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Losing It

by Erin M. Fry (Goodreads Author)

4.22 of 5 stars 4.22 · rating details · 60 ratings · 19 reviews

Bennett Robinson loves baseball, especially watching Dodgers’ games with his dad while munching on burgers and fries—the perfect “game food.” Baseball even helped Bennett and his dad get over his mom’s death from cancer. But there’s no way Bennett could ever play baseball. Bennett is fat, the kind of fat that gives you belly button sweat stains and makes it tough to get of...more

Hardcover, 261 pages

Published September 4th 2012 by Amazon Children's Publishing (first published September 1st 2012)

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Middle Grade Novels of 2012

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May 10, 2013 Jennifer rated it 5 of 5 stars

Summary:
Bennett is an overweight middle school student. He's not very sporty and loves to eat snacks, until his Dad has a stroke. Since Bennett's mother passed away when he was five, Bennett has to move in with his aunt, Laura. Laura's family is much different than Bennett's life with his father. She is very strict and has specific healthy lifestyle expectations. She implements an exercise plan along with healthy eating habits. It really changes Bennett's entire world. He begins to question how...more

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Feb 07, 2013 Karen Yingling rated it 5 of 5 stars

Bennett and his father have managed to carve out a peaceful existence after the death of Bennett's mother from cancer when he was five. They watch sports, and both eat too much unhealthy food and are overweight but happy. When Bennett's dad has a massive stroke, Bennett has to go live with his Aunt Laura's family. Laura thought that her sister's cancer was mismanaged, and has not spent much time with Bennett because she is at odds with his father, but hopes to help Bennett and his father through...more Bennett and his father have managed to carve out a peaceful existence after the death of Bennett's mother from cancer when he was five. They watch sports, and both eat too much unhealthy food and are overweight but happy. When Bennett's dad has a massive stroke, Bennett has to go live with his Aunt Laura's family. Laura thought that her sister's cancer was mismanaged, and has not spent much time with Bennett because she is at odds with his father, but hopes to help Bennett and his father through this difficult situation. Once school starts, Bennett begins to worry about his own health, and after several runs with his uncle, decides that he will join the cross country team. His friend P.G., who is also overweight, resents this and feels it is a dig against him. Other factors making life difficult are Luis and his gang, who constantly make fun of Bennett at lunch and in the locker room, and Taylor, a girl whom Bennett likes who starts to take an interest in him. Bennett's father's recuperation is complicated and taking longer than hoped, and the insurance money may run out and the family home may need to be sold. Cross country becomes something that motivates Bennett in many ways, and even though it is difficult, running makes Bennett feel that he is in control of something in his life.

Strengths: Pitch perfect middle grade novel. Bennett's concerns are all realistically portrayed, and well balanced. He loses weight, but there is no magical transformation. His friend is angry at him, but their reconciliation rings true. The bullying, which I normally hate in middle grade novels, is all done underneath the radar of adults, and is predominately emotional. The resolution to this is also understated. The cross country descriptions clearly show that Ms. Fry is not only a coach but a runner as well, and my own cross country runners are desperate for books on their sport. Add to this the main theme of the book, which is dealing with the severe illness of a remaining parent, and this is a great novel for language arts units on challenges. Definitely buying two copies of this!

Weaknesses: Title could have been less generic, and I would have put tennis shoes where the paper heart is. Also, I wish that Taylor would have been a stronger character. I thought that her relationship with Bennett was realistic, but I didn't quite buy that they had a lot in common. Small complaint for an excellent book!(less)

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Dec 15, 2012 Sarah rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction-realistic

I'm always hesitant to buy books about people (especially kids) losing weight. Most of the time they are glib unrealistic accounts of going from fat nobody to skinny hottie. I bought Losing It for my middle school library after reading reviews and now that I've finished it, I'm really glad I did.

This is not an easy fix. Losing weight is hard. It's more than just dieting, it's more than just exercising, there is a huge mental hurdle that must be crossed and this book covers that excellently. Benn...more

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Dec 20, 2012 Bookphile rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, arc, middle-grade

I was a little wary when I read this book's description. While I loved the idea of an author tackling subject matter that can be very touchy and that is especially relevant today, I was afraid it would be simplistic. I'm happy to say that fear was unfounded, and that this book was really an excellent read. Some minor spoilers.

