Holding up the Universe by Jennifer Niven

As I finished the closing words of this book, a single word escaped my lips, WOW. Wow, in a very good way.  When I started this story, I had no expectations of what I would find, but chapter upon chapter, Libby and Jack found their ways into my heart.  I was totally rooting for both of them and wanting them to triumph over their individual challenges.

After having to be cut out from her house, Libby has been labelled as America's Fattest Teenager. Not something easy to live with during the difficult high school years.

Jack finds that he has to employ a lot of bluff and bluster to hide the fact that he can't recognise nor remember faces, even those of his family members.

After a prank gone wrong, the two of them must address their aggression  toward each other.

Both of these teens have to deal with self acceptance of their physical limitations as well as the mental ones they have imposed on themselves.  They also have to learn to cope with how others respond to them and we all know that kids can be mean whether it is from spite, ignorance  or to make themselves feel better about their own issues.  Yes, there is romance in the story, but what YA book would read as realistic without some level of budding relationship.

I would recommend this for all teens as an excellent way toward understanding what your family, friends, and classmates might be undergoing.  Bullying is far too wide spread and has very serious consequences.  It is not acceptable to make fun of someone just because that person doesn't live up to your expectations.  Our young adults need to learn not to blindly follow the crowd, but to use their intelligence to guide their actions.

*I received an advanced reader copy of this book fromPenguin RandomHouse Canada in exchange for an honest review* 

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