Review: 45 Pounds (More or Less) by K.A. Barson

Title: 45 Pounds (More or Less)

Author: K.A. Barson

Publisher:Viking Juvenile

Publishing Date: July 11th 2013

Source: Netgalley

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 informercial 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!

Review: 45 Pounds is a book every woman (young adult or adult) should read. The message about body image is impactful and yet light. There were several times that I was laughing out loud. Ann has a great voice that feels real and not forced. If I were still in high school, I would want Ann and especially Regina to be my friend.  Barson did an excellent job developing each character. Even the characters who were mean and awful people, were characters I loved to hate. She captured the insecurity of so many women but did it in a way that you could laugh at yourself, Ann and her crazy family.

Not only is this about the woes of body image but it also shows the imperfections of families, no matter how perfect they seem on the outside. From the crazy grandma to the absent brother, there is a family member that I’m sure everybody can compare to their own imperfect families.

I especially liked that there was a love interest but it wasn’t the main plot line. In fact, that plot line takes a back seat for much of the book until Ann is capable of really handeling it. I like that she is more interested in herself, her family and her friends than a boy.

I loved these characters so much I would love to see a sequel of some sort  Maybe a book written from Regina’s point of view.

The pacing of the book is perfect and the ending brought tears to my eyes.

I can’t wait to put this book on the Bookshelves of Room 918!

About the Author

K.A. Barson graduated from Vermont College of Fine Arts with an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults. She and her husband live in Jackson, Michigan, surrounded by kids, grandkids, unruly dogs, and too many pairs of shoes. 45 Pounds (More or Less) is her debut YA novel.

Want to know more about the author? Visit her website.