Compelling and Emotional Story

This story certainly makes you stop and think throughout the entire book. It not only is a story that teenagers in high school can relate to but even as adults we face insecurities and consequences of these insecurities. Tia Souders did a wonderful job unfolding this complex matter. Grace is a high school student who was generally merry, very artistic, and attentive to her friendships. Cara is her best friend and her brother Jake has been in love with Grace for years. Grace also has a twin named Kelly. I would have loved a little more perspective and character building on Kelly but it really wasn't necessary for the story to unfold. 

Grace attended a weight loss program and quickly changed her attitude and personality. She began to hang out with new friends and she had the pressure to date the quarterback and to possibly become prom queen. She was often concerned and has a false sense of reality when she would hear her new friends talk about how overweight some people were and was afraid that she was still overweight. Grace slowly drifted from her friendship with Cara and Jake. Her family doesn't really help until the end and really never intervened. 

Grace often could not see her true self when she looked in the mirror. She always felt like she was too big or had put on weight even though she was well below a 100 lbs. but still thinks she is fat. She often seem to feel as though she did not measure up to the pressure of society and could not see her true self. 

This story starts at the end of the story and then it takes you to the beginning which is fun to read. Tia Souders did a great job with the writing and appeal to want to see what happens. Sometimes it takes true friendship and the boy next door to see the magnificence in the mirror and the reality of life. Often times we put too much emphasis on outer beauty and skip the inner beauty which is most important. We are all created differently and serve different purposes. The pressure put on us is often from others dreams of us and not our on individual desires and dreams. 

I received this book for an honest review.