(2) YA Seventeen-year-old Ariel Burns is struggling with constant, anxious "what-if" thoughts and dark, violent "crocodile in my mind" fantasies that have escalated to an obsessive degree. She resorts to extreme, repetitive actions such as walking in circles sixty-four times to keep those awful thoughts at bay. With her beloved older sister away at college, her parents emotionally distant, and her best friend gone for the summer, Ariel is having difficulty separating fantasy from reality and worries that she is a danger to others. The support of new friends and texts from her sister help her to begin to confront those concerns. Cole explores the parallel stories of Ariel's inner and outer realities through compelling free verse and illuminating juxtaposition of inner monologue and external events. Questions of gender identity are interwoven as Ariel wonders what it means to be a "girl" when you're 5'11" and wear a size twelve shoe. "I am too many things, all of them / too. / Too big / Too quiet / Too broad / Too off." This powerful novel in verse provides an intimate look at the patterns of obsessive-compulsive disorder and offers an opportunity to explore the ways our inner voices affect our behavior and self-concept. Mental health resources are appended.

Reviewer: | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2024

(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Veronica Agarwal. At the start of this graphic novel, swimmer Tyler "Shark Fin" de Lugo has just gotten his cast off after a broken arm. It seems like perfect timing, with sleepaway camp about to begin. But Ty's best friend, swim teammate, and camp bunkmate Max has been acting distant, angry, and strange, and Ty's negative self-talk -- in both the first-person ("I got fat. I'm not good enough anymore. I'm useless as a friend, useless to the team") and dialogue ("Was he making fun of me? I must look like garbage right now." "Of COURSE he was making fun of you...idiot") -- is preventing him from getting back in the water. In fact, when Ty is feeling low, the graphic-panel art often shows him imagining being nearly drowned. Durfey-Lavoie and Agarwal (Just Roll with It, rev. 9/21) present another sympathetic and flawed protagonist whose experiences and interactions are understandable and affecting. A few helpful adults at the camp, including a former high school football star turned chill-dude counselor, give Ty some strategies and messaging for countering his insecurities and moving forward. Easy-to-follow panel art in subdued hues helps set the summer-camp scene, reflecting challenges that are cooperative both physically (e.g., building a boat) and emotionally (opening up to a friend -- and maybe more) along with individual growth and acceptance.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2024

(2) 4-6 Camp Sylvania, no longer a "fat camp" and (hopefully) vampire-free (Camp Sylvania, rev. 7/23), is now under the direction of Luna Lupowski, lover of all things New Age, who makes the campers toss their toiletries and sunscreen in favor of mystical water charged by the moon. This year Maggie brings her best friend, Nora, along, and she's thrilled they'll get to experience camp together. Maggie can't wait to search for the paranormal, but Nora's perfect summer involves befriending edgy bunkmate Claire and going to the dance with a boy. Of course there is something weird going on: a camper disappears after an animal tore apart his cabin, and others develop an excessive amount of body hair. It's up to Maggie and Nora to solve the mystery, while the really scary thing is that their friendship is growing apart. The first book's fat-liberation themes are here exchanged for a message about accepting the bodily changes that come with puberty. Nora and Maggie take turns as narrators, their engaging voices giving insight into both sides of their middle-school friendship drama. Snappy dialogue and gentle poking fun at New Agey-ness (workshops include "Primal Screaming 101" and "Water Has Feelings Too!") add to the humor.

Reviewer: Bodie Shanis | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2024

(2) 4-6 In this cautionary tale, the sequel to Finally Seen (rev. 1/23), the perks and perils of social media play a pivotal -- and educational -- role. The Gaos still struggle with bills, and Lina's mom joins Instagram to sell more bath bombs. Fifth grader Lina gets her first smartphone, and while technology offers some positives (video-chatting with her Beijing grandma, promoting her neighbors' small businesses), they are outweighed by the negatives. She envies her classmates' fancy homes, worries about her physical appearance, and experiences cyberbullying (as both a target and a bully); and her best friend gets catfished by an adult. Everything converges when the school holds a "Dangers of Social Media" event and a "Justice Session" to discuss student online behavior. Yang integrates facts about how social media is addictive and detrimental to people's mental health into the story and back matter. She helpfully shows readers a way to cut through social media's downsides -- by having honest conversations "brainstorming how to break the dopamine loop. How to not be played by the algorithm."

