foodgirlsTitle: Food, Girls and Other Things I Can’t Have
Author: Allen Zadoff
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: Egmont USA
Source: Advance Readers Copy provided by publisher
Parental Warning: Bullying, Minor foul language

Summary:
Andrew Zansky is the awkward and unsure.  As an overweight, studious, asthmatic, girl starved high schooler he hangs out with his BFF Eytan talking about chicks and model UN. They don’t talk about just any chick though, recent circumstances have brought April (a seemingly dorkish girl in her own right) to Andrew’s attention.

Thinking he’d never see her again after that first meeting Andrew is surprised when fate smiles on him and she turns out to be the new girl when school starts up.  Naturally, wanting to impress and court the lovely April Andrew attempts to re-position himself out of dorkdom to instead be part of the in-crowd.  Though initial efforts fail he finally gets his foot in the door as a result of a humiliating gym class snafu; a happenstance that gives him the ultimate popularity catapult — access to the football team.  Not just typical score keeper team mascot access though, but honest and true participation in the form of being a respected and active part of the team as a player.

Andrew then adds the crown jewel of high school social climbing to his crown when he is befriended by the most popular guy on campus.  O. Douglas, the star quarterback of the football team, mentors Andrew in not only in all things football but also provides guidance on navigating his burgeoning popularity and most importantly snagging the girl of his dreams.  What Andrew doesn’t realize, initially is that his radically changed and exciting new life comes with a price.

Traveling down a path to self-discovery Andrew’s journey navigates him through issues related body image, friendship, love and the importance of family. Building new and strengthening old he learns what all teens must to be a better person sometimes we have to be brave and endure.

Opinion:
Zadoff has written not only an entertaining and sometimes comical story but one of depth and heart.  Taking Andrew from geek to chic in ten seconds flat the reader is brought through a gambit of emotions — self loathing, fear, love, discontent, empathy, distrust and much more.  Rolled all together he’s created a wonderful story of perseverance and growth.

What worked for me?  Andrew is as self depricating as it gets.  He knows exactly who he is and where he sits in the caste system of the typical high school.  He is certainly the low man on the totem pole and though he wishes otherwise he is the first to admit he’ll never be one of the cool kids sitting at the poplar table.  What stood out in his characterization was that though he has a wonderful sense of humor I could always feel just the slightest bit of sadness and trepidation in everything he did or said.  Even when I was to believe he was truly happy I always knew that perhaps things weren’t all they were cracked up to be.

Zadoff did a fabulous job of showing the bumps in the road. Andrew was mocked and tortured by bullies before during and after he was embraced by the popular crowd.  His own behavior towards the “uncool” was objectionable at times.  He was in no way perfect yet he was someone the reader could root for.  I wanted him to be successful, wanted him to get the girl and be popular and get all the things he thought he wanted out of his family and friends.  Then when he went on that journey to do all of that I just adored the events that transpired and what the results were (won’t spoil that here though).

That realism is what made this story.  It’s truly about coming of age and discovering who you really are inside and out.  It’s about finding what is right for yourself, embracing it and being satisfied with the results.

I admit this book was remeniscent of the movie Lucas which I loved as a teen in the 80s.  I’ve always been drawn to the geek overcomes adversity to be a better person scenario so I really enjoyed the end and where Andrew landed.  I felt tremendously satisfied with the why and how of it all.  I also liked that there were excellent messages about body image, family, friendship and love without getting remotely preachy. At no time did I feel like I was watching an after school special or being taught all about important social issues.  This was thoughtfully written with relatable characters in an interesting and entertaining story that works for audiences young and old.

One of my favorite books of the year I strongly encourage you to pick it up and read it then encourage everyone you know to pick it up and read it too!

[This review is part of a blog tour arranged by Traveling to Teens]