45 Pounds by K.A. Barson | Book Review

My Thoughts

Ann is 16 and she has a LOT going on.  She's obese, but with a "perfect" size-6 mother.  Her parents are divorced, and both remarried.  Her mom is hard to live with because she's perfect and always exercises and never overeats; her step-dad is bit laisse-faire; the preschool twin step-siblings take a lot of their time & energy.  Her dad is never around; he's much more involved with his new wife and his two step-kids and his infant son.  Poor Ann is kind of left to her own devices.  (Personally, I was a little worried at the beginning of the book that there was too much going on.)

But here's where the book grabbed me and didn't let go:  Ann is fierce!  She is not going to wallow in self-pity.  She is not going to fail.  She is nothing short of awesome.

Ann is so real as a character.  Yes, she gets upset while trying to bathing suit shop with her mom.  But she doesn't let that completely stop her.  No.  She decides to do something about it and join a weight-loss program.  Her "best friend" Cassie has kind of fallen off the radar lately.  Does Ann wallow?  No.  She moves on.  I just love how she's so self-assured.  Such as when she applies for a job at a clothing store, even though she's too large to fit into their designer clothes.  And when she goes to two separate pool parties, even though she knows she's not rocking a magazine-ready bikini bod.

Just a small sort-of random bit:  I loved when Ann throws away the weight loss pill after they make her shaky.  Thank you, thank you, thank you K.A. Barson for making it a point for your character to try weight loss without scary pills!

There is so so so much more to this book than I'd ever be able to cover in a review!  It brings eating disorders of both types into the conversation, which is great; and it does it without being preachy!  And the ending is nice, but not unrealistic.  Not every problem is completely wrapped up in a bow, but life is slightly better.  I read this nearly in one sitting and will definitely be recommending it.