First off, I was impressed with the way Fry handled the topic of Bennett's weight. At no point does she gloss over the truth of his situation, and there are some painful mo...more I was a little wary when I read this book's description. While I loved the idea of an author tackling subject matter that can be very touchy and that is especially relevant today, I was afraid it would be simplistic. I'm happy to say that fear was unfounded, and that this book was really an excellent read. Some minor spoilers.

First off, I was impressed with the way Fry handled the topic of Bennett's weight. At no point does she gloss over the truth of his situation, and there are some painful moments in the book with which anyone who's struggled with their weight can identify. I liked that Fry showed how difficult it was for Bennett to try to change his eating habits, how much determination and willpower it took for him to begin to overcome his bad habits. He doesn't wake up and magically change his eating habits without any issues, and he has the occasional relapse.

Hand-in-hand with this, Fry's descriptions of Bennett forays into running struck me as very authentic. She makes it clear that running is difficult and sometimes even painful for Bennett. The central struggle of the book, Bennett's determination to do something that seems impossible is so well drawn here. I'm not a runner myself, but it was like I could feel what Bennett was feeling as he struggled. As with Bennett's changing his eating habits, I liked what this book had to say about sticking with something to prove to yourself that you can do it, even in those moments when you feel like you just have nothing left. This is such a great message for young readers, and particularly those who might be struggling with problems similar to Bennett's.

As if this subject matter wasn't substantial enough, Fry also tackles some really complicated interpersonal issues. There's the convincing, piercing portrayal of Bennett's developing crush on a girl he thinks is out of his league, his struggles with losing one parent only to have another suffer a catastrophic illness, the tension that threatens to break his friendship when his best friend P.G. begins to fear that Bennett is leaving him behind. All of this is handled in a really sensitive manner, and Bennett's struggles felt so real. Fry's depictions of how complicated it is to handle this issues are so convincing.

I hadn't really even thought about this book until my nine-year-old daughter spotted it and said she'd like to read it. I'm really glad she did so. This is just the kind of book I like for her to read, one that has a great message without being preachy. You don't have to have struggled with weight to like or identify with this main character, you just have to have struggled with how difficult it is to be human at times.(less)

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Dec 21, 2012 Julia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, contemporary-fiction, middle-grade, school-violence-bullying, ya

I hope it’s not considered a spoiler to say that on page 6 Bennett’s dad has a major stroke. Bennett’s fat. Standing up from the couch to look for the remote isn’t easy for him. His dad’s 400 lbs. This is a family that needs to make some changes, and they do. After just a week of walking/ jogging around the block, Bennett decides to join the middle school cross country team. While Bennett’s not quite like the athletes in Chris Crutcher’s or Catherine Gilbert Murdock’s books, but the transformati...more

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Jan 06, 2013 Virginia Davis rated it 4 of 5 stars

I liked this story of a boy, Bennett, and his father hanging in there after the death of the mother a few years back. Both are overweight, and Bennett has to deal with all the usual bullying and taunts that are almost daily occurrences at school. Due to the father's stroke, Bennett goes to live with his not-so-favorite aunt Laura and her family while his dad recuperates. Life changes drastically for Bennett. Lots of adjustments have to be made. Bennett discovers that he and his dad need to make...more

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Apr 09, 2013 Cathe Olson rated it 4 of 5 stars

After middle-schooler Bennett's dad has a stroke and he has to live with this health-conscious aunt, he begins to take steps to improve his own health by joining the cross-country team.

