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3.63 AVERAGE
3.63 AVERAGE
This book deals with a lot of issues including: body image struggles, date-rape, self-harm, underage drinking, sex, crappy parents, eating disorders, and even death (but not of a major character). Mostly it's just about being a teenager. On the back of the copy I read there was a quote from Sarah Dessen encouraging all girls to read it. Personally, I think all boys should read it.
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
so glad I'm not a teenager in 2003! or a teenager at all!
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I guess I hadn't read the description of this book since I added it to my to-read list because I didn't realize it was YA. But Amazon had a bunch of books on sale so I added this one.
Generally a pretty cute book, although I wasn't in the best frame of mind to read about a girl struggling with weight problems and self-harm. The main character, Virginia, actually reminded me a lot of Carmen in the 'Traveling Pants' series. I'm not sure exactly why, but her combination of spunkiness, insecurity, and random outbursts all seemed familiar.
It seemed like a fairly realistic depiction of a 15 year old's point of view about things. The first chapter in particular, when Virginia is having her first makeout session, seemed unfortunately all too familiar.
Like all good teen novels, it all turns out okay in the end. But the Shreves - the whole family, not just the youngest member - have to come to terms with some tougher issues.
I liked that the book had a variety of stronger ladies that refused to be victims. Virginia had some different role models when she was willing to look for them. It's nice to see that strength wasn't always found by talking to older women in the family, that sometimes younger women could also be good examples.
Generally a pretty cute book, although I wasn't in the best frame of mind to read about a girl struggling with weight problems and self-harm. The main character, Virginia, actually reminded me a lot of Carmen in the 'Traveling Pants' series. I'm not sure exactly why, but her combination of spunkiness, insecurity, and random outbursts all seemed familiar.
It seemed like a fairly realistic depiction of a 15 year old's point of view about things. The first chapter in particular, when Virginia is having her first makeout session, seemed unfortunately all too familiar.
Like all good teen novels, it all turns out okay in the end. But the Shreves - the whole family, not just the youngest member - have to come to terms with some tougher issues.
I liked that the book had a variety of stronger ladies that refused to be victims. Virginia had some different role models when she was willing to look for them. It's nice to see that strength wasn't always found by talking to older women in the family, that sometimes younger women could also be good examples.
I wasn't sure I would like this book but I fell in love with the character & felt it could be so many of the students I see every day.
Really great book on understanding yourself, your family, and how to speak up on your own behalf.
I was so hyped for this book because with a title like that you've just GOT to have a really good story go with it, right? And I was kind of disappointed.
First off, y'all I just really don't think I'm in the proper mindset to fully enjoy books that handle topics like this (weight bias, fatphobia, rape etc.) and I think that's what's influencing the next thing I'm going to say: if you've read one book through the perspective of a fat girl, or on depression etc., you've read them all.
Which sounds really harsh but let me explain things. Mental illness manifests itself in people in different ways, it shows itself in behaviours that we wouldn't even consider as being a symptom of a bigger problem unless we were talking to a professional. So then explain to me why we see the same thing being represented in literature over and over and over and over again. It's the same internal dialogue and behaviour when we know that it looks different in every person.
"But these authors aren't experts, they don't have knowledge on this stuff."
THEN TALK TO A PROFESSIONAL AND LEARN. If you're gonna publish a book about the topic, it's your job to do your research!!!!!!
But anyways, moving onto the actual content. There wasn't anything bad about the book in all honesty, it's just, I've read the exact same character in at least a dozen other books. I will say, for someone who's mother is a psychologist, Virginia's mom is unbelievably stupid and clueless. How do you go all the way through your PhD and learn absolutely nothing about eating disorders, or orthorexia etc.?
What I did appreciate about the book was the character development that Virginia had in the last few pages of the book as she finally realized that it didn't matter what anyone else thought about her and that she didn't need to be trying to get the approval of her parents when they did nothing but mistreat her.
I think the last few pages were really good in terms of showing what being confident in your own body can do for you and for the relationships around you and not giving a shit about other people.
But yeah, long story short, it was decent but nothing special.
First off, y'all I just really don't think I'm in the proper mindset to fully enjoy books that handle topics like this (weight bias, fatphobia, rape etc.) and I think that's what's influencing the next thing I'm going to say: if you've read one book through the perspective of a fat girl, or on depression etc., you've read them all.
Which sounds really harsh but let me explain things. Mental illness manifests itself in people in different ways, it shows itself in behaviours that we wouldn't even consider as being a symptom of a bigger problem unless we were talking to a professional. So then explain to me why we see the same thing being represented in literature over and over and over and over again. It's the same internal dialogue and behaviour when we know that it looks different in every person.
"But these authors aren't experts, they don't have knowledge on this stuff."
THEN TALK TO A PROFESSIONAL AND LEARN. If you're gonna publish a book about the topic, it's your job to do your research!!!!!!
But anyways, moving onto the actual content. There wasn't anything bad about the book in all honesty, it's just, I've read the exact same character in at least a dozen other books. I will say, for someone who's mother is a psychologist, Virginia's mom is unbelievably stupid and clueless. How do you go all the way through your PhD and learn absolutely nothing about eating disorders, or orthorexia etc.?
What I did appreciate about the book was the character development that Virginia had in the last few pages of the book as she finally realized that it didn't matter what anyone else thought about her and that she didn't need to be trying to get the approval of her parents when they did nothing but mistreat her.
I think the last few pages were really good in terms of showing what being confident in your own body can do for you and for the relationships around you and not giving a shit about other people.
But yeah, long story short, it was decent but nothing special.
Very inspiring read, and something that also hit close to home and had me in tears. The Fat Girl Code of Conduct, especially.