Skinny

Sep 20, 2012 Kelly rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-fiction, read-in-2012

Admittedly, books about weight loss and the challenge of living with extra weight have a lot to live up to when I read them. I know it's a bias. But there are also many thresholds that need to be met, regardless of my own bias toward them. Unfortunately, this one was not satisfying.

When Ever is 15, she's over 300 pounds. She grief eats as a way of dealing with losing her mother years ago. This is never really explained or explored and it's definitely not emotionally compelling. We just need to a...more Admittedly, books about weight loss and the challenge of living with extra weight have a lot to live up to when I read them. I know it's a bias. But there are also many thresholds that need to be met, regardless of my own bias toward them. Unfortunately, this one was not satisfying.

When Ever is 15, she's over 300 pounds. She grief eats as a way of dealing with losing her mother years ago. This is never really explained or explored and it's definitely not emotionally compelling. We just need to accept that she shovels down candy and that's how it goes. No further back story.

The real problems begin, though, when suddenly Ever's approved for gastric bypass. There's talk about how she has tried dieting before and tried working out except we never see this struggle. There's no counseling, no nutritional education, no keeping a food diary. It's straight from 0 to risky surgery. The surgery happens quickly, and in no time, (view spoiler)

This book a very cursory exploration of the real issues of teen obesity and of bypass surgery. What worked for me was that Ever deals with a horrific internal voice. Skinny continues to tell Ever she's worthless, and that voice doesn't magically go away post-surgery. That said, everything Ever works for is done for the benefit of others and never herself. She gets the surgery because it would make other people happy. She wants the approval of a boy. She wants to fit in. It's not until the very, very end she has her own autonomy but by then, this book has laid stereotype upon stereotype making even that moment disappointing.

(view spoiler)

Full review here: http://www.stackedbooks.org/2012/09/s... (less)

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Aug 21, 2012 Ta§chima Cullen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-own, arcs-to-trade

You can find more reviews @BloodyBookaholic

It's s simple solution, really. Girl loves boy. Boy loves girl. Girl gets fat. Boy leaves. Girl cuts her stomach up into a little bitty pouch to get boy back.
-Ever, Skinny

The first time I wanted to read this book was in a Scholastic event where the author (along with some other helpers) played out the dialogue in the story out loud for the audience. From what heard from those few paragraphs I was intrigued. I got the book. Back at home, on a whim, I too...more You can find more reviews @BloodyBookaholic

It's s simple solution, really. Girl loves boy. Boy loves girl. Girl gets fat. Boy leaves. Girl cuts her stomach up into a little bitty pouch to get boy back.
-Ever, Skinny

The first time I wanted to read this book was in a Scholastic event where the author (along with some other helpers) played out the dialogue in the story out loud for the audience. From what heard from those few paragraphs I was intrigued. I got the book. Back at home, on a whim, I took it out off it's place in line in my TBR pile and read the back. The I read the first page, and the second page, and the third page... soon enough I was hooked.

The story undeniably has it's cheesy parts. From the predictable, Cinderella loosely based, overall plot, to the traditional high school experiences (being accepted into the "cool" crowd, going to the BIG dance, etc.), the cheese is deeply rooted. But then you get these glimpses into the characters souls and then you realize that they aren't as cookie cutted, they are more complicated than you might first think. My favorite character in the whole story wasn't Ever, the main character, it was her evil step sister Briella. That character alone was so complicated and it felt more alive to me than any other in that story. It seemed to me Briella wanted her story to be told as well, and even though she didn't have the spotlight she still manages to shine through. Ever is also a very complicated character that deals with a lot of issues, and although sometimes I found her unlikable as a person I could also appreciate the realness of the character. Being inside Ever's head was an experience I would not pass on though. Ever, Briella and Rat are the characters to watch out for here.

Also this isn't the kind of book that is trying to advise against having the gastric bypass surgery, I just wanted to clarify that because some books would take this as an opportunity to preach but Skinny does no such thing. I think the way it handled the whole thing was just right. It gives you all the needed information, but it doesn't feed it down your throat, nor does it try to sway you to think one decision is definitely better than the next.

The love story is as well cheesy and predictable, but it's so cute at the same time! And real, ya know? The whole time I was like, oh I know how this is going to happen, I know how you guys are going to go about it, but I can't help it, let it run it's course! This book is like a regular chick flick. You know how it's going to go down but you still buy the movie ticket and invite all your girlfriends along for the ride.

Because this book has a heart. It really does pull at your heart strings, and it's freaking entertaining. Reading about Ever's journey is worth it, worth your money, and definitely worth your time. I am so not a YA contemporary girl, but I wouldn't pass on Skinny for the world. It's really a book any girl, or boy, could relate to, because we all have had that voice in our heads that brings us down. And it is oh so satisfying to see how Ever kicks the hell out of that voice down to the grown.(less)

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May 23, 2012 Sylvia Dixon rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

Spot on about the issue of obestity among teens. Experiencing the interior monologues that go through Evers thoughts really creates insight into the mind of addiction. The book does not glamorize gastric by pass but presents the nitty gritty of the surgery. The book tackles bigger issues about self esteem and the self doubt that all teens experience.

