Set against the backdrop of family gatherings and the hectic world of teenage friendships, this heartfelt and humorous debut novel beautifully illustrates the importance of embracing one's true self.
“Deliciously relatable, with a lot of laughter on the side.”—Rita Williams-Garcia, New York Times bestselling author
“A powerful and poignant novel about hope and love in the midst of common and controversial issues about weight gain, weight loss, and the ability to persevere despite our flaws.”—VOYA, starred review
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
2 months, and wants Ann to be a bridesmaid.
So Ann makes up her mind: Time to lose
45 pounds (more or less).
Welcome to the world of informercial diet plans, wedding dance lessons, endless 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!
K.A. Barson earned an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. She and her husband live in Jackson, Michigan, surrounded by kids, grandkids, unruly dogs, and too many pairs of shoes. This is her first novel.
Visit her website at www.kabarson.com.
“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“Deliciously relatable, with a lot of laughter on the side.”
—Rita Williams-Garcia, New York Times bestselling author
“With both humor and depth, the story of Ann’s resilience, determination, and strength will inspire readers on their own journey toward a sparkly new life.”
—Susane Colasanti, author of Keep Holding On
“A powerful and poignant novel about hope and love in the midst of common and controversial issues about weight gain, weight loss, and the ability to persevere despite our flaws.”
—VOYA, starred review“Telling the story in Ann’s wry, realistic voice, this debut author effectively captures society’s preoccupation with size and the resulting alienation of an overweight teen. . . . Barson lightens the tone with almost cinematic humor, ensuring that even the most painful scenes have a slapstick edge. The ticking clock behind the wedding deadline gives the story real momentum, and while the ending is all nuptial jubilation, it is also a realistic summer’s end for Ann.”
—School Library Journal“Teens . . . will find a funny, smart companion in Barson’s charming heroine. . . . All readers will cheer for this winning character.”
—Shelf Awareness
