45 Pounds by K.A. Barson

Publlished: July 2013

Pages: 256

Publisher: Viking Juvenile

Copy Provided by: NetGalley

Summary: Goodreads

Summary:

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:

I'm not sure what I was expecting from this title but it was definitely enjoyable.  Perhaps I was looking for a comparable read to Meg Cabot's Heather Wells mysteries.  I think I was expecting more humor. You'll understand more when you read about Ann's encounter with a dress in the change room of her favorite store.  Ann vs. cute dress.  Who do you think will win the match?

The truth is, Ms. Barson brought together so many issues in this book that made me laugh, cry and reflect.  She addressed issues of weight management, family dynamics in a blended unit, self-confidence, all issues that are relevant in today's society.  Ann's character was real and very identifiable.  This would make an excellent ISU teen book review. 

Through Ann and her experiences, we see how insecure she really is about life and how her behaviors are often a reflection of what she has learned or as a result of what she has experienced.  This book isn't all about weight as it may suggest.  It is about self-discovery and life lessons.  Watch Ann grow and bud into a beautiful girl regardless of her size.  It is only through her younger sister that she learns just how her image and behavior has affected others.  We may think we know more than kids but ALL YOU EVER REALLY NEED TO KNOW, YOU LEARNED IN KINDERGARTEN!

This was a very enjoyable read.  I'd recommend it to ages 15 and up and even some of you YA adult readers.  It was a "sink yourself in a comfy chair and feel good when you're finished" read.