I Was a 15 Year Old Blimp

by Patti Stren

Fifteen-year-old Gabby resorts to drastic measures in her struggle to lose weight but finds there is more to being grown up than being skinny.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction

185 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 1985

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tracking down this book at a reasonable price took years- I remember having checked it out of the library multiple time as a kid in the 1980s- I feel horrible giving it 3 stars because it is basically a how-to manual on bulimia (ok, it IS a how-to manual on bulimia), but it also was the first book I ever remember reading about an eating disorder at ALL, the first book I ever read that actually focused on body image (Judy Blume's Blubber was just depressing and mean- nobody ever got to even KNOW the fat girl), and it still holds a dear place in my heart for being a book that felt true to life in a way that few others did as a fat girl in the 1980s. I finally was able to get a copy from ThriftBooks for under ten dollars that was in decent condition- a hardback at that (the copy I read as a kid was a paperback with a pink background), and I found that I remembered the story well, though I wouldn't say it would hold up today without a major updating-- attitudes about eating disorders have changed, parenting and freedoms of kids and teenaged norms have changed, communication methods have changed so much... Definite time warp reading, but also-- the main themes? Of a fat girl who hates her body, who has a controlling mother, who desperately wants to fit in, who has a lot of silly ideas about boys-- these themes stayed relevant, even if all the other stuff seems so very dated in a modern day reading. So 3 stars because I can't say I didn't enjoy reading it, but a definite NO on recommending it to anyone/ allowing ANY little girls to read it ever.

[Nasty Lady MJ · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ew. I remember reading this when I was teen it was a random library checkout and it still haunts me to this day. I do NOT recommend reading this one it's essentially a how to guide to bulimia and anorexia. In fact, I vividly remember reading the part of how to use laxatives. Sadly, the book was dated when I read it in the 00's (the book was written in the 80's) and it's even more dated now.

[nina · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was really hard to get my hands on this book (i had to order it from my local library’ inter-library loan program and pay a postage fee because it was delivered from some library in north carolina—apparently it wasn’t available anywhere in canada), but i will say it was worth it, just for the experience of reading something like it.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book when I was 15! It's witty, sarcastic and so different from all those typical teenager romance novel (Sweet Dreams, etc). I think I read it more than 10 times!! Loved it back then, wish I could find a copy now.

[Cynthia Egbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not everyone is going to love this book as much as I did, but I could relate to this young lady on so many levels and my heart just went out to her. And, even as a 51 year old blimp (funny that number swap!) I learned a few things to help me in my own battles.

[Meghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I stole this from my big sister and read it tons of times. It was eighties-tastic and super funny for a "I just wanna be skinny and popular" story.