going to be all right and has found herself while realizing not to care so much about what other people, especially her parents, think of her.
Overall, I enjoyed the book a lot more than I thought I would. It was a bit paint by numbers fat girl YA novel, but had some interesting bits and too real moments that kept me engaged. I recommend to anyone, but specifically for any girl who's struggling at a younger age about their size or how they look, it's important to know you're not alone and that things will get better, just have to learn a bit of self love, the hardest but most rewarding thing of all.
yolibear's review
4.0
I have to admit when this book first began I was afraid it would be terribly depressing. It had its moments. But all in all. I enjoyed it. I'm glad it on CD because had I been reading it, I probably would have given up on it before it really got interesting.
njreadsandwrites's review
3.0
I don’t even remember this book (changes rating). But due to further research, I recall it being about a “fat” teen who feels that everyone is against her because of her weight.
Being a “fat” woman...and I’ve been a range of slightly chunky to obese....is not a bad thing. Some people who are deemed “fat” are very healthy.
Plus, the way she “got over” her weight bashing was somewhat unrealistic.
Being a “fat” woman...and I’ve been a range of slightly chunky to obese....is not a bad thing. Some people who are deemed “fat” are very healthy.
Plus, the way she “got over” her weight bashing was somewhat unrealistic.
minas_elessar's review
4.0
Carolyn Mackler never disappoints with her heartfelt YA books. This is a book that anyone could read many times and never tire of it. The main character transforms through the novel from a self conscious and withdrawn wallflower to someone who can accept herself and others, flaws and all. She grows to love and embrace her own sense of individuality (as seen when she gets her piercing) and is a more beautiful person because of it, inside and out. It's a book that makes the reader feel good, and it really cheered me up by the end.
dinnureads's review
5.0
A very empowering book for teenagers. The book is about finding yourself and the things that make you happy and accepting yourself the way you are. I liked it a lot, although I had moments, when I hated some of the characters so much and felt sorry for Virginia...
sarahanne8382's review against another edition
3.0
At the beginning of her sophomore year, Virginia Shreves suspects she was switched at birth and some chubby blonde family is raising the skinny brunette that should be a Shreve. Her parents ignore her in favor of her popular accomplished older siblings, her best friend has moved away, and she's managed to find a regular makeout partner, but do the aforementioned chubbiness doesn't want to push her luck and hope for a real relationship. After all, the guy's name is Froggy.
While I've tried to start this a million times, once I finally sat down in earnest, I read the vast majority of it in under 24 hours. I don't quite understand because I didn't love this book. It was good, but I don't really feel like anything about it stood out, except that the use of technology makes it clear that this book is over 10 years old. If you're looking for a contemporary-ish YA about a girl who feels invisible, this should work for you.
While I've tried to start this a million times, once I finally sat down in earnest, I read the vast majority of it in under 24 hours. I don't quite understand because I didn't love this book. It was good, but I don't really feel like anything about it stood out, except that the use of technology makes it clear that this book is over 10 years old. If you're looking for a contemporary-ish YA about a girl who feels invisible, this should work for you.
jeslyncat's review
3.0
I'm a big fan of the style of writing that Mackler has used here, dynamic characters thrown into an turbulent plot and left to come out the other side makes for a great read.