Author: K. A. Barson
Publisher: Viking Juvenile
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Synopsis from book:
Here are the numbers of Ann Galardi's life:
She is 16.
And a size 17.
Her perfect mother is a size 6.
Her Aunt Jackie is getting married in 2 months, and wants Ann to be a bridesmaid.
So Ann makes up her mind: Time to lose 45 pounds (more or less).
Welcome to the world of informercial diet plans, wedding dance lessons, endless run-ins with the cutest guy Ann's ever seen—and some surprises about her not-so-perfect mother.
And there's one more thing—it's all about feeling comfortable in your own skin—no matter how you add it up!
K.A. Barson's sparkling debut is "deliciously relatable, with a lot of laughter on the side." -- Rita Williams-Garcia, New York Times best-selling author
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Books about girls and body image are everywhere, especially in teen literature. The concept of beauty screams at us from supermarket shelves and runway shows. Girls that do not naturally fit the mold are made to feel weird and less than perfect. And when books tackle the topic of weight, usually things like "cutting" and "eating disorders" are the common themes. Which is why, when I saw this advertised in a book ordering catalog, I was skeptical about reading it. However, it will go down as one of my top reads for 2013.
Why? I found it instantly relatable and a book I will recommend to any teen girls coming into the library. I was never a girl who struggled with weight--mostly because I have been in the three percentile my entire life. Sometimes, though, I get the glances. The "how do you eat all the rich food? Are you anorexic?" type of glances. It drives me crazy! And while Ann has issues finding clothes that fit on one side of the spectrum, I can have it on the other side. But I have friends who could relate to Ann's struggles. Just like I know countless other girls can...or have friends who can.
This book ultimately encourages girls to embrace the skin they are in. However, they also encourage a healthy version of themselves. Eating in moderation, exercising, adapting clothes to fit your size. They debunk the whole "fad diet" thing. It really is a book that takes common plights and shows how change can be attainable. But a beautiful thing--at the end of the book, Ann realizes that life isn't just about losing weight; it is about focusing on all she has gained. It's a good message to remember.
45 Pounds (More or Less) could stop there, but it goes one step further with trying to reinforce positive thinking. Ann's mother has her own issues with recovering from an eating disorder, Ann has her's...and all of it is robbing off on Ann's younger sister. Eventually they discover how vicious the circle is, how they have done a number on a four year old. It hits close to home. I mean, when we make comments after eating about how we feel fat, do we not think others can hear that? They say that little ones are easily the most impressionable. So we act in such a way that ends the circle on eating disorders? Or does it repeat generation after generation?
There is a little bit of language in the book. As well as a wedding between a lesbian couple. Some people might have issues with both of these things, but neither are overwhelming factors in the book. For me, they are definitely not deterrents. I believe middle school girls need to read 45 Pounds (More or Less). They will be entertained and they will be encouraged.
Those are two good things that every book should do.
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