Book Review: Skinny

Here's another one about self-image and weight:

Skinny

by Donna Cooper

Ever Davies has been overweight most of her life, only now that she is in high school, the bullying and the self-loathing are at their peak.  She has always had "Skinny," her subconscious bully telling her how fat she is and how no one likes her.  Ever has her most trusted friend, Rat, that will stick with her through everything, fat or thin, but when the school musical try-outs are announced, Ever realizes the only way to get a part, maybe the lead, is to lose the weight.

Ever decides to go through surgery to shrink her stomach and lose the weight.  This leads into more drama, as the popular girls soon make Ever into their pet project, leaving Ever wondering who are her true friends, and who is just using her.

I was a little concerned when I read this book is about a teenager that has this surgery--I never thought it could be safe for someone so young, but the author (who has had gastric bypass herself) touches on that subject and explains why it could, and does, work for Ever.

As a reader, you are rooting for Ever, not only to lose weight and to be able to try out for the musical, but also to gain self-respect and self-esteem.  She has to go through all the ups and downs herself--it makes no difference what her loyal friend or father says, as it is with most teenagers--you have to live it to understand it.

This book is eerily realistic, in my opinion, because there IS bullying for overweight teens, and I can only imagine that it has happened often that the popular kids make a project out of the "loser" just like we see in Hollywood movies--only this time, the message is showing those fake mean girls for exactly who they are, and Ever is able, by the end of the book, to put those people in place.

This is a must read for pretty much every teen, regardless of what genre you like to read.