The Melting of Maggie Bean

July 1, 2007
Gr 6-8-This thoughtful coming-of-age novel focuses on an overweight seventh grader who compensates for her lack of self-confidence with an abundance of ambition and heart. Maggie Bean has gained more than 30 pounds in the past yeara reaction to the stress caused by her father being laid offand she is ready to drop those pounds. She attends the Pound Patrollers meetings at her parents' insistence, but her key motivation is her yearning to be a member of the Water Wings, an ultra-exclusive synchronized swim team at her school. Mastering the complicated routines is not what Maggie is stressed about, but rather looking good in the silver two-piece that serves as the team uniform. While her weight issue is crucial to the story, it is not its sole focus. Instead, the author zeroes in on Maggie's journey of self-discovery and her struggle to find her place in the world. Losing weight and seeing what her body can do when pushed is just the self-esteem booster she needs. Maggie realizes that she can do whatever she wants when she puts her mind to it and that she determines how others see her. This empowering novel is perfect for girls trying to overcome any obstacle, weight-related or not."Robyn Zaneski, New York Public Library"

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