Fat Cat

April's off to a pretty good start as far as my reading goes. I have been trying to get through as many library books as possible because right now it seems like there are a lot of things coming out that I want to read. However, I will admit that as soon as I get one thing read, I find two more things to add to my list.

Yesterday I finished Fat Cat by Robin Brande and loved it. For whatever reason I am drawn to young adult books that center on body image issues - as a teen I would have appreciated having a few titles like this to choose from, but cannot thing of a single one that I was able to read when I was growing up. Catherine, or Cat, is heavy-set and very smart. She is in an especially challenging science course where the curriculum consists of a year long research project. Cat decides to perform a little research, using herself as the subject. Her project's focus is looking at hominins and the way they lived, and how man has managed to corrupt their bodies with the processed foods that are available. In addition to processed foods, Cat also decides to give up modern-day conveniences like the telephone, computer, television, and car. Cat who has felt self-conscious about her body for several years begins to see the results of her experiment as her healthier lifestyle begins to help her lose weight and feel better about herself. The one thing that Cat still has to make peace with is her friend Matt's betrayal when they were thirteen years old.

There are so many reason I liked this book. I liked Cat's experiment because there have been numerous times I have thought and wondered what it would be like to give up all the "junk" in my diet. I liked watching Cat feel better about herself and see success through her experiment and I liked that there were never any actual body measurements given. We knew Cat was losing weight but by not giving her weight there is no comparison to make, allowing readers to focus on Cat's healthier way of living rather than the numbers on the scale. I also enjoyed the way Cat's feelings toward Matt and what happened in their past unfolded. Their relationship left me smiling.

Yes, there are other books out there on body image issues for young adults, and sometimes I think that there couldn't possibly be another story needed about that same issue, yet Fat Cat is a great read and a worthy addition to this genre of literature.

Visit Robin Brande's website.