Skinny by Donna Cooner - Throwback Thursday Review

A "Throwback Thursday Review" is either a book I read way back when but didn't write a review for whatever reason (usually, probably forgot ... oops...) or it is a review on a book I got but then didn't get around to reading until now (again, usually, probably just forgot).

Up this week is Skinny by Donna Cooner. I read this book back in 2012 right before it came out and really enjoyed, and I don't know why I didn't write a review then. Apparently, that part of 2012 was a bad time for me to actually get reviews written because it seems all of my "Throwback Thursday" reviews are coming from then.

Skinny by Donna Cooner
Published: September 2012

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. 

 Goodreads * Amazon

My review:

Skinny is the story of Ever, an overweight teenager who decides to have gastric bypass surgery. "Skinny" is the little voice in Ever's head that calls her names and tells her everyone is disgusted by her. Even as Ever loses weight, the voice of Skinny never goes away and keeps telling Ever she isn't good enough.

Skinny explores the hard issues of self-esteem, being happy with yourself, confidence, following your dreams, and what true friendship really means. This is an excellent story, and I would recommend it.

Copy was provided for an honest review.

About the author:

Donna Cooner was born and raised in Texas. She is a three time graduate of Texas A&M University. A former teacher and school administrator, she now teaches teachers and principals at Colorado State University where she is the director of the School of Teacher Education and Principal Preparation. She lives in Fort Collins, Colorado, with her two labs and a cat named Stu. She's a big fan of chocolate and laughing (not necessarily in that order).

Donna is the author of over twenty picture books and was a founding member of the Brazos Valley Society of Children's Bookwriters and Illustrators. She has also written children's television shows for PBS and textbooks for future teachers. SKINNY is her debut novel for young adults.

Find out more at DonnaCooner.com.