Skinny

September 24, 2012
Fifteen-year-old Ever Davies is a “300- pound girl who just wants to be invisible,” but her life—and her weight—change dramatically when she has gastric bypass surgery to win back her childhood sweetheart. Readers will be fascinated by the details of Ever’s surgery, and the permanent sacrifices she makes to accommodate her altered digestive system (“I take a spoonful of soup. I feel like I’ve just eaten a Thanksgiving dinner”). The negative voice that Ever constantly hears in her head, a voice she calls Skinny, will connect with anyone who has suffered from low self-esteem or been self-conscious (“You’re the charity case here, and don’t ever forget it,” Skinny says when Ever goes back-to-school shopping with two popular girls). Secondary characters—such as Ever’s pretty stepsister, with whom she has a strained relationship—appear scripted to underscore Ever’s eventual realization that “everyone has good parts and bad parts to them, no matter how... they may seem on the outside.” Cooner’s debut novel may be appreciated most for its information about gastric bypass surgery and its ramifications. Ages 12–up. Agent: Sarah Davies, Greenhouse Literary.

September 15, 2012
For the ultimate makeover, nothing beats gastric-bypass surgery. Her beloved, ever-dieting mom died five years ago. Now saddled with a beautiful stepmom and two gorgeous stepsisters, Ever, a sophomore, is pretty, smart, musically gifted and 302 pounds. Former buddy and long-term crush Jackson ignores Ever. She's taunted by classmates, but her own self-loathing eclipses their slurs--she's even given it a name, Skinny, and mostly ceded her identity to it. Skinny prevents Ever from taking up drama or accepting friendly overtures from stepsister Briella and takes Rat, science geek and loyal friend, for granted. Desperation drives Ever to gastric-bypass surgery. Her agonizing self-awareness, imprisoned in a body under severe stress, is compelling. (Author Cooner, who's had the surgery, doesn't sugarcoat its risks and considerable downsides.) As Ever loses weight, the story loses its grip on reality, avoiding tough issues, like the power assigned to appearance. A stylish classmate takes Ever under her wing, and enhanced by a designer wardrobe and hair, Ever's loveliness turns heads. Surgery's magic wand has opened doors for her that only the beautiful and gifted may enter. Lip service is paid to "inner beauty," but Cinderella, that quintessential consumer fairy tale and the plot's template, tells another story: It's what's outside that counts. (Fiction. 12 & up)

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October 1, 2012

Gr 7-10-In this debut novel, Cooner fictionalizes her experiences with extreme-weight-loss surgery. Ever Davies, 15, thinks she would be perfect for the part of Cinderella in her high school musical. She can sing, she knows what it's like to have a stepmother and stepsisters at home, and most people tend to ignore her since she weighs more than 300 pounds. Even Jackson, a childhood friend and now a hunk, looks right through her. Food has been a comfort since her mother died; however, her weight is becoming a serious health issue. And Skinny, the little voice in her head, keeps up a running commentary about Ever's weight and total incompetence. Despite her concerns about the risks of surgery, Ever finally undergoes gastric bypass. Her geeky friend, Rat, stands by her throughout the process, helping her chart her progress with pounds lost and pertinent songs. As she loses weight, Ever learns about the people around her-her stepsister Briella, who uses shopping to soothe herself when her dad ignores her; her new friend, Whitney; and even Rat, who might be Prince Charming in disguise. She forces herself to enroll in drama class to qualify for the musical and finds that she enjoys it. And as she becomes more confident, she realizes that Skinny's voice isn't as loud as it once was. The surgery is discussed in detail; readers can see this isn't a quick, easy solution, and that Ever's problems don't magically go away. This story will appeal to girls who struggle with doubts and fears, whether dealing with weight issues, loneliness, or lack of popularity.-Diana Pierce, Leander High School, TX

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 15, 2012
Grades 7-10 Ever is 15 years old and 302 pounds. She can't go swimming, drive a car, or even walk up the stairs without running out of breath. Weight Watchers, fat camp, miracle diets, a hypnotherapistshe has tried it all. But after a chair snaps beneath her in front of the whole school, she decides upon the dramatic and potentially dangerous solution of gastric-bypass surgery. As the weight begins to drop, Ever becomes the pet makeover project of popular Whitney, and this exciting new relationship pulls her away from her ever-loyal best friend, Rat. Debut-novelist Cooner's real-life experience with gastric bypass lends the story an irrefutable authenticity as Ever learns firsthand the gory details of both the surgical procedure and the aftermath of diet changes, nausea, and dumping. Cooner uses Ever's imaginary antagonist, Skinny, to drive home the message that Ever's self-hatred is what is holding her back more than anything else. And while Skinny's attacks aren't incorporated especially smoothly, this remains a crucial text for any teen considering such a life-changing surgery.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)