Reviewer: Michelle Lee | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2024

(2) YA In this sequel to verse novel Rain Rising (rev. 1/23), Rain Washington has begun to heal after a chaotic eighth-grade year in which her anxiety and depression (including body-image concerns) were exacerbated by a racist violent attack against her beloved older brother. Now entering her first year of high school, Rain must learn to contend with a whole new setting; and with family members busy or absent, old feelings of insecurity about her body begin to creep back in. Then Tommy, a charismatic sophomore, takes an interest in her. Bolstered by his compliments and attention, Rain begins to avoid her family and friends--until she discovers that Tommy has ulterior motives. As her emotions begin to spiral down a dark and familiar path, the ongoing support of those around her reminds Rain of the importance of continually acknowledging her own self-worth and needs, even as she also acknowledges the needs of others. Comrie again proves skilled in discussing topics of harassment, mental health, and (via a subplot about a friend's uncle) the deportation system, in verse as lyrically captivating as that of its predecessor. Rain and her friends remain sympathetic characters to connect with and root for.

Reviewer: Eboni Njoku | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2023

(2) YA A teenage girl's identity crisis coincides with the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in Girard's (Girl Mans Up, rev. 11/16) latest novel, set on the outskirts of Toronto. Baylee is a thoughtful yet highly self-critical young woman who struggles with body image after years of being bullied about her weight. Her once-strong friend group is filled with tension as romantic pairings emerge or fall apart, while Baylee believes she will never find a significant other. Gradually, she relaxes her defenses and affirms the feelings she has or develops for her best guy friend, a new female friend, and her one-time bully. Her emotional rollercoaster is intensified by caring for her twelve-year-old sister, who has severe cerebral palsy, and by the daily news about people getting sick from COVID-19. She is faced with decisions about exploring newfound romance during lockdown and putting her sister at risk. Baylee and her family, both blood and chosen, model how life's mistakes can be survivable with support from loved ones. Girard's strength as a writer is in giving Baylee voice as an outwardly strong person whose inner thoughts exist in a state of turmoil. The character and story are highly relatable and potentially validating for readers who are figuring out their identities as well as those who could benefit from their own tumultuous teenage experiences--especially during the pandemic--being externally validated.

Reviewer: Nicholas A. Brown | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2023

(1) K-3 As Harrison writes in her author's note, "In childhood, big is good. Big is impressive, aspirational. But somewhere along the way, the world begins to tell us something different: That big is bad. That being big is undesirable." Words matter, as a beautiful little Black girl learns. The girl, a dancer who wears a leotard and tutu throughout the book, "grew and learned and laughed...and grew and grew and grew. And it was good...until it wasn't." When she accidentally gets stuck in the baby swing on the school playground, her classmates and even her teacher hurl hurtful words and laughter, which begin to affect the youngster's self-esteem and self-perception. The text is spare but pointed; Harrison's emotionally powerful, pink-hued illustrations focus on her protagonist's inner experience. The girl looks like a giant in school and at dance class, "exposed, judged, yet invisible." The openness of the illustrations gives way to more cramped and overwhelming compositions as the girl, now in blue-gray, feels increasingly hemmed in by others' judgments--a visible statement about the impact of fatphobia and the adultification of Black children. This girl's story ends triumphantly; she takes her teacher's and classmates' hateful words and hands them back, saying, "These are yours. They hurt me." This book offers readers an opportunity to remember that we all deserve love and respect--no matter what size we are.

Reviewer: Monique Harris | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2023

(2) YA It's the beginning of Whit's senior year, and after a summer spent in doctors' offices instead of at the pool with her friends or video-chatting with her now-long-distance boyfriend, she is ready to get back on track. Her plan is simple: lead the school Fall Fest committee to autumn-themed excellence, get closer to her younger sister, help Abuela at the tailoring shop, and manage her polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) so she can enjoy fall to the fullest. Nothing, of course, goes according to plan: Whit and her boyfriend break up. PCOS causes exhaustion, weight gain, and newly sprouting facial hair. In her concerns about her sister being mistreated for being autistic, Whit must face the fact that she was engaging in slightly ableist behavior herself. And Whit is partnered to plan Fall Fest events with Zay, her frustratingly attractive ex from middle school. Maldonado's writing warmly captures the charms and challenges of high school life for a Latina in a fat body, believably rendering the struggles and idiosyncrasies of teenagerhood. The heart-fluttering romance that ensues with the thoughtful Zay makes for a cozy autumnal read, but the depictions of friendship, family, and navigation of a chronic illness make this a solid choice for all seasons.

Reviewer: | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2024

(2) 4-6 Maggie knows the summer after fifth grade will be amazing because she's finally going to the performing arts camp of her dreams...until her parents send her to weight loss camp instead. While enduring inedible food and exhausting workouts, Maggie befriends her bunk mates -- Kit, an excitable Girl Scout; and Evelyn, a posh British girl--and tries out for the camp production of The Music Man, for which she scores the title role. But the camp's owner, the glamorous influencer Sylvia, seems determined to suck as much fun from camp as possible, and some of her ideas are downright creepy, like forcing the underage campers to donate blood. When campers start disappearing, Maggie realizes it's up to her to uncover Sylvia's secrets. For starters, what is she doing with all the blood? The characters' quirkiness makes them engaging and memorable, especially Kit with her great enthusiasm for all things outdoors. Humor is woven throughout, from Maggie's frequent sass to a scene of vampires on a Zoom call. The central focus is on Maggie's journey to overcome her personal fears, but the diet culture–obsessed vampires also allow for some moments of biting satire.

