Fat Angie (Fat Angie, #1) in Mock Printz 2026

May 12, 2014 Carol Royce Owen rated it liked it

I think I wanted to like this book more than I did, but I couldn't help but feel like I was reading a teen version of the book She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb. Angie is a high school age girl who is torn up inside because her older sister, a girl who could have gone on to be anybody, and had been offered multiple sports scholarships, turned her back on them all and went off to fight in Iraq. Now she is missing in action, and despite all kinds of national press, a phone call from the president of I think I wanted to like this book more than I did, but I couldn't help but feel like I was reading a teen version of the book She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb. Angie is a high school age girl who is torn up inside because her older sister, a girl who could have gone on to be anybody, and had been offered multiple sports scholarships, turned her back on them all and went off to fight in Iraq. Now she is missing in action, and despite all kinds of national press, a phone call from the president of the US, and videos of torture, Angie refuses to believe she is dead. Since then her life has been a living hell as she has turned to junk food to fill the hole and has also attempted suicide, slashing her wrists at a basketball game, and then running out onto the court in a frenzy. Now she's the laughingstock of the school, the butt of jokes, bullying, and name calling. With every fight she is in at school, her mother gets angrier and angrier at Angie, demanding she stop drawing attention to herself and stop making their family even more embarrassed. This isn't helped any by her adopted brother, Wang, who makes sure their mom knows about every act of rebellion and who has issues enough himself to keep many counselors busy.

When a new, brassy, hard core girl comes to town, K.C. Romance, Angie is shocked when she takes an interest in her. But KC has issues herself that you learn of quickly - she's a cutter and her father refuses to accept that she's a lesbian. But KC helps Angie to believe in herself and even though nothing has been said between the two of them about it, Angie gets it in her head to train for the Varsity basketball team, to carry out her sister's name and honor.

Why did I not care for this book? I guess because I just didn't feel any of the characters were all that likable. Although Angie reminded me of someone I know, I felt things were too black or white with her, and therefore unbelievable. Her transformation from Fat Angie to super jock just seemed too sudden as did her sudden ability to speak up for herself (although it seemed it was a long time coming). The only decent adult was the gym teacher who cared for Angie, although she tended to ignore the blatant bullying that went on in the locker room. This all comes to a head one day when Angie's biggest tormenter drags her into the showers and attempts to strip her down and KC intervenes, demanding that the gym teacher do something. Angie's one advocate before KC arrives on the scene, is a neighbor boy and super cute jock, Jake - kind of the Finn Hudson (of Glee) nice guy, but I wanted more from his character. You get a hint that maybe there was something going on between he and Angie's sister, but there's never a big reveal to truly know what that was all about. KC was ok, but with so many issues of her own, I felt like she was a walking time bomb. Worst of all the characters is the mom. Think the lady who played Lorelei's mom on the Gilmore Girls, and take away any semblance of heart or soul, and you have this lady. Hateful, hateful, hateful.

So, I don't hate the book, but this will be one that I won't be buying a hard copy of to share.
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Dec 09, 2015 Christina added it

omgomgomgomgomg.......

This book was SO GOOD! Such a strong and resounding voice. I read it in one afternoon. (...my kids were away for the weekend, so I binged). This was AudioSYNC's book of the week, and I had it circled on my calendar, and this book did not disappoint. To read more of this review and to watch a book trailer created by The Pinata Production, please click here. ...more

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Jan 17, 2014 Katy rated it liked it

Shelves: ya, lgbtq, totweet, contemp, weight, war, violence, mental-health, death, be-yourself

A little hard to read, but sometimes life is a little hard to live, especially for teens, and certainly for Angie. Right now her supporting cast = 1 perfect, impossible-to-live-up-to GI sister, missing in Afghanistan; 1 absent couldn't-care-less mom; 1 adopted, always-in-trouble, pretty mean big brother; and 1 school full of witnesses to her lowest moment. Add 1 sister's-ex-boyfriend with unclear motives + 1 new definitely-not-from-Ohio girl and what do you get? An entirely new perspective on li ...more

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Aug 13, 2013 Jennifer rated it really liked it

Shelves: ya-realistic-fiction, books-about-teachers, lgbtq, death

I really liked this YA novel. It rang true to me, and I felt real feelings for Angie. I think I'll have to revisit what a "5-star" book is to me....this might be close. ...more

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Nov 05, 2013 Kim rated it liked it

Shelves: ownvoices, fiction, contemporary-fiction, young-adult-fiction, award-winner, lgbtqia

Angie is dealing with intense bullying, a detached mother, and a captured war-hero sister, and recently attempted suicide. New girl KC Romance comes to town and helps her see herself more clearly. But KC's friendship doesn't bring about perfection: Angie needs to decide if she wants the same type of relationship that KC is looking for, and KC has her own ghosts to confront. A solid friendship story, but not the light-hearted variety. ...more

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