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al3xa's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
I’m so glad this book exists! Parts of it felt didactic, but in ways that made sense, and probably would hit better for a teen reader than for an adult :) I think EIKAY is great in its own right and also excellent antidote to the many tween and teen books that don’t treat eating disorders with the compassion they deserve <3
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming and Eating disorder
Minor: Fatphobia and Toxic friendship
rainyrow555's review against another edition
5.0
I love this book so much I’ve never seen eating disorder be betrayed in middle school and the portray was so great recommend to anyone
rebeccalm's review against another edition
3.0
A growing pains novel written in a very believable middle school aged voice. Some of the main subjects portrayed in this book do include body image issues and disordered eating.
Our main protagonist, Tally, is a loud and proud weirdo who doesn't care what anyone thinks (or does she?). When Tally's whole 7th grade class gets to take an overnight field trip to D.C. her whole world starts to turn on its head as friendships are tested and bullies are confronted and popular girl 'clones' abound. Does Tally always go against the grain merely for attention or because that's who she really is inside? Is everyone else just pretending to be perfect all the time or are they really perfect behind closed doors, too?
This was an interesting story about friendships and secrets, and allowing room for people to grow and mature, and maybe even surprise you.
Our main protagonist, Tally, is a loud and proud weirdo who doesn't care what anyone thinks (or does she?). When Tally's whole 7th grade class gets to take an overnight field trip to D.C. her whole world starts to turn on its head as friendships are tested and bullies are confronted and popular girl 'clones' abound. Does Tally always go against the grain merely for attention or because that's who she really is inside? Is everyone else just pretending to be perfect all the time or are they really perfect behind closed doors, too?
This was an interesting story about friendships and secrets, and allowing room for people to grow and mature, and maybe even surprise you.
mindfullibrarian's review against another edition
5.0
Thanks to the author for providing @kidlitexchange with a review copy of this book!
I will preface this review with the fact that I have a close personal connection to the eating disorder topics addressed in this book, and have read extensively on the topic at times in my life. In addition, I try to read all (or as many as possible!) MG and YA titles that discuss this topic to ensure that the portrayal is 1) accurate and 2) sensitive and 3) non-glamorizing. I am so happy to say that this book hits all three of those in the best middle-grade-way possible, and in addition, addresses the life-long nature of anorexia and purging through exercise rather than a tied-with-a-bow quick fix.
Tally.....oh Tally. She is one of my new favorite middle grade heroines because of her body positive attitude and strong sense of self. She bows to no one, but also realizes her own vulnerabilities, and is willing to admit when she is wrong and apologize to those who deserve it. She EATS food and dresses to her heart's desire and rejects harmful body image and style stereotypes. Her struggles with how to deal with Ava's issues are heartfelt and so so real.
Now for the trip storyline. I *JUST* returned from a middle school bus trip to Washington DC with my daughter and her class, so this story entered my reading life at the exact right time! I connected with every part of the trip, and it brought me right back there - I loved how Dee addressed the rooming issues and social issues, as these are the exact things I witnessed during my time as a chaperone. For anyone who hasn't gone on this trip, please know that this book perfectly nails it.
EVERYTHING I KNOW ABOUT YOU deserves a place in every middle school library and classroom, and I have already pre-ordered copies for my library and my daughter. As a mom, THIS is the book I want my daughter reading and Tally is the heroine I want her reading about.
Please also go and read Dee's post on Nerdy Book Club on her motivation for this story - it is required reading!
AND if you want another MG on this topic, with a slightly different, but equally good twist, please read THINGS THAT SURPRISE YOU by Jennifer Maschari.
I will preface this review with the fact that I have a close personal connection to the eating disorder topics addressed in this book, and have read extensively on the topic at times in my life. In addition, I try to read all (or as many as possible!) MG and YA titles that discuss this topic to ensure that the portrayal is 1) accurate and 2) sensitive and 3) non-glamorizing. I am so happy to say that this book hits all three of those in the best middle-grade-way possible, and in addition, addresses the life-long nature of anorexia and purging through exercise rather than a tied-with-a-bow quick fix.
Tally.....oh Tally. She is one of my new favorite middle grade heroines because of her body positive attitude and strong sense of self. She bows to no one, but also realizes her own vulnerabilities, and is willing to admit when she is wrong and apologize to those who deserve it. She EATS food and dresses to her heart's desire and rejects harmful body image and style stereotypes. Her struggles with how to deal with Ava's issues are heartfelt and so so real.
Now for the trip storyline. I *JUST* returned from a middle school bus trip to Washington DC with my daughter and her class, so this story entered my reading life at the exact right time! I connected with every part of the trip, and it brought me right back there - I loved how Dee addressed the rooming issues and social issues, as these are the exact things I witnessed during my time as a chaperone. For anyone who hasn't gone on this trip, please know that this book perfectly nails it.
EVERYTHING I KNOW ABOUT YOU deserves a place in every middle school library and classroom, and I have already pre-ordered copies for my library and my daughter. As a mom, THIS is the book I want my daughter reading and Tally is the heroine I want her reading about.
Please also go and read Dee's post on Nerdy Book Club on her motivation for this story - it is required reading!
AND if you want another MG on this topic, with a slightly different, but equally good twist, please read THINGS THAT SURPRISE YOU by Jennifer Maschari.
kater07's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
willowshelter's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
medium-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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder
renwright's review against another edition
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? It's complicated
5.0
sophiesyareads's review against another edition
3.0
This book was okay. I didn’t like the characters and the issue although quite real I feel like wasn’t brought up correctly. I started reading this book because I thought the numbers was some sort of spy thing and it turned out to be her eating disorder which I didn’t want to read a sad book. I also feel like the ages should have been portrayed better because tally was really kiddish for what seventh grade?
liralen's review against another edition
3.0
Sweet if a little standard when it comes to middle-grade eating-disorder fiction. Tally's kind of exhausting at times, but since that seems to be the intention, it's...laugh-with-it rather than roll-your-eyes-at-it.
I'm not entirely sure why Ava tries so hard with Tally, who is determined to keep Ava in the Mean Girls camp. It's nice that they end up as friends, but maybe not that believable. I'd also have liked to see a bit more of Sonnet's story. They're all at this transitional period when they're figuring out who they're going to be as they break into their teenage years, and it seems like most of Sonnet and Caleb's character development happened before the start of the book (only it took Tally most of the book to notice and accept this).
As an aside...makes me think of my middle-school trip to D.C. If I remember correctly, there was pretty much just as much drama, if in a different configuration, and a lot more scheduled activities. It's a little surprising that the teachers didn't smother us all in our sleep.
I'm not entirely sure why Ava tries so hard with Tally, who is determined to keep Ava in the Mean Girls camp. It's nice that they end up as friends, but maybe not that believable. I'd also have liked to see a bit more of Sonnet's story. They're all at this transitional period when they're figuring out who they're going to be as they break into their teenage years, and it seems like most of Sonnet and Caleb's character development happened before the start of the book (only it took Tally most of the book to notice and accept this).
As an aside...makes me think of my middle-school trip to D.C. If I remember correctly, there was pretty much just as much drama, if in a different configuration, and a lot more scheduled activities. It's a little surprising that the teachers didn't smother us all in our sleep.
readingthroughtheages's review against another edition
5.0
So well done. Love how dimensional the characters are. Readers are going to relate to them.