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May 14, 2013 Amy Bailey rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really went back and forth on what to give this book. I like the subject matter. I like the incorporation of Cinderella and, while it was really heavy handed, it was supposed to be and the book is unapologetic about that, so I'm not sure why people seem to have a problem with it. This is really a coming of age story, and Ever had a lot to learn. At times she was completely unlikeable and she had no idea what she really wanted. She could be flat out mean and self centered. But this aspect of Ev...more I really went back and forth on what to give this book. I like the subject matter. I like the incorporation of Cinderella and, while it was really heavy handed, it was supposed to be and the book is unapologetic about that, so I'm not sure why people seem to have a problem with it. This is really a coming of age story, and Ever had a lot to learn. At times she was completely unlikeable and she had no idea what she really wanted. She could be flat out mean and self centered. But this aspect of Ever is what makes this book worth while. She must come to realize this about herself. Instead of disliking her for these character flaws, I applaud her for overcoming them. Say what you will about the controversy of a teenager having bypass surgery. Sure, I can understand those people who say, "Wouldn't it be better for Ever to just come to terms with who she is and be happy about it?" or, "Shouldn't Ever just try to lose weight the old fashioned way?" But this was Ever's story. This is what she did. And that's ok with me. In reality, Gastric Bypass Surgery is being done much more frequently with teens, so this plot is very real in today's day and age. As Donna Cooner has actually been through the surgery herself, I would assume the details in the book are very accurate. They seemed to be. The real hurdle Ever must overcome is not her weight. It's herself. It's Skinny, that horrible voice in her head that's constantly belittling her. The journey in this book is her quest to explore the depths of her own psyche and discover that Skinny and Ever are the same person but that they can't both exist at the same time. Either Skinny will win and break Ever's spirit or Ever will win and force Skinny out of her life to become whole.

Midway through the book I was a little annoyed. It didn't help that I listened to this on audio and I was less than thrilled with the reader. The voices of the characters were annoying and fairly unlikable. I don't think this was a problem with the actual dialogue but with the portrayal of the dialogue by the reader, and that's a shame. By the end of the book, I felt much better about it, because I liked the end. The resolution was predictable but solid. This was just a feel good book without a lot of bells and whistles, and that's ok. (less)

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May 08, 2013 Rylee Trapp rated it 5 of 5 stars

I loved the book Skinny. I think every teenage girl should read it. Skinny is the voice inside of Ever’s head. Ever is an obese 15 year old who just wants to escape high school. The voice in her head tells her everything she doesn’t want to hear. Skinny tells her what her classmates and family think of her. They call her a ”cow” and a “fatty.” She was skinny when she was young, but it when her mother died of cancer she figured she didn’t have a reason to stay skinny anymore. But when her stepsis...more

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May 06, 2013 Katelyn Wali added it

Skinny by Donna Cooner
Skinny is written by Donna Cooner. It was published in 2012 and is a realistic fiction genre. It could also classified as romance. Meet Ever. She is a 15 year old girl who weighs 315 pounds. A snotty voice lives inside her, telling her what other people think about her, and always tells Ever that she is fat, worthless, and no-one will ever love her. The terrible voice inside her is named Skinny. One day, at an assembly, Ever breaks through her chair. She then realizes she n...more

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May 05, 2013 Barbara rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: bullies, community, families, friendship, self-esteem, body-image

After a humiliating incident in which she breaks a chair in front of the entire school, fifteen-year-old Ever Davies who weighs 302 pounds, decides her only chance at normality is gastric bypass surgery. But the surgery isn't the answer to all her prayers as she must exercise and make life-changing choices such as avoiding all sweets and eating minuscule portions in order to avoid health issues associated with the change in her internal organs. The author does a great job of describing how Ever...more

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Apr 28, 2013 Isa rated it 5 of 5 stars

"Deeply moving,totally moving and utterly fabulous."
This book deserves some spotlight because it is simply amazing. Very insparational. It shows how overweight people DO face problems and they go through ALOT of problems.Skinny is a voice inside of Ever Davies's head. But, there is another voice. Ever's singing boice which is strong and pure but, has been silenced by Skinny.So Ever goes through a dangerous surgery which helps her shed pounds also with the support of her best friend, Rat, who Eve...more

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Apr 23, 2013 Talyn rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: teen-relationships, teenagers, teen-issues, fat-protagonist, ya-novels, school-setting, self-image-issues, oddball-kid, siblings, sisters, bullying-bullies, childhood-friendship, quick-and-fun-read, too-short, i-dont-care-about-your-suffering, genius-character-s

This book surprisingly got me hooked from the start. I read the first two pages and wanted to check it out from my High School library..

It was written in a way that painfully reminded of my own low self-esteem. I'm not fat, but the things that the evil little voice in Ever's head tearing her apart because of her weight echoes my own voice telling me that I'm a freak, a loser, a failure, a flawed weirdo who is destined to be simply a "broken" Aspie kid...

