Title: 45 Pounds (More or Less)Author: K.A. Barson
Publisher: Viking Juvenile
Release Date: July 11th 2013
Pages: Hardcover, 272 pages
Source: Library
Summary from Goodreads:
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 10 weeks, and wants Ann to be her bridesmaid.
So Ann makes up her mind: Time to lose 45 pounds (more or less) in 2 1/2 months.
Welcome to the world of infomercial diet plans, wedding dance lessons, embarrassing 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!
Unfortunately, 45 Pounds predictability really put a damper on this short, easy to read book. Just short of 300 pages, the story flew by but ultimately left me disappointed.
A lot of topics and scenes in the book seemed stereotypical and cliché. My biggest headshake/eye roll moment was when Anne went to a party and had her drinks spiked…. Guess what happened…. If you guessed she got sick all over the cute guy she liked, you win!
I did like the friendship aspects of the story. Anne’s personal journey allowed her to better connect with a new friend and her mother. I think it gave a good message of allowing Anne to see that there is a right kind of friend, the supportive friend who can help you through struggles and does not judge you.
Overall I think my biggest issue was this story was geared toward a younger YA reader and was very predictable. The humor was forced and felt a bit juvenile. I felt that the main character was all over the place and the true message of the story was buried under a whole lot of drama and unnecessary side stories.
