Publication: August 1, 2016, by Switch Press
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Contemporary
Pages: 256
Format: ARC
Source: BEA/Publisher
Rating:
Chelsea Duvay is so many things.
She's an avid musical lover, she s a gifted singer, and she has the most perfect, beautiful feet. But no one ever notices that. All they notice is Chelsea s weight. Daily, Chelsea endures endless comments about her appearance from well-meaning adults and cruel classmates. So she keeps to herself and just tries to make it through.
Don't make waves. Don't draw attention. That's how life is for Chelsea until a special class project pushes the energetic and incessantly social Melody into Chelsea's world. As their unlikely friendship grows, Chelsea emerges from her isolated existence, and she begins to find the confidence to enjoy life.
But bullies are bullies, and they remain as vicious as ever. One terrible encounter threatens to destroy everything Chelsea has worked so hard to achieve. Readers will be captivated by Chelsea s journey as she discovers the courage to declare her own beauty and self-worth, no matter what others might think.
My Thoughts:
I originally picked up Nice Girls Endure because I was seeking a nice, quick read that would (possibly?) steer me away from my treacherous reading slump. I'm not sure if it had the power to steer me away from this slump, but, I may say that for the first half of the novel, it was enjoyable and quite interesting. Chris Struyk-Bonn used her unique writing style to combat a subject that many Young Adult Fiction novels lack of: insecurity involving weight. I loved the protagonist, Chelsea, who had a strong voice, but, sadly, this deserves a three-star-rating due to how suddenly the book became uninteresting and to put it easily: lacking.
This was about Chelsea, our 'heroine' who constantly got bullied at school due to her weight. She has no friends, and when she tries to make some, things end up terrible and wrong. However, when she meets Melody, her life turns around and Chelsea begins to see signs of positivity. Of optimism. What this book mostly focuses is on is Chelsea's journey to positivity and happiness. There's nothing incredibly special that happens, which is quite saddening because isn't a book supposed to be entertaining and vivid? This sure wasn't.
I had high hopes because it's a story I grabbed at BEA and was so captivated to pick it up. I couldn't wait to dive into the story and enjoy. But, looking back, it was a story that didn't take me anywhere.
If you just want a story to see some kind of character development and strengthening, pick this one up. If you're seeking entertainment, look elsewhere. That's the best way to put this book. Hmmph.
*A review copy was provided by the publisher via BookExpo America in exchange for a honest review. Thank you so much!*
What are some other YA books that look at the subject of weight?
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