Anyway, the story went by quickly. The sur...more

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Apr 11, 2013 Amy rated it 4 of 5 stars

I have no idea why I decided to read this book. Really. I don't usually do the whole weight loss storyline, but for some reason I picked up Skinny and felt drawn to it.

Skinny is basically about a fifteen-year-old girl called Ever, who weighs 302 pounds. She picked up a lot of weight when her mother died, and has been trying to lose it but eventually gave up because she couldn't do it on her own. She is constantly taunted by Skinny, a negative voice in her head who she believes tells her the tho...more I have no idea why I decided to read this book. Really. I don't usually do the whole weight loss storyline, but for some reason I picked up Skinny and felt drawn to it.

Skinny is basically about a fifteen-year-old girl called Ever, who weighs 302 pounds. She picked up a lot of weight when her mother died, and has been trying to lose it but eventually gave up because she couldn't do it on her own. She is constantly taunted by Skinny, a negative voice in her head who she believes tells her the thoughts of all those around her. Skinny is constantly telling her she's too fat and will never be as pretty as anyone else. The only person who Ever feels close to is her friend, Rat. Eventually, she decided to get an operation where they make your stomach smaller so that you can lose weight easily, because you can only consume three tablespoons of food. "Skinny" is about her journey through her weight loss and how Skinny (the voice in her head) affected her relationships, self-image, and others' perceptions of her.

This book was incredibly well written. I absolutely couldn't put it down. In a way, I think I could relate to it. Obviously, I don't weigh three hundred pounds, or have had any operation to lose weight, but I am a teenage girl, and I think all teenage girls know what it's like to have a Skinny who whispers horrible things into your ear. We all know what it's like to feel ugly and fat at times, even though we aren't. We all know what it feels like to look at somebody and think, "I wish I was as thin as her," or, "Why can't I have eyes like that?" and then spend the rest of the day moping around, because we don't look as 'beautiful' as we think they do.

I think it's important that we learn to show the Skinny inside us that we are all beautiful. After all, Skinny is blind, and can't truly see us for who we are. In reality, there will always be somebody 'prettier' than you, but it's important for us all to make sure that instead of thinking, "Why am I not as skinny as her? It's because I'm ugly," which doesn't even make any sense (I mean, really brain? I'm fatter than her because I'm ugly? Oooookayyyy...), we should focus on what's beautiful about ourselves, because no two people in the world are exactly the same.

I think that all teenage girls should read this book. No matter whether you have self-image problems or not, and ESPECIALLY if you're that girl who insults others to feel better about yourself. Seriously. Even if it isn't that good, even if you'll never read it again, you should do it to learn how to shut that Skinny in your head up and lock her away in a deep dark corner of your brain.(less)

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Apr 06, 2013 Lisa rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: tag-nominees-2012-13, ya-2012

Ever is an overweight high school student whose thoughts and actions are accompanied every step of the way by an insidious, negative counter voice named Skinny, whose sole ambition is to break Ever and keep her from finding her true potential. Skinny is chiding and harsh, the anti-cheerleader. I have met Skinny. I have heard her. I know her too well. Which makes this a very relatable book for me and probably a lot of women. It is about more than being overweight. It is universal. It is the sound...more Ever is an overweight high school student whose thoughts and actions are accompanied every step of the way by an insidious, negative counter voice named Skinny, whose sole ambition is to break Ever and keep her from finding her true potential. Skinny is chiding and harsh, the anti-cheerleader. I have met Skinny. I have heard her. I know her too well. Which makes this a very relatable book for me and probably a lot of women. It is about more than being overweight. It is universal. It is the soundtrack that plays in your head that reminds you that you aren't good enough, smart enough, pretty enough, thin enough, talented enough, etc. For some people, these insecurities are easily ignored, but for others their voice is a deafening roar. Ever has been listening to Skinny for some time and it's hard for to believe she can be anything but what she is. It becomes her excuse for not trying to see past her own reality. Until one day a tiny seed of hope is planted and begins to grow persistently. Ever has to find the courage and strength to squelch the negative soundtrack and hear another message instead. There are some interesting secondary characters who I would have enjoyed hearing more from.

So, that's what I liked about the book. What I didn't like is that losing weight *magically* and superficially makes Ever confident, popular, and attractive. She gets the part, the guy, etc. It's a Disney-esque book, with a light take on Cinderella. The right clothes can only be purchased in certain sizes below a size 12. The stepmom and stepsisters are caricatures, and the father is hopelessly inept at parsing out and dealing with matters of the heart which is really at the root of Ever's problem with her self-esteem and weight and never addressed. Also, we never see Ever struggle with trying to lose weight so it doesn't really quite resonate when she says she has tried but been unsuccessful. The death of her mother is supposed to have been the catalyst for her weight spiraling out of control, but that component of the story is left mostly unexplored and I never felt her emotional pain. I will also say that there were plenty of moments when I just didn't like her and it had nothing to do with weight. As someone who was (is) considering weight loss surgery, I found the process to be less truthfully presented in some aspects but quite perceptive about others. Also, I listened to this on audio and I couldn't stand the narrator's voice, particularly the nasally, valley girl accent she used for the sisters and their friends or the gravelly hiss she used for Skinny's commentaries. This undoubtedly colored my overall perception of the story.

