Holding Up the Universe by Jennifer Niven Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers Publication Date: October 4th 2016
Pages: 391
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Everyone thinks they know Libby Strout, the girl once dubbed “America’s Fattest Teen.” But no one’s taken the time to look past her weight to get to know who she really is. Following her mom’s death, she’s been picking up the pieces in the privacy of her home, dealing with her heartbroken father and her own grief. Now, Libby’s ready: for high school, for new friends, for love, and for every possibility life has to offer. In that moment, I know the part I want to play here at MVB High. I want to be the girl who can do anything.
Everyone thinks they know Jack Masselin, too. Yes, he’s got swagger, but he’s also mastered the impossible art of giving people what they want, of fitting in. What no one knows is that Jack has a newly acquired secret: he can’t recognize faces. Even his own brothers are strangers to him. He’s the guy who can re-engineer and rebuild anything, but he can’t understand what’s going on with the inner workings of his brain. So he tells himself to play it cool: Be charming. Be hilarious. Don’t get too close to anyone.
Until he meets Libby. When the two get tangled up in a cruel high school game—which lands them in group counseling and community service—Libby and Jack are both pissed, and then surprised. Because the more time they spend together, the less alone they feel. Because sometimes when you meet someone, it changes the world, theirs and yours.
Cocktails and Books received this book for free from Provided by Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect our opinion of the book or the content of our review.
HOLDING UP THE UNIVERSE was a book that surprised me. I knew the premise of the book, based on the blurb, but I don’t think I fully appreciated what Jack and Libby were going to go through in this story. It’s a remarkable story about learning to love yourself.
We go into the story with Jack and Libby being “defined”. Libby was America’s Fattest Team and Jack is the guy that everyone loves. But we quickly discover those labels aren’t close to who these two really are. It’s their unlikely friendship that forces both of them to take a deep look inside and figure out who they are.
For Libby, she doesn’t want to be defined as the “fat” person. She’s worked hard to lose weight and get to a place where she really likes herself. It’s not until she re-enters school that her belief in herself is tested. Libby has this remarkable inner strength that comes out when she most needs it and her friends see beyond her outward appearance to the special person she really is. Out of all her friends, it really is Jack who helps her see that she can do and be whatever or whoever she wants.
Jack has a harder road. He’s angry about his condition and the state of his family. Because of the anger and his inability to deal with the hand he’s been dealt, he often makes poor choices and begins to dislike himself more and more. Despite how he and Libby meet, he finds himself craving her. She helps him cope with his face-blindness and realize he can’t be the person he truly wants to be without letting everyone see who he really is.
Told in alternating POVs, Jennifer Niven provides a charming story of accepting who you are and loving yourself. Jack and Libby were down to earth and could truly be the kid next door. They were easy to fall for and had me hoping (especially Jack) that they’d figure things out in the end.
Shannon
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