Reviewer: Bodie Shanis | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2023

(2) 4-6 Tween Nat (short for Natalia de la Cruz Rivera y Santiago) is all about body positivity­ and female strength. She feels conflicted, however, when her mother's values around feminism clash with her own love of pretty things--lipstick, fashion magazines, and especially the spangles on the swimsuits of the L.A. Mermaids, a synchronized swimming group Nat is desperate to join. She blackmails her older cousin, Sheila, into covering for her and facilitating her participation on the team, but the secrets Nat and Sheila start to come between them and their families and friends. Nat navigates the rough waters of racial bias, fat-shaming, economic class hierarchies, and her own issues with impulse control and anger management, all while wishing (and doubting) her parents could be proud of her choices. By building community with her artistic swimming team, whose training Rivera describes in detail, Nat learns that she can't win every battle, and she reconfigures her concept of winning. Although the book itself sometimes succumbs to Nat's conviction that sometimes "teachable moments have to be forced," ultimately Nat, her mother, and even ultra-feminine Sheila grow into a new understanding of what it means to be a chingona--a fearless Latina.

Reviewer: | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2023

(2) YA This engaging graphic memoir depicts Suggs's formative experiences visiting family members in Mexico City and their rancho in the state of Querétaro. At home in Texas, Crís, who has a Mexican mother and a white American father, is assumed by others to be white and non-Latine. But with Mexican family, Crís (who now uses they/them pronouns) perceives being othered because of their limited Spanish and a skin tone that is lighter than that of relatives. During the trip, Crís develops a more mature understanding of their culture, their family traditions, and their mom's sacrifices. The narrative poignantly highlights the journey of self-discovery that so many young people experience--often in silence--growing up in the U.S. as the children of mixed families. Suggs's reflections are multilayered, addressing an awareness of their blended culture, concerns about weight, and processing of their emergent queer identity. The narrative is mostly in English, with untranslated Spanish interspersed; the book might be most fully appreciated by readers with basic English and Spanish reading abilities, but the graphic format helps with accessibility. Illustrations in a limited, muted palette richly portray the sights, sounds, and scents of Crís's Mexico, along with the warmth they feel for immediate and extended family. An epilogue with photos explains this narrative's source as "a combination of events from two solo trips to Mexico."

Reviewer: Nicholas A. Brown | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2023

(2) YA Color by Lynette Wong. "Remember, don't eat, just taste." Be gwai (good or obedient). California teen Valerie Chu learns these lessons from her controlling Taiwanese American mother, who monitors her daughter's meals. Valerie, hearing these harmful messages, engages in disordered eating and in purging. In this emotionally challenging yet redemptive tale, readers follow Valerie's efforts to be the "perfect daughter"--excelling at high school while maintaining a stick-thin figure. A tragedy that strikes her family adds further complications. Refreshingly, this graphic novel holds a mirror up to the harsh double pressure some Asian American girls face when they are forced to follow both Eastern and Western beauty and conformity standards. Ying's tranquil, pastel-toned digital illustrations of Valerie's outward life provide a stark contrast to her insidious mental-health difficulties, which are implied to be multigenerational. The story shows how Valerie's condition prevents her from enjoying such activities as a Lunar New Year feast or a Paris class trip, while her curvy best friend helps model healthier body image. Valerie herself eventually provides a positive example by sharing her struggle with trusted loved ones. Ying's afterword and resource list offer additional support.

Reviewer: Michelle Lee | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2023

(2) YA Plagued by body-image concerns and a lack of self-worth for as long as she can remember, Rain Washington can't seem to escape her sadness. Every day is a struggle to wake up and head to middle school--alone, since her best friend has moved out of their neighborhood (and in some ways, their friendship). Rain's few moments of happiness are thanks to her older brother, Xander. Cool, kind, intelligent, and loved by all, Xander is everything Rain wishes to be. With an absentee father and overworked mother, Rain feels that Xander is the only one who truly cares about her. When Xander is beaten by white fraternity members while on a college trip with his elite prep school, Rain's entire world is shattered. As she tries to maneuver through the press coverage, hospital visits, and her mother's and brother's changed behaviors, the chaotic aftermath causes Rain to spiral into self-destructive patterns. It takes support from an observant teacher and an afterschool group led by the school counselor to equip her with coping mechanisms to help heal and learn she's not as alone as she'd thought. This first-person novel in verse offers a powerfully intimate look at subjects such as depression, anxiety, and self-harm. In a heartfelt author's note, Comrie encourages readers to come to the same revelation Rain does: "Feelings really do matter. And no matter what, you are so loved."

