Description
Everyone thinks they know Libby Strout, the girl once dubbed 'America's Fattest Teen'. But no one's taken the time to look past her weight to get to see who she really is. Since her mum's death, she's been picking up the pieces in the privacy of her home, dealing with her heartbroken father and her own grief.
Now, Libby's ready - for high school, for new friends, for love, and for every possibility life has to offer. Everyone thinks they know Jack Masselin too. Yes, he's got swagger, but he's also mastered the art of fitting in. What no one knows is that Jack has a secret- he can't recognize faces. Even his own brothers are strangers to him. He's the guy who can re-engineer and rebuild anything, but he can't understand what's going on with the inner workings of his own brain.
So he tells himself to play it cool - Be charming. Be hilarious. Don't get too close to anyone. Until he meets Libby. When the two get tangled up in a cruel high school game which lands them in group counselling, Libby and Jack are both angry, and then surprised.
Because the more time they spend together, the less alone they feel. Because sometimes when you meet someone, it changes the world - theirs and yours. Jennifer Niven delivers another poignant, exhilarating love story about finding that person who sees you for who you are - and seeing them right back.
Review
This is a great new addition to our growing ‘sick-lit’ genre, although it sometimes seems that authors are now trying to uncover rarer conditions to inflict upon their poor characters.
This time we have alternating chapters from Jack has undiagnosed prosopagnosia - the inability to recognise faces - even those closest to him. Then we have Libby who after her Mum’s sudden death locked herself away to the point where she became the infamous ‘’America’s fattest teen” when her house was partially demolished to crane her out to go to hospital.
But this was three years earlier. Libby’s weight has halved and she is working to reclaim her life. She tackles prejudices head on but can’t believe it when the beautiful Jack seems to be really interested in her - yes in that way.
It finishes up being an amazing love story and an affirmation for positivity with Libby being the star. It is another great novel handling many current teen issues - bullying, body image, and relationships that will be loved by many aged 15+.
Reviewed by Rob