Still I think it's a good addition that will appeal to YA girls, particularly those who enjoyed Wintergirls<\i> or Jersey Tomatoes are Best.<\i> It would be good for a small group discussion.(less)

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Mar 26, 2013 Vivian Xia rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, must-reads, read-rated-and-reviewed

This book is truely a very amazing book. Skinny torments Ever about her weight constantly and Ever takes in all of the insults and abuse that she gets, until one day when she decides to have the surgery. I think that Ever getting the surgery was definitely a good choice because it caused her happiness and gave her confidence. Without that confidence, she never would have been able to confront and block out Skinny.

The best part of this book was the ending when Ever finally confronts Skinny. I th...more

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Mar 03, 2013 Book Angel Emma rated it 5 of 5 stars

Review by Shelly

“Ever Davies is fifteen years old and dangerously overweight. She was named for the fairy tales her mother loved so much, but feels sure that “happily ever after” was never written for her. Until, one day, she decides to take drastic action. Changing on the outside is one thing – but silencing Skinny is the hardest thing of all.”

This book captivated me right from the start. The way Donna Cooner uses her own experience is evident from the off and so you get the whole picture of w...more

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Feb 28, 2013 Anna X. T. rated it 4 of 5 stars

Love. Regardless of the fact that I was kind of on the other side of the spectrum for the majority of my life, I found myself relating to Ever. She's brilliant, snarky, and a well-written character. The real issue is Skinny - the voice inside her head. Skinny is the insecure voice that tells Ever what everyone is thinking - even if they're not actually thinking it. This causes relationship problems like you wouldn't believe. Ever buries her insecurity with sarcasm and general bitchiness. The thi...more

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Feb 26, 2013 Pamela rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: angst, clunky, derivative, offensive, ya

Yesterday, I was researching lists of best YA books of 2012-13 for my job, and I came across Skinny. I'd eyed it before, and then decided: eh, not for me. But since it was on this outstanding books list (I forget the name, sorry!), I figured I'd give it a shot.

Let me throw this out there: I had an eating disorder in college. I don't believe you can ever fully "get over it," so I often say I still have disordered eating. I also have BDD (body dysmorphic disorder). Most people don't guess, but a l...more Yesterday, I was researching lists of best YA books of 2012-13 for my job, and I came across Skinny. I'd eyed it before, and then decided: eh, not for me. But since it was on this outstanding books list (I forget the name, sorry!), I figured I'd give it a shot.

Let me throw this out there: I had an eating disorder in college. I don't believe you can ever fully "get over it," so I often say I still have disordered eating. I also have BDD (body dysmorphic disorder). Most people don't guess, but a lot of the time I have very strong, negative feelings about my body. It's gotten better as I've gotten older, but I don't think it's something that just goes away. That being said, I am fiercely protective of a man or a woman's right to live life at whatever size they happen to be. Some people are just bigger. Some people are smaller. Some are emotional eaters, and some are not. And it really doesn't matter. I don't care how big or small you are. Sorry to sound maudlin and Disney-esque, it's really the person inside that counts, not the outside. A person's worth is not determined by the number on the scale or by the size of their jeans.

Anyway. The main character, Ever, is fifteen and weighs over 300 pounds. That's the source material for her inner dialogue, whom she calls Skinny. She also has a great singing voice, but is too shy to audition for anything because of her weight. Plus, she has two bee-you-tee-ful stepsisters who are cheerleaders (!) and slender (!!) and hot (!!!). Wow, the trifecta of high school clichés, right there. She's got a friend named Rat (sort of --that's his nickname) who is of course her (view spoiler). She's got a crush on the soulful dude who used to be her best friend before she gained weight. Um, if he's not your friend anymore, why bother?

This runs through every single cliché in the high-school teen problem book. Evil, nasty, hot girls? Check. A climactic audition? Check. There's even a scene where Ever's chair breaks in the auditorium. Yes, I get it. The author wants us to realize her protagonist is fat. But a broken chair? Really? That's just over the top.

I also felt uncomfortable with the fact that even though Ever clearly associates food with comfort, and eats to comfort herself, she doesn't address this through therapy or a doctor's help. She (and her family) go straight to the bypass (after myriad diets that fail, anyway). Gastric bypass might change your stomach, but it cannot address issues that your mind has with food.

As other reviewers have noted, Ever herself is not a likable person, and falls into the Angry Fat Girl persona. She is really, really nasty. I guess we're supposed to forgive her, though, because she is fat? I don't know.

