About This Book
Reach for this book when your teenager is struggling with body image, social isolation, or the weight of being different in a judgmental high school environment. It is a powerful choice for a child who feels like an outsider or who is dealing with the emotional scars of bullying. The story follows Susan, an overweight tenth grader who is placed in an alternative education counseling class after a prank goes wrong. Through her interactions with other marginalized students, particularly a sensitive gay classmate named Brendan, Susan begins to dismantle her own self-loathing. The book handles heavy themes of self-worth and identity with a grounded, realistic touch. It is a mature, honest look at the path toward self-acceptance, recommended for ages 13 and up due to its raw emotional honesty and realistic depiction of peer cruelty.
