Skinny

by Donna Cooner Narrated by Elizabeth Morton

Overview

Find your voice.

Hopeless. Freak. Elephant. Pitiful. These are the words of Skinny, the vicious voice that lives inside fifteen-year-old Ever Davies's head. Skinny tells Ever all the dark thoughts her classmates have about her. Ever knows she weighs over three hundred pounds, knows she'll probably never be loved, and Skinny makes sure she never forgets it. But there is another voice: Ever's singing voice, which is beautiful but has been silenced by Skinny. Partly in the hopes of trying out for the school musical - and partly to try and save her own life - Ever decides to undergo a risky surgery that may help her lose weight and start over. With the support of her best friend, Ever begins the uphill battle toward change. But demons, she finds, are not so easy to shake, not even as she sheds pounds. Because Skinny is still around. And Ever will have to confront that voice before she can truly find her own. Donna Cooner brings warmth, wit, and startling insight to this unforgettable debut.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

Fifteen-year-old Ever Davies is a “300- pound girl who just wants to be invisible,” but her life—and her weight—change dramatically when she has gastric bypass surgery to win back her childhood sweetheart. Readers will be fascinated by the details of Ever’s surgery, and the permanent sacrifices she makes to accommodate her altered digestive system (“I take a spoonful of soup. I feel like I’ve just eaten a Thanksgiving dinner”). The negative voice that Ever constantly hears in her head, a voice she calls Skinny, will connect with anyone who has suffered from low self-esteem or been self-conscious (“You’re the charity case here, and don’t ever forget it,” Skinny says when Ever goes back-to-school shopping with two popular girls). Secondary characters—such as Ever’s pretty stepsister, with whom she has a strained relationship—appear scripted to underscore Ever’s eventual realization that “everyone has good parts and bad parts to them, no matter how... they may seem on the outside.” Cooner’s debut novel may be appreciated most for its information about gastric bypass surgery and its ramifications. Ages 12–up. Agent: Sarah Davies, Greenhouse Literary. (Oct.)

From the Publisher

Praise for Skinny:



"Resounding... with wit, compassion, and courage, Skinny will speak to everyone who has ever felt invisible or unlovable." -- Kathi Appelt, New York Times bestselling author and winner of the Newbery Honor



"The best -- and truest -- depiction of the joys and pangs of transformation I've ever read. Deeply moving, totally addictive, utterly fabulous." -- New York Times bestselling author Lauren Myracle



"Compelling." -- Kirkus Reviews



"At a time when many teens are struggling with personal obesity, overweight, and the definition of beauty, public and school libraries should not hesitate to include this... in their collection." -- VOYA

School Library Journal - Audio

Gr 7–10—In her debut novel (Point, 2012), Cooner offers a fictional account of her own experience with weight-loss surgery. Ever Davies is 15 and overweight—302 pounds on her 5 foot 6 inch frame. She's miserable, compounded by the voice in her head ("Skinny") that tells her constantly that she's is fat, ugly, and unlovable. Ever started eating after her mother died when she was ten. Now her father is remarried to a woman with two teenage daughters. Ever feels like she's living a Cinderella story, but that her prince (childhood friend Jackson) will never see past her obesity to the person she really is. The teenager has great grades, a beautiful singing voice, and a best friend in Rat, a geeky boy who has been loyal to her since elementary school. But her obesity and Skinny's vicious insults depress her. After a particularly humiliating episode at school, Ever decides that she must go through gastric bypass surgery. Skinny leads listeners through Ever's recovery and realization that a happier life is within her grasp. An interview with the author about her own struggles with obesity concludes the audiobook. Elizabeth Morton narrates, voicing Skinny with an especially evil touch that reflects the self-loathing that Ever must overcome to become truly healthy and happy. This novel will hit home with teenagers consumed with self-image, and adds another dimension to books about teens with eating disorders.—Julie Paladino, East Chapel Hill High School, NC

School Library Journal

Gr 7–10—In this debut novel, Cooner fictionalizes her experiences with extreme-weight-loss surgery. Ever Davies, 15, thinks she would be perfect for the part of Cinderella in her high school musical. She can sing, she knows what it's like to have a stepmother and stepsisters at home, and most people tend to ignore her since she weighs more than 300 pounds. Even Jackson, a childhood friend and now a hunk, looks right through her. Food has been a comfort since her mother died; however, her weight is becoming a serious health issue. And Skinny, the little voice in her head, keeps up a running commentary about Ever's weight and total incompetence. Despite her concerns about the risks of surgery, Ever finally undergoes gastric bypass. Her geeky friend, Rat, stands by her throughout the process, helping her chart her progress with pounds lost and pertinent songs. As she loses weight, Ever learns about the people around her-her stepsister Briella, who uses shopping to soothe herself when her dad ignores her; her new friend, Whitney; and even Rat, who might be Prince Charming in disguise. She forces herself to enroll in drama class to qualify for the musical and finds that she enjoys it. And as she becomes more confident, she realizes that Skinny's voice isn't as loud as it once was. The surgery is discussed in detail; readers can see this isn't a quick, easy solution, and that Ever's problems don't magically go away. This story will appeal to girls who struggle with doubts and fears, whether dealing with weight issues, loneliness, or lack of popularity.—Diana Pierce, Leander High School, TX

Kirkus Reviews

For the ultimate makeover, nothing beats gastric-bypass surgery. Her beloved, ever-dieting mom died five years ago. Now saddled with a beautiful stepmom and two gorgeous stepsisters, Ever, a sophomore, is pretty, smart, musically gifted and 302 pounds. Former buddy and long-term crush Jackson ignores Ever. She's taunted by classmates, but her own self-loathing eclipses their slurs--she's even given it a name, Skinny, and mostly ceded her identity to it. Skinny prevents Ever from taking up drama or accepting friendly overtures from stepsister Briella and takes Rat, science geek and loyal friend, for granted. Desperation drives Ever to gastric-bypass surgery. Her agonizing self-awareness, imprisoned in a body under severe stress, is compelling. (Author Cooner, who's had the surgery, doesn't sugarcoat its risks and considerable downsides.) As Ever loses weight, the story loses its grip on reality, avoiding tough issues, like the power assigned to appearance. A stylish classmate takes Ever under her wing, and enhanced by a designer wardrobe and hair, Ever's loveliness turns heads. Surgery's magic wand has opened doors for her that only the beautiful and gifted may enter. Lip service is paid to "inner beauty," but Cinderella, that quintessential consumer fairy tale and the plot's template, tells another story: It's what's outside that counts. (Fiction. 12 & up)

Product Details

BN ID:	2940170506804
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	10/01/2012
Edition description:	Unabridged
Age Range:	12 - 17 Years

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