This was not the most realistic of books -- the problems were solved too easily and the writing came across too adult much of the time -- but it was a sweet story that flowed well and had a hopeful message for kids about taking care of yourself and standing up for yourself. It's definitely geared toward boys but I...more

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Dec 18, 2012 Tracie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-lit, high-school, middle-school

Bennett loves baseball, but he is so overweight he could never play. When his father, also overweight, suffers a stroke, everything about Bennett's life changes. Many times this could have descended into a made-for-tv movie, but the book doesn't take the easy way out. When Bennett decides to lose weight, it is a struggle and he wants to give up. His self-doubts are portrayed realistically and even Bennett's Aunt Laura, who could have been a cartoon figure, is given depth. This would be a great a...more

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Jan 24, 2013 Sara rated it 5 of 5 stars

Losing It by Erin Fry follows Bennett an eighth grader who is overweight. When Bennett was young his mother died of cancer. One day when Bennett is watching television his father suffers a major stroke. Because his father so disabled from the stroke Bennett moves in with his Aunt Laura who decides that he is going to make Bennett healthy.

This is a fantastic book with lots of excitement and unpredictable things that happen making it difficult to put down. Bennett's journey to becoming healthier...more

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Feb 11, 2013 Beth G. rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013, fiction, books-for-kids, weight, weight-loss, running, library-books

There's something about a belly button sweat stain that's just really gross.

Since Bennett's mom died when he was five, it's just been him and his dad. And the best times with his dad have been hot summer afternoons parked in front of the tv, watching their beloved Dodgers and munching on burgers and fries, their "game food". As much as Bennett loves baseball, though, he knows he could never really play, because he is too fat. His dad is fat, too, and when Bennett comes in last during P.E. class...more There's something about a belly button sweat stain that's just really gross.

Since Bennett's mom died when he was five, it's just been him and his dad. And the best times with his dad have been hot summer afternoons parked in front of the tv, watching their beloved Dodgers and munching on burgers and fries, their "game food". As much as Bennett loves baseball, though, he knows he could never really play, because he is too fat. His dad is fat, too, and when Bennett comes in last during P.E. class runs, his best friend P.G. is right there beside him, so Bennett is mostly okay with his lack of physical fitness.

That changes one beautiful summer day when his dad collapses in front of the television. Bennett doesn't know when - or if - his dad will recover. In the meantime, he has to move in with his bossy Aunt Laura and her family. And Aunt Laura has a mission: get Bennett healthy.

I didn't hear much about this book (which shares a title with another 2012 book about losing an entirely different "it") when it came out, but I was intrigued by the description. It is set in my adopted city of Los Angeles, and I wondered how Fry would tackle the issue of childhood obesity, which was clearly central to Bennett's story.

As it turns out, she handles it very, very nicely. Bennett is a thoroughly believable and sympathetic eighth-grade boy. He knows he is out of shape, and he knows his dad is unhealthy, but he's a kid, you know? It's not his job to worry about that stuff. His dad has to work a lot to make ends meet, and watching baseball games while eating tasty food is their thing. It's how they bond. His dad wants him to be happy. And Bennett is happy, mostly. His weight is just part of who he is.

Another part of who he is has to do with losing his mother. The realistic and sensitive portrayal of Bennett's grief was a lovely surprise. It's a common thing is children's books for one (or both) parents to be out of the picture, whether dead, missing, or just neglectful. It lets the child protagonist get on with being the lead of the story. But all too often, the loss of parent(s) seems to have no lasting effect on the character. For Bennett, it's formative. The loss of his mother has left a gaping hole in his heart and home. It shapes his view of the world.

Bennett's physical transformation is believably gradual, and Fry shows the effort it takes in a realistic way. He changes not only physically, but mentally, becoming stronger and more capable of handling the challenges coming his way. Despite the serious topics addressed, the narrative resists becoming didactic. It is contemporary realistic fiction for middle graders that will appeal to both boys and girls on several levels.

Recommend to: Fans of realistic fiction and tales of the underdog

Source: Checked out from my public library(less)

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Apr 03, 2013 Brenda Glenn rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-for-ys

Good Contemporary Realistic Fiction - might be inspirational to some.

Bennett is morbidly obese like his Dad. Mom died of Cancer when Bennett was little. Dad and son self-medicate on junk food and televised baseball. When Dad has a stroke, Bennett has to go live with his health-nut Aunt. Ultimately, Bennett gets on the path to healthy via the school track team and his loving extended family. A lot of family drama back story with Aunt/Uncle/Cousins and Bennett's dad.

