Review: 45 Pounds (More or Less) by K.A. Barson

Title: 45 Pounds (More or Less)

Author: K.A. Barson

Publisher: Viking Juvenile

Publication Date: 7.11.2013

Pages: 256

Genre: Contemporary

Series: No

Source: ARC from publisher

Rating: A+

Summary (from Goodreads):

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 10 weeks, and wants Ann to be her bridesmaid.
So Ann makes up her mind: Time to lose 45 pounds (more or less) in 2 1/2 months.

Welcome to the world of informercial diet plans, wedding dance lessons, embarrassing 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!

Review:

So rarely have I felt utterly and totally smitten with a book. 45 Pounds (More or Less) by K.A. Barson was the book that I started raving about as soon as I was done. I immediately jumped on twitter, facebook, and started texting all my friends because this is the book I want every teenage girl to read.

Ann is a funny, snarky, loveable character that worked her way into my heart in less than a chapter. She also happens to be about 45 pounds overweight. Following her journey across one summer as she tries to lose those 45 pounds is equally poignant and hilarious. I get Ann. I was Ann. I tried it all—Weight Watchers, every get slim quick diet craze, and everything in between. In a world where your value is often placed on the size of your waist, it’s easy to get lost in it all.

Watching Ann transition from a girl to a young woman was fascinating and awe inspiring. I wish I had had the courage to stand up for myself the way Ann did, and the ability to ultimately be able to differentiate between being thin and being healthy. Ann is such a positive role model for young girls. I want to run out and put copies of this in every high school and make it required reading. It’s that good.

But this isn’t just about Ann trying to lose weight. It’s also about why she got to the point and how outside influences (friends, family, and classmates) can alter the way we perceive ourselves and not always in a good way. Barson isn’t afraid to show the insecurities girls face on a daily basis. How things as seemingly trivial as eating lunch in front of people can make you as vulnerable as walking outside in your underwear.

This is that book that will stick with me for a long time. For the longest time I was Ann, but I’m happy to say we both made it out OK. Definitely get this book, especially if you think you can pass it on to a younger reader.

Buy: Amazon | The Book Depository