I couldn't bring myself to finish this because it simply made me too angry. Everything became black and white. Skinny=good, fat=bad. The heavy-handed Cinderella references made me want to scream. I think it would be an interesting topic for an author to approach in a different manner, but this one was a definite fail for me.(less)

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Feb 15, 2013 Chelisa Macharia rated it 5 of 5 stars

I absolutely LOVED this book!!! I have never been over weight in my life but me and Ever pretty much have the same insecurities. I love any cheesy love story and I certainly LOVED this one. I could just picture Ever and Rat being such a cute couple. He seems so sweet and I wish I could have someone like him in my life. Weirdly enough, I actually kinda want Ever's life... Her relationship with Jackson when she was younger and the relationship she has with Rat now is amazing I think. Also, going t...more

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Feb 08, 2013 Ana Ivkov rated it 4 of 5 stars

Skinny by Donna Cooner is a book I first found roaming the shelves at the bookstore. It seemed appealing and I read it, and rather enjoyed it. I had read some reviews before, and there were good and bad comments discussed in them, comments and points I tried to find in the book. Some of the bad points, I found. Others which people pointed out, I either couldn't find or didn't agree with.
All in all, I think that Skinny is one of those quick reads that leaves you feeling contented inside. A sweet...more

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Feb 04, 2013 Shoshana rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013, young-adult, merde

Second star earned because Cooner picked a very interesting topic - not the weight issue, per se, but the gastric bypass surgery process. It's not something you see in teen fiction very often.

Beyond that, though, this book is very Angry Fat Girl Loses Weight And Becomes Happy. It's hard to write an unpleasant character who still manages to be sympathetic, and unfortunately Cooner missed the mark. Ever isn't just defensive, or moody, or angry: she's a mean bitch.

The aspect of "Skinny," the disco...more Second star earned because Cooner picked a very interesting topic - not the weight issue, per se, but the gastric bypass surgery process. It's not something you see in teen fiction very often.

Beyond that, though, this book is very Angry Fat Girl Loses Weight And Becomes Happy. It's hard to write an unpleasant character who still manages to be sympathetic, and unfortunately Cooner missed the mark. Ever isn't just defensive, or moody, or angry: she's a mean bitch.

The aspect of "Skinny," the discouraging, taunting voice in her head rang true to me - we all have that voice, and when you're in a position like Ever's, it's easy to see how it could be so constant and all-consuming. As someone with high anxiety as a kid, I had a Skinny of my own. I didn't love how it was dealt with in the end, though. (view spoiler)

But on the whole, my BIGGEST problem with this book - though Ever's awful personality came as a close second - lay in character relationships. The only person Ever seems to have a normal, healthy relationship with is Chance, who we see for about twelve seconds. Oh, and the little kids at the community center, who she apparently dumps after she loses weight. SORRY, KIDS. I can't really hash over the other problems without spoilers, so: (view spoiler)

With some editing, and some serious work-over, this book could have been great. As it was, not so much.(less)

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Jan 18, 2013 Kris rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-read-in-2013

I have battled weight for the last decade and recently lost 55 pounds through a rather extreme program so I was very curious about Skinny when it came into the library. Ever is a 15-year-old who is obese at 302 pounds. Her mother died when she was young and she filled the painful void with eating. Her mother struggled with her weight before cancer took her and Ever inherited her mother’s challenges. The part when she talked about how her mother makes everything better with food struck me hard. I...more

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Jan 13, 2013 Jessica Harrison rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed, young-adult

Full review at Cracking the Cover

“Skinny” is sad, happy, frustrating and rewarding. It’s also engrossing. Ever is a likable character that I immediately felt drawn to. I’ve never weighed that much, but I could easily identify with her insecurities, her hopes and her dreams.

“Skinny” isn’t the first book about an overweight teen, nor will it be the last. What makes it work is the sincerity in which it was written. There are no easy fixes and there are a lot of other emotional issues that need to b...more

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Jan 10, 2013 Morgan rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-2013-challenge, winter-white-challenge

Absolutely an amazing book. My aunt got me it for Christmas along with a few other books so that's a definite bonus. I think the main thing that drew me in was the cover, it's gorgeous and it makes me want to continue looking at it!!

A) Rat is awesome, adorable and supportive and he's everything a girl needs!

B) Jackson needs to speak up! Don't pretend you forgot and don't lead her on!

C) Ever you just annoyed me. In a way I understood completely, but you just need to stop being a b*tch and realize...more Absolutely an amazing book. My aunt got me it for Christmas along with a few other books so that's a definite bonus. I think the main thing that drew me in was the cover, it's gorgeous and it makes me want to continue looking at it!!

A) Rat is awesome, adorable and supportive and he's everything a girl needs!

B) Jackson needs to speak up! Don't pretend you forgot and don't lead her on!

C) Ever you just annoyed me. In a way I understood completely, but you just need to stop being a b*tch and realize that people do care about you stop obsessing over yourself. And instead of worrying about how other people so you forget them and remember who YOU are!

(I'm so supportive right?)

D) Briella was really nice, and she probably was from the beginning and we saw that sometimes but yet again Ever just saw her as completely perfect. Well you know what Ever… maybe it isn't and if you weren't so involved with yourself maybe you'd realize it! I would definitely read another book if it was Briella's POV I just think that her story would be really interesting.