Bennett has a friend who is al...more

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Jul 29, 2012 Melanie Swider rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mid-grd-novels, inspiring-characters, social-issues, sports, summer-reading-2012

This book will be published in September - was lucky to get an ARC at BEA :)
Bennett has many struggles in his life: mother passed away when he was five, father has a life changing stroke, and he gets teased for being overweight. Through all of these challenges he faces, his mindset transforms from a fixed to a growth mindset after his father ends up in the hospital. He sets the goal that he is going to try out for the cross country running team and once he sets that goal, he lets nothing get in...more

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Jan 26, 2013 Angee O'Connell rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-for-boys

I loved, loved, LOVED this book! Bennet has such a great sense of humor and such a big heart! Initially when I picked up this book, I had the idea of it being about the "fat kid" who loses weight and becomes suddenly popular, wins the girl, blah blah blah. Boy, was I wrong. Yeah, he is a "fat kid", but he is so much more than that. The author really gave his personality layers and depth. And he wasn't so syrupy sweet that you need to brush your teeth after every chapter...he had attitude at time...more

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Oct 24, 2012 Bookworm1858 rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: amazon-vine, read-2012, middle-grade

3.5/5

I didn't know much about this book going into it other than that it involved baseball and a young boy intent on losing weight. That sounded like it could be a cute fun contemporary middle-grade title. And for the most part it was. The beginning is actually shockingly serious when it lays out Bennett's mother's death from cancer and then jumps into his father's stroke which kicks into motion the main plot. Part of the stroke may have been due to their poor diets that led to an obese figure....more

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Nov 22, 2012 Kim rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-fiction, fiction, nonfiction-childrens, sports-fiction, young-adult-fiction, reviewed-for-slj

From November 2012 SLJ:
Gr 5-8:�Since his mom died when he was five, Bennett and his dad have been enough for each other. Their favorite pastime is cheering on the Dodgers in front of the TV with burgers and fries close at hand. Then his father has a stroke, and Bennett goes to live with relatives. At first he resents Aunt Laura's controlling nature as she cuts fast food from his diet and encourages him not so subtly to lead a healthier lifestyle. But seeing his dad in a coma has shaken him. Uncl...more

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Feb 28, 2013 Rachel rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: vine-amazon

I am always on the look out for books for my avid readers to pick up and this is one of them! It is very well-written and written from a teenager's point of view. It is honest. It is funny. It is sensitive and I absolutely loved it. It is about a teenage boy who watched his dad get sick and having to live with his aunt, he realized that he needed to change his life.

It sounds very simple but it is a powerful message sent to kids that getting healthy is hard. I think this book is worth the read.

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Mar 10, 2013 Deanna rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book is very good, another feel good story, but highly recommended. I will recommend this one to my students. It made me cry and feel good! It is a short read, I read it in two hours, making this a good book for students!

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Feb 10, 2013 Amy rated it 4 of 5 stars

A good realistic story of an overweight teen struggling to get in shape after he father has a stroke due to his heaviness. Interesting friendships and family relationships, a sports element (running), and struggle many kids face today.

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Dec 02, 2012 Osama Elsherbini rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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May 23, 2013 Andrea rated it 2 of 5 stars

May 18, 2013 Kelly Cleveland marked it as to-read

Shelves: children-s

May 14, 2013 Tabarak rated it 5 of 5 stars

May 02, 2013 Amy Ambelang rated it 4 of 5 stars

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Apr 30, 2013 Kay rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-fiction

Apr 23, 2013 Cinnamon marked it as to-read

Apr 11, 2013 Flying Squirrel rated it 5 of 5 stars

Apr 11, 2013 Cecilia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Apr 08, 2013 Kim marked it as to-read

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About Erin M. Fry

Erin lives with her three kids, her husband, and her Golden Retriever in Glendora, California. She laced up her first pair of running shoes at age 34, and since then, the two of them have become a dynamic duo--conquering the L.A. Marathon and a whole bunch of 5K's and half marathons.

When Erin is not running or writing, you can find her teaching middle school, coaching cross country, reviewing book...more

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