Dear Opl

June 1, 2015
In the two years since her father's death from cancer, Opal's life has gone awry. Grief and her family's altered dynamics have contributed to Opal's struggles with food and weight. She is increasingly at odds with her mother, who is overwhelmed and distracted. When her mother encourages Opal to start a blog as a way to document her food intake, Opal decides to use it to express her thoughts instead. Soon, Opal's sharp, humorous observations as "Opl" garner interest as people respond to her commentary. Sackier captures Opal's emotional turmoil as she grieves for her father and resists her mother's campaign to persuade her to diet. When a savage blog entry directed at a popular chef earns Opal criticism from her best friend, remorse-along with an alarming health diagnosis from Opal's doctor-compels Opal to reconsider the chef's healthful-food philosophy. Sackier conveys a message about healthy habits without lecturing. Opal's adventures in cooking and yoga-with occasionally comical results-alter her perspective, and her changing attitudes reflect her personal and emotional transformation. As Opal endeavors to better understand who she is, she gains a greater awareness of others' life circumstances as well. When a chance encounter leads to Opal's acquaintance with Rudy, a regular visitor to the local soup kitchen, Opal devises a kindhearted plan to help him. By the story's conclusion, readers will be happy they traveled with Opal on her journey to self-acceptance. (Fiction. 10-14)

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