I loved this book because Its so complex that anyone can relate to it. Virginia's struggle with identity is the norm among teens. This book really illustrates what a major part family, school, friends and the media play in forming identity. This is a must read for anyone who has ever felt like they don't belong.

This book was a mixture of sad, funny and sweet. It made me think of an older "Angus, thongs and full frontal snogging" by Louise Rennison. Very easy to read and likeable.

A great escape. Read in a day. Super relatable.

4.5 really, very very good, I was engaged the entire time. It was moving and sad and powerful and at times hard to handle. I think the "wrap up" of the ending was a little too neat as some have sad, and I was primarily bummed that Virginia didn't even say anything to Bri when she knew what was happening BUT otherwise an excellently presented book.

Virginia was me in elementary through high school. Sometimes she still is.
There are a couple deviations in our stories.
My extended family made the "if you don't shape up, you'll get diabetes and die," "that shirt looks tacky," etc comments.
I cut instead of burning/pinching.
I thought that if someone asked me out, they were playing a prank on me, and never stuck my neck out to get attention/affection because 1)I wouldn't get it, and 2)if I did, it wouldn't be real.
I had even fewer sexual encounters than her, because that's just not my thing, and Froggy was a lot nicer than my first boyfriend turned out to be.

But the thoughts, the feelings that I didn't belong in my family, that I was unwanted, making myself numb, keeping everything inside until no one was around, disconnect with friends because they were preoccupied with new people, craving love but too afraid to ask for it, not fitting in with any particular group at school, picking up kickboxing to work out aggression and some calories (though that was years later), making a connection with a faculty member in whom I could really confide...that all happened. There's more than just that, but then this would be more about my story and not hers.

Some people have complained that the story is 'formulaic' and they want Virginia to be more confident and proud of herself and disregard other peoples' comments. But you know what? I wouldn't have connected with the book the way I did if she HAD been like that. I wasn't strong or self-assertive at the beginning, either. I needed someone else who felt just as self-conscious about her body and her huge butt and had to convince herself to speak her mind, who kept trying to do things to change herself - first for others, then for her own needs/wants. I guess I just needed to read a variation of my story.

That's not to say that other stories with stronger Virginias have no merit; I intend to read one that others have suggested in their reviews, and think they might be encouraging and inspiring and give me role models I could have used at that age. As for this book, though, it was what I needed.

The only negative that I can really comment on is that sometimes the eating felt forced; then again, I tended to starve myself with rare binging episodes, so maybe others can identify with that better and it's more realistic than it seemed.

At first I thought this was a typical coming of age story where a fat teenager learns to accept herself but as I read on, the characters drew me in and I really enjoyed the little differences and details that made this book and story unique. Also, we can never have too many stories about people who think they are alone in their difference building community, coming into their own, and accepting and loving themselves.

I'm a bit torn about this one. I agree with other reviews that mention the formulaic plot and the stereotypical characters (the unpopular but lovable fat girl,the popular thin girl with the eating disorder, the popular but morally-flawed older brother, etc). The ending is also a little saccharine for my tastes (I kept waiting for something to go wrong, but no! Smooth sailing from the eyebrow-piercing onward...). But I find Virginia's personal transformation fascinating. She doesn't wait for others to change their opinions about her; she makes a stand for herself and makes everyone else change too. She reminds me that being oneself also involves going out to find oneself, and she does it with passion and wit. I would like to see her again in other stories (but, perhaps, with fewer two-dimensional characters stealing the limelight).

Relatable and also not the kind of fat characters I want to see.

I so wish I had this around to read when I was younger!!

This was such an important read for me. If highlighted a lot of feelings that I have a deal with. However, the writing was a bit juvenile for me.