I found this very typical of a YA novel. Some of the points were predictable, but it did have a fresh spin with the main character being a fat girl. The humor and Jamie's column are two of the things that really make this novel shine. I also love how real statistics and facts are woven into the story. ( )

I had so much hope for this big, because I felt it would tackle some difficult subjects like gastric bypass surgery, interracial relationships, and body image in teens. I could tell from the research on gastric bypass surgery that the author really did do a lot of research. However, her characters were shallow, badly developed, and generally unpleasant. Protaganists do not have to be pleasant or even morally good, but anti-heros should, at the very least, be likable. Jamie, the protaganist in this book, is wholly unlikable that you can't believe she has a boyfriend and two best friends. Even worse, her editorials are badly written and researched, and I can't see any of them being worthy of a journalism scholarship. ( )

I came across this as I was browsing the YA section at the library. I decided to give it a try and I'm glad I did. ( )

Big Fat Manifesto by Susan Vaught is a book that's full of spunk, sass, and the spirit of teen rebellion. Jamie is a senior in her high school who writes a column in the school newspaper every week. The column sheds some light on her experience as the "fat girl" of her grade. Yeah, she's Fat with a capital "F", and she flaunts it like it's her job. But underneath all the self confidence and attitude, we discover a girl who's really not as sure of herself as she'd like to believe. The column shares her overweight boyfriend's experience with gastric bypass surgery, her own experience with losing weight, and even her love life as she stumbles through the school year. It's funny and original, and it really puts things into perspective as to what it's like to have a body type different than your own. ( )

Fat girl writing a column about being fat. Interesting insights for one that isn't terribly overweight. ( )