Okay despite the fact what I just wrote I really liked Ever she just annoyed me at times and I had to get that out :). She's a fifteen year old girl and she suffers from obesity ever since her mother passed away from cancer. At first I thought it was a bit over rated I mean I just can't even picture it. The only true reason I think people 'judged' her was because she was cold and she just wasn't a very nice open person. Also let me start on Jackson I never really liked him (no offense.) I mean they had a cute little child romance, but at the same time it was I the past and I felt like Ever just hung onto those memories for all the were worth without realizing what was right there in front of her. Like Rat. Right after surgery she had these weird thoughts about him and they confused her, but if she held onto those thoughts for more than a millisecond then maybe she wouldn't have been so blind. Despite Ever's seemingly selfish qualities she was a really great character and I like he story and I truly hope to see more from this author.

Favorite quote:

"I guess you don't miss it until you know you can't have it" (111).
(less)

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Dec 21, 2012 Arlena rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: a-good-book, 4-stars, abuse, ebooks, my-reviews, young-adult

Author: Donna Cooner
Published By: Point Press
Age Recommended: YA
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Book Blog For: GMTA
Rating: 4

Review:

"Skinny" by Donna Cooner was some read definitely a powerful one. This novel is of a journey taken as this young lady under goes surgery to reduce her weight. Wow, I can only say what amusing novel this one is! This author has choose a wonderful topic that has troubled us forever...obesity of the childhood...and I think she did a good job at accurately bringing out the pros...more

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Dec 08, 2012 Joe-bob Chavez rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 13-25

Ever is 302 pounds. Skinny says she's an elephant. Skinny says she can't be loved. Skinny always puts her down. Ever wants to get away from Skinny, but Skinny lives inside Ever. Ever decides to undergo gastro bypass surgery to save regain her sense of self... and maybe snag a boy. Her friend Rat is super supportive in her recovery and health plans. But what will happen when she goes back to school, will it be different or will she still be invisible no matter how big she is? Skinny thinks she'll...more

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Nov 27, 2012 Jac (For Love and Books) rated it 3 of 5 stars

When I first heard about Donna Cooner’s Skinny, I was intrigued. While I wasn’t overweight as a teen, I have spent the last ten years (my entire “Adult” life) dealing with weight issues. So I was curious to read this one, and I was thrilled when I found out my local library had a copy! I checked it out, and read it in a matter of hours.

Now, I’m sitting here struggling to write the review. Part of me really enjoyed this book. I read it quickly, I felt invested in Ever. I liked following her journ...more When I first heard about Donna Cooner’s Skinny, I was intrigued. While I wasn’t overweight as a teen, I have spent the last ten years (my entire “Adult” life) dealing with weight issues. So I was curious to read this one, and I was thrilled when I found out my local library had a copy! I checked it out, and read it in a matter of hours.

Now, I’m sitting here struggling to write the review. Part of me really enjoyed this book. I read it quickly, I felt invested in Ever. I liked following her journey. But part of me, the skeptic, is more annoyed than anything. (And here is where my reviewing gets real. I’m going to just put my thoughts out here, so you’re getting an honest review. Nothing more, nothing less.)

Ever is 15 and weighs 302 pounds. She loves Cinderella, and has the two “evil” step-sisters. She has the best friend, Rat, who is absolutely amazing. And she has this voice, that nags at her. Skinny. I think we all have the voice, no matter what our weight. I had it when I was skinny. I certainly have it now that I’m overweight. So in many ways, she was very easy to relate to.

But here’s the thing, this book wasn’t realistic. It just wasn’t. Ever’s surgery happens overnight – with no counseling, no details, it just happened. And then? She’d lost some weight and was magically fitting in with the popular kids. She’s getting makeovers, and the whole Cinderella story. It was just way too hokey for my likes.

I wanted to hear about her struggles to lose the weight, because I’ve watched a few friends have the surgery and I’ve seen their struggles. This book mentions NONE of that. I worry that it tells teens that this is an easy answer. I guess I just want my “Coming-of-age” “issues” books to be real.

I’m not saying that I didn’t like this book, I really did like it! It was a quick read, and I felt attached to Ever. I’m just saying that there’s a lot I wish had been more realistic.

If you’re looking for a good quick read? One that tackles a hot-button issue, while staying a bit on the fluffy side, then Skinny might be the book to you.(less)

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Nov 18, 2012 Katie added it

Shelves: books-i-own, for-review

As someone who struggled with weight issues and social anxiety in school, Skinny really hit home for me. I spent years and years - and still do, occasionally - thinking that every person who glanced my way was judging me and putting me down. I've never known how to explain that before until I read Skinny. Donna Cooner put it into words and into Ever's story and she did a pretty damn good job.

