Rats Saw God by Rob Thomas

Though I tried to clear my head of the effects of the fat, resiny doobie I'd polished off an hour before, things were still fuzzy as I stumbled into senior counselor Jeff DeMouy's office.

Slacker senior, Steve York, is short one credit for graduation. His guidance counselor challenges him to write 100 pages to make up that credit. Steve writes of his relationship with his father and the girl who broke his heart his junior year and comes to terms with his pain.

A funny story about a boy's search for identity. I recognized boys from my high school in this story.

Thomas, R. (1996). Rats saw god. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers.
ISBN: 0689802072
219 pages

LIfe in the Fat Lane by Cherie Bennett

"Which would you rather be, fat or dead?"

Sixteen year old Lara has it all - thin, popular, smart, perfect family, perfect boyfriend, pageant winner and now Homecoming Queen. Her world is turned upside down when she mysteriously begins to gain weight, almost 100 pounds over her junior year and suddenly life is not as perfect.

I enjoyed this book. My only criticism is I felt the easy road was taken by giving Lara a made up disease to explain weight gain. Otherwise her struggle to lose weight, deal with the gossip and family situation were depicted honestly. I liked that Lara did not lose the weight and live happily ever after but instead found self acceptance and value in her life and relationships. She became a real person.

Bennett, C. (1998). Life in the fat lane. New York, NY: Laurel-Leaf Books.
ISBN: 0440220297
260 pages