Reviewer: Eboni Njoku | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2023

(1) 4-6 Illustrated by Rose Bousamra. In a graphic novel that takes on antiblackness and colorism, every Sunday Marlene must sit for hours at the beauty salon while her naturally abundant tight ringlets are styled into straight unfrizzy layers. Gorgeously emotive sunset- and teal-hued panels illustrate the passage of the seasons as Marlene unwillingly follows her mother into the salon yet again. Over time, Marlene begins to wonder if Mom is right, "that I can't be my best if my hair isn't straight." Marlene navigates the white standards of beauty entrenched in her Dominican family and which can permeate Latine communities, internalizing racist ideologies expressed in family comments: "You're lucky your baby's eyes are light." "Cara fina!" "Straighten your hair so you look more presentable." When school bullies target Marlene because of her hair, she takes a stand, which results in afterschool detention but also in a timely visit with Tía Ruby, who shows Marlene how to care for her curls as an act of radical love for Blackness and herself. Ortega's narrative shows the complex arc of Marlene's emotional growth--from exuberance to sadness, self-reflection to empowerment--captured with aplomb in Bousamra's expressive illustrations.

Reviewer: Lettycia Terrones | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2022

(2) 4-6 In Willis's debut graphic novel, based on her own experiences, narrator Lucy worships her older-by-one-year sister Livy. They play together, then fight, then make up--always. Things change when their parents send them to a brand-new school to start fifth and sixth grades. Shy Livy, furious at losing her tight-knit friend group, takes her anger out on her younger sister, who watches in dismay as Livy begins to obsess about her appearance and develops an eating disorder. Details about Livy's slow starvation are highly disturbing, but the cartoon-style illustrations help keep everything at a tolerable level and even manage to include lighthearted moments. With lots of therapy, and plenty of setbacks, Livy begins to recover, only to notice that Lucy has started losing weight. Heartbreakingly, Lucy can't help envying Livy's thinness in this story that lays bare diet culture's pervasive hold. Preteens listen to their peers; wisely, it's mainly Livy rather than an adult who explains the facts about disordered eating. (Helpful advice also comes from Lucy's awesome summer camp counselor, who encourages her to grow--in all ways--rather than shrink.) Holding this captivating story together is Lucy and Livy's unbreakable bond of sisterhood, authentically portrayed in both art and text. Appended with an author's note and resources.

Reviewer: Jennifer M. Brabander | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2022

(3) K-3 "Lanky bodies, squat bodies, / Tall, short, wide or narrow bodies, / Somewhere-in-the-middle bodies, / Bodies are cool!" Feder's rhyming text and double-page spreads filled with all kinds of people celebrate the variety of our physical attributes. The joy-filled cartoon illustrations pack a lot of bodies into the settings (e.g., subway car, pool, backyard barbecue) and offer plenty to consider. Each scene highlights one feature: physique, skin color, hair ("lots of hair or no hair"; "leg hair, armpit hair"), eyes ("monolids and round eyes"), tummies, legs ("roll-up-to-the-table legs"), scars ("marks-that-tell-a-story scars"), and more. The titular refrain keeps the book's message front and center.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(3) YA Illustrated by Lisa Tegtmeier. The diverse group of thirty-one contributors to this collection are fat, and proudly so. Their essays, full-color illustrations, and poems advocate for societal acceptance and accurate media representation of fat people, and encourage readers to love themselves and their bodies. It’s a message that, while repetitive, is welcome. Each piece is accompanied by the contributor’s photo and bio; “Fat Fashion Resources” are appended.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(2) YA Seventh-grader Ari Rosensweig is the new kid, "awkward, big, different / from everyone else." Picked on and beat up, Ari is drawn to other worlds where characters transform heroically (e.g., Avatar). The verse novel is a well-chosen format for Baron's debut, with his first-person narrative effectively revealing the protagonist"s growth step by step. Any reader who has felt like an outsider will be drawn to this verse novel.

Reviewer: Dean Schneider | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2019

(3) YA When she's first hospitalized for anorexia, twelve-year-old Riley wonders, "If I'm not skinny, who will I be?" After almost two months at the facility--where she makes friends, rediscovers a passion for art, works with a therapist, and eats--she finally acknowledges, "I am Riley." Written as journal entries, the epistolary novel believably captures Riley's disordered thinking and difficult road toward recovery.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(3) YA Max is a quiet fourteen-year-old Brit who enjoys birds, video games, and geocaching. But his anorexia threatens to take all his attention and might be destroying his family. An endearingly intimate voice draws readers into Max's internal battle, including his notably complex feelings about masculinity and puberty. This tender story is hopeful but painfully honest about the difficult work Max's recovery will require.

Reviewer: Jessica Tackett MacDonald