I feel like Skinny goes above and beyond Ever's quest to lose weight. To me, the real story was Ever's qu...more

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Nov 13, 2012 Holly Frabizio rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: bullying, coming-of-age, cancer, death, death-of-a-parent, family, friendship, problem-fiction, school, secrets, young-adult, eating-disorder, horror, obesity, weight-control, gastric-bypass

Ever Davies has a secret. She hears a voice in her head that tells her what everyone around is thinking when they look at her, if they look at her. "I know what they think because she whispers their thoughts in my ear. I can hear them. Clearly. Constantly. 'If I ever look like that just kill me.' Her name is Skinny. I don't know how long she has been sitting on my shoulder whispering her messages." Ever is one of the smartest girls in school but she doesn't have many friends. She has only one fr...more

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Nov 02, 2012 Brittany rated it 4 of 5 stars

Acne, height, hair, skin, teeth, and weight are all features that conflict teens throughout their young adulthood. Mirrors become an asset and an enemy within the transition from child to teenager. The self-conscious behaviors like checking the mirror every second or trying every diet fad arise due to peers, family and media. Images of small framed women and men with flawless skin, nice clothes and money can be a deadly mixture when it comes to the self-worth of young minds.

In life there are a...more Acne, height, hair, skin, teeth, and weight are all features that conflict teens throughout their young adulthood. Mirrors become an asset and an enemy within the transition from child to teenager. The self-conscious behaviors like checking the mirror every second or trying every diet fad arise due to peers, family and media. Images of small framed women and men with flawless skin, nice clothes and money can be a deadly mixture when it comes to the self-worth of young minds.

In life there are a lot of factors that hold us back from following our dreams. In the case of Ever Davies being 302 pounds is what she feels sets her back from living her life. “Skinny” is a novel about teenage obesity and dealing with the voice in one’s head telling them the negative thoughts they feel others have of them. The text has a plot that is similar to Cinderella but instead of the fairy godmother coming to the rescue, Ever is on her own with her tormenting inner voice. The voice that tells you that you aren’t good enough, small enough, tall enough or pretty enough to be noticed by the cute guy or make friends with the in crowd. The voice creates an imaginary finish line that can never be reached.

Cooner does an effective job at presenting “Skinny” as the internal voice that each reader can relate to. Although this is a young adult novel, adults can relate to issues of being self-conscious. The inner voice Ever refers to as “Skinny” torments her about this every second she gets and points out the thoughts of Ever’s peers and yells them in her ear. Can the negative voice that torments us within be silenced or does it just get stronger with age? Sooner answers this question with elaborate snickering from Skinny at those moments when you don’t think anyone can be kicked down any further. The sight of italics lets the reader know Ever will be verbally abused in some way like, “God, she takes up so much space. Just look at those thighs. I can’t believe her fat is touching me” (Cooner 43). “Skinny” is the internal agony that keeps persisting until Ever is forced to address her directly.

Ever falling out of the chair in front of the whole school assembly is what sets her in the direction of getting gastric bypass surgery. Ever said, “The sound of the crash echoes. The speech stops. The chatter stops. The world stoops. All eyes focus on the fat girl sitting on top of the crushed remains…” (47). The scene was delivered well in a way that leaves the reader wincing and feeling as if they fell out the chair with Ever. Cooner’s simple diction, small words and short sentences strike like knives force the readers to want to protect themselves from the embarrassment.

“It's s simple solution, really. Girl loves boy. Boy loves girl. Girl gets fat. Boy leaves. Girl cuts her stomach up into a little bitty pouch to get boy back” (47). The sentence structure of the text is really easy to follow and allows the reader to read the whole text very quickly, which is appealing in the YA genre. It only took me about a day and a half to read from cover to cover. Despite Ever being depressed about her weight, Cooner still finds moments to add light humor or wit that makes the reader relate when it comes to embarrassing adolescent moments. Jammed words like “Don’tcrydon’tcrydon’tcry” are read as if Ever is repeating them very fast and smashing them together successfully displays panic and hurried thoughts to the reader.

Ever’s weight is the main complications of the novel and she hopes to resolve her self-consciousness by getting this risky surgery. The text wasn’t overly preachy about being for or against gastric bypass surgery. Weight loss is a complicated subject to approach especially when it comes to young adults because pointing out this surgery could just be viewed as going the easy route to some. Rather than being aggressive in trying to prove the dangers, the text explained through, Ever’s eyes, the process and how it’s not an easy road to living once the surgery is over. With details of delirious moments in the hospital and striking pain trying to walk, the reader is filled in that Ever doesn’t just wake up skinny once the surgery is over. Cooner does a great job at displaying that weight loss is not an easy journey and even after losing weight there is still a long way to go. After the surgery Ever is still faced with her interval voice and actually resisting the temptations that caused her to gain weight like chocolate and eating dinner.

The voyage for Ever’s weight loss continues at the beginning of chapter 10 which displays a chart logging Ever’s starting weight, weight loss, type of exercise done, and inspirational song for the week. The chart in each chapter is a great addition because it allows the reader to follow along with Ever through her journey. Pop culture references also appear a lot in this novel from the Jessica Simpson platforms Whitney wears to the fall ball to the inspirational songs Ever picks each week during her weight loss journey. The references serve to connect the audience together with well-known songs that have shaped music. The mention of Dreamgirls helps bring the audience even closer together because of the musical’s recent film version. The songs represent struggle and strength that are common topics that many can relate to.

