Everything I Know About You is a body-positive book that portrays complicated middle school friendships in a realistic way. The main character, Tally, is who I wish I was in middle school. She’s got a strong sense of self and a tribe of true friends, although, at times, she’s just as confused and prone to poor choices as the rest of us.

This book includes middle grade topics that many kids can relate to: navigating friendships, bullying, mean girls, adoption, divorce, and the difficult business of being a tween or young teen. Carefully woven in is the too-common issue of eating disorders. I like that this is done through the main character’s observation of a peer with an eating disorder. While this perspective may prove helpful for readers who have noticed signs of an eating disorder in a friend or peer, it’s also a disarming and non-glamorizing perspective for readers who are struggling with their own disordered eating habits. I recommend the book for any middle grade reader as well as the classrooms and school libraries that serve them. ( )

With a little bit of humor, a spunky character and heaps of finesse, this book takes on a difficult topic not often mentioned in middle grade novels.

Tally's class trip is heading toward Washington D.C., something she's theoretically excited about...if it weren't for most of the people in her class. To make matters worse, the teacher has placed Tally and each of her two friends with their corresponding worst enemies ever. To help get through it, Tally starts a game. Her and her friends come up with tiny secrets for each one of their enemies and tell each other each day. While some personal secrets are silly and cute, Tally discovers something very confusing about her enemy—a notebook with numbers which don't appear to have any clear meaning. As she tries to uncover the secret of these numbers, she stumbles across something which changes everything she thought she knew about her worst enemy.

Eating disorders aren't one of the themes usually handled in middle grade books, but it's a topic which does, unfortunately, affect even some within this age group. While being a difficult problem to address, the author does a wonderful job in these pages and brings the message home without hammering it in or taking wrong turns along the way.

Tally is a bit of a strange character. She's a twelve-year-old who doesn't fit in, except with her two friends, but still packs a spunky punch. Her style is way out there, and even when she's unsure of her decisions, she holds to her individuality and faces the world. At the same time, she bites. The first chapters do not present a mild personality, but she attacks her enemies with snark and harshness. This gives her corners which aren't always likable but definitely realistic. Tally has things to learn.

Although this takes place during a class trip, this is a book about people and their relationships. Tally not only makes surprising discoveries about those who she considered enemies, but also about her own friends. The bounds of friendship and enemies bend and twist in this tale while staying down-to-earth and believable. Each character has something to offer, surprises of their own and brings fuel to the tale. This is a story about feelings, middle school drama, getting to really know people, and realizing that everyone has their own monsters to battle. In this sense, Tally's sharpness turns to careful fingers and kindness which offers inspiration and food for thought.

I received a complimentary copy and was so impressed by the way this topic was handled that I wanted to leave my honest thoughts. ( )