life in the fat lane

life in the fat lane
Cherie Bennett

Lara Ardeche, a voice in my head said to me, you are not a quitter. You can change this. And you don't need anyone's help. All you have to do is stop eating. Totally. No matter how hungry you get, or how bad that is, it can't be as bad as this is.
Yes. That was what I would do. I'd just stop eating.
One of two things would happen.
I would get thin again. Or I would die.
Either way, I would win.

I attended Authorpalooza with Karlene back in August. Cherie was one of the authors there with this book. I picked it up and thought it looked interesting. I also thought that it might be a good book to have as a counselor.

Or at least a quick and momentary diversion from home/housework.

I am so glad I bought this book that night.

Lara is homecoming queen. Beauty pagent winner. Thin and beautiful. Until she gets sick (a ficticious disease) and gets fat. And her friends leave. Her family falls apart. Her entire world crumbles. Just like a crumb cake without a glass of milk. And nothing will ever be the same again.

My favorite scene came twice in the book. Both scenes involve a skinny girl and a fat girl and dieting advice. And they bring the book full circle.

Lara's mom and dad? I could just slap them. I deal with these kinds of parents all. day. long. and I just always want to say, "Excuse me! Do you not realize that if you would just grow up your child would not be having these problems? Get over yourself already, people!" But of course I don't. But I sure want to.

Scott, her brother, I want to reach out and help. I deal with the Scotts of the world all day long as well. But for them I have tools to help him learn and deal and cope. And I have hope. Despite his parents.

Cherie has done an amazing job of getting inside the head of teens and voicing their thoughts and feelings. This is a book that I will take to my office and use and recommend to other counselors, parents and teens. And probably administrators as well.

Buy it here

Product details:

Product Details
Pub. Date: July 1999
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Format: Mass Market Paperback, 272pp
Age Range: Young Adult
ISBN-13: 9780440220299

Get it
Read it

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Indeed.