The characterization of Ever becomes confusing at some points. Ever is very confident about her singing voice throughout the text. I enjoy the confidence that Ever has about her singing talent but it also annoys me because if she feels so strongly by her singing voice I feel like she can quiet her internal voice that judges her. Weight is the shield that keeps her from shining on stage. The text’s climax occurs when Ever finds the weight and stature of an elephant to be positive which shows that her image of being big is changing. Cooner uses the elephant to turn the text into a positive body image and a powerful force that can’t be overtaken easily. At this moment Ever begins to transform herself.

Another weak moment of the novel is the typical romance story. Although, I did find the romance to be adorable I could have lived without girl finding herself AND the boy of her dreams. Without spoiling the text, I will just say that Ever is the Cinderella of this fairytale and must have a prince in terms of typical young adult novels. “Because you are, and have always been, beautiful” are words that most girls would love to hear. With so many empowering moments in the novel I felt like the romance just weakened them.

“Skinny” does a great job at approaching the issue of weight by showing that it is not an easy road and that options for weight loss are different for everyone. Cooner creates a protagonist that doesn’t have another individual antagonizing her but rather creates a protagonist who is also their own antagonist. I would recommend this book to others because despite the typical romance, the text left me wanting to read it again because of the great strength and encouragement to jump over hurdles affecting one’s life.

*I would recommend this to middle school kids because I feel it would be helpful, especially if they are about to enter high school.
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Oct 09, 2012 Gillysegal added it

Shelves: first-reads

Donna Cooper’s excellent debut is the compelling story of an obese high schooler who elects to undergo a drastic medical procedure in order to change her life. Main character, Ever, is on with whom many, many woman (and likely men) will sympathize. Her experiences as an obese young woman are heart wrenching and I have no doubt they are real. Equally as heart wrenching are her experiences once she has lost weight after surgery, when she is no less an oddity for some people than she was before.
Mos...more

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Oct 08, 2012 Lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Skinny by Donna Cooner is a YA novel that I'm sure will crossover into adult readers as well. Ever is in high school and she is obese and has a negative voice named Skinny who tells her how fat, ugly and unimportant she is. I think most everyone has or has had some sort of negative voice in their heads at some point. Ever is lucky, while she certainly hears from the bullies of the school, she does have a wonderful friend in "Rat." Once she decides to have a gastric bypass, Rat is on the job, he...more

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Oct 06, 2012 Liviania rated it 4 of 5 stars

I judged SKINNY by it's cover for a long time. The publicist who gave it to me was very enthusiastic, but I wasn't sold enough on the cover to even crack it open. I assumed it was similar to Laurie Halse Anderson's WINTERGIRLS, and would be about some girl dealing with anorexia or bulimia. There's nothing wrong with stories involving anorexia or bulimia, but I've read several - and reviewed several. It's an important issue but not one that resonates much with me. But that's not what SKINNY is ab...more I judged SKINNY by it's cover for a long time. The publicist who gave it to me was very enthusiastic, but I wasn't sold enough on the cover to even crack it open. I assumed it was similar to Laurie Halse Anderson's WINTERGIRLS, and would be about some girl dealing with anorexia or bulimia. There's nothing wrong with stories involving anorexia or bulimia, but I've read several - and reviewed several. It's an important issue but not one that resonates much with me. But that's not what SKINNY is about. Ever Davies is fifteen and weighs more than three-hundred pounds. She is not that slender girl on the cover of her story.

Ever's a tough protagonist to like. She is a mean girl. She's very aware of her weight and constantly on the offensive so that she can hurt others before they hurt her. She believes that she can hear what everyone thinks of her. She calls that voice in her head that calls her ugly and unlovable and other terrible things "Skinny." But while it may be hard to like Ever due to her abrasiveness, she's an easy character to understand and you do feel for her. Plus, her inability to see her the problems of those around her can partially be chalked up to the fact that she's fifteen.

SKINNY mostly focuses on why Ever chooses to have gastric bypass surgery and what her life is like in that first year after the surgery. Donna Cooner has had gastric bypass surgery herself and does not dismiss it as an easy fix. Ever often struggles with her new diet and exercise requirements and wonders if she made the right decision. Losing weight doesn't instantly fix her self esteem either, nor does getting a makeover from a popular girl. Ever has to learn to accept and love herself, which isn't easy for anyone.

I also liked that SKINNY comments on the Cinderella story. (The book is very obvious about this fact, from having Ever tell Cinderella to children to Ever trying out for a part in the school's production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella.) The girl who has nothing becomes the girl who has everything, including a prince to dance with her at the ball. But stepsisters are people too, and few people find their prince in high school, and maybe being comfortable performing in public is more important to you than having a bunch of friends.

Cooner's debut novel is a striking one. It's slight but heartfelt. Fat girls and women aren't represented much in media, and when they are they're rarely the protagonist of the story. Some may have issues with the emphasis SKINNY puts on weight loss, but I think it was well done. Ever over ate due to emotional issues and was decidedly not healthy at her size. And, as I previously mentioned, the weight loss is not a quick fix. She needs more than just a surgery to love her body, but the surgery does help her. I think it's an interesting story that will hopefully reach its audience despite the obviously not fat girl on the cover. (less)

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