Teen Pick: 45 Pounds (More or Less)

45 Pounds (More or Less)
by K.A. Barson
Viking
2013
256 pages
ISBN: 9780670784820

"You'll love this book so much that you'll wish you had a friend like Ann." --Cynthia Leitich Smith, New York Times bestselling author

Poignant and savvy, 45 Pounds (More or Less) will tug at the  heartstrings. Sixteen year old Ann Galardi's life revolves around food, so much so that she is now wearing size 17 and some of those clothes are starting to feel pretty snug. Picture perfect size 6 Mom is constantly fighting with Ann over food choices.

Ann hates her weight, and she hates arguing about it and her mother's constant harping and veiled looks when Ann puts even  a bite of food in her mouth. Ann decides to take action when her Aunt Jackie announces plans for her upcoming wedding. Ann wants to lost weight to look nice for the wedding.

Armed with her debit card and a new resolve Ann orders a diet plan from an Infomercial. She eats the tasteless, unappealing food and soon sees the pounds dropping off. When she gets hired  at The Twisted Pretzel, a food court pretzel eatery, Ann has to  fight her demons. She will not eat pretzels or anything else from the food court.

Weeks pass and Ann continues to lose weight. People start to notice, too. Ann is on cloud nine when a cute guy stops by the pretzel shop and flirts with her. Later, she finds out he is her co-worker's cousin.

Family life is tense at home when Ann's stepfather's mother spends the night. Meal time is always tense with Ann's mother and little sister constantly fighting over food. Libby doesn't like to eat what is served to her, and Ann's mother tries forcing her to eat. Eating issues plague this family and the reader begins to see what drives Ann to find solace in food.

Highly, highly recommended for anyone who has ever been on a diet and anyone who loves a slightly flawed character who is not a size 0. Ann has spunk and charm--she is no quitter and no pushover. This is a real character who will resonate with teens.

Grade 7 and up with this warning: Ann's father cheated on her mother and she divorced him. Also, Ann's Aunt Jackie is a lesbian and marrying a woman. The publisher says age 12 and up. Depending on your community, this book may be high school level only. No language, no sex.

FTC Required Disclaimer: I purchased this book for my library. I did not receive monetary compensation for this review.

This review has been posted in compliance with the FTC requirements set forth in the Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising (available at ftc.gov/os/2009/10/091005revisedendorsementguides.pdf)

YA Picks: Sports and Such

Payback Time
by Carl Deuker
Houghton, Mifflin, Harcourt
2010
298 pages

Since grade school Mitch True has dreamed of becoming a real reporter--a hard-nosed investigative reporter like the ones he saw in the movie All the President's Men. At the beginning of his senior year, it is looking good that Mitch will become editor of Lincoln High School's paper. When Alyssa Hanson is named editor, Mitch nearly quits. She gives him "Sports." Who does she think she is? He is the most senior reporter on the paper--why does he get such a low-life job like sports?

Mitch almost quits, but sees an opportunity to break a story--maybe someone will get busted for steroids or maybe there'll be a huge story in football scholarships.

He teams up with school photographer Kimi Yon and together they find a story in a transfer student named Angel Marichal. Who is this mystery football player, and where did he come from? And what's his secret? Why is Coach McNulty hiding Angel's past? Could it be that the coach and the student are cheating for the championship? This could be the story of the year!

There is an underlying secret in Angel's past--a secret so dangerous that it will threaten the championship and change all their lives.

Carl Deuker not only writes for sports fans but anyone who loves a good read. Solid sports writing with a great story for the non-sports fan.

Not just for boys. Anyone who loves journalism will love this book.
Recommended for reluctant readers. Recommended for all YA collections grades 7-12.

FTC Required Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. I received no monetary compensation for my review, and this review was not influenced by the fact that the publisher sent me a copy. In fact, I probably would not have reviewed a "football" book at all, but since it was sent to me, I decided to read it. I found it highly interesting and will recommend it to my students to read.