From Booklist Gr. 8-11. Carmen, 14, is distressed when her mother, Maria, insists that they leave Yorkshire (and Carmen's stepfather) and move to Birmingham, where Maria's family lives. But Maria is wildly erratic because of her eating disorder, and as she starts her new life, she insists that Carmen ("Piggy") join her on endless diets and incessant exercise--until Carmen succumbs. In a casual nonreflective voice, Carmen tells her story, which, for the reader, will seem a bit like watching a car chase. The narrative is repetitive and nothing really happens, yet you're holding your breath the whole time, and can't turn away. Bell does a masterful job of describing what anorexia looks like from the outside: irrational, bewildering, compulsive. She lures readers into thinking that the illness will be observed from a distance, until Carmen almost mindlessly becomes bulimic. Some adult characters try to help--mostly ineffectually--but at book's conclusion there are still questions about how things will end for the mother and daughter. This has some nonexplicit sex and a little rough language, much of which is British slang. Ilene CooperCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved Read more Review "Grim, gritty, real. Massive is an important, cautionary tale of the dangerous pairing of food and self-esteem. Thought provoking." -- Deb Caletti, National Book Award finalist"For every girl who's fat or thin or in between, Massive is terrific. Julia Bell's Carmen knows how it feels to want to scream but to grit your teeth instead." -- Gail Giles, author of Shattering Glass and Dead Girls Don't Write Letters. Read more See all Editorial Reviews
S**S
It wasn't ABOUT anything.
It wasn't ABOUT anything. It jumps from "the mom is terrible" to "the mom is sick and pitiful." The main character goes to school on the first day in the new place and Kelly is nice to her and shows her around. Then two other girls come by and mock Kelly for being fat. The next day the main character hooks up with the two mean girls and calls Kelly fat and pursues her to do mean things. Where did THAT come from? If people are like that (and I am not, nor is my husband), then I don't know why we should even go on. Do mean people grow up and forget that they were mean? Agh. Also, it just ENDS. Nothing has happened except that she discovered this guy they hang around with is her real father and her mother ODs and goes to a psych hospital. She'll go live with Lisa, a character who was too good to be true all along. Yay, the end? Hmm. Nothing really changed for our main character. Also, who was massive? No one was all that fat here, not like in Gilbert Grape and other fat wails. There should have been some cause-->effect chain that links the scenes. It's called a plot. I enjoyed the British slang, though. That was kind of interesting.
B**Y
Great character development; Slow plot
I'm a sucker for books that takes place in England and for teen mental health stories, so I had high hopes for this book. Bell does an excellent job of creating depth to the characters of Carmen and her mother. Mom is thoroughly despicable from the beginning and it is heartbreaking to watch Carmen wrestle with the demons that want her to resist and become her at the same time.The other characters weren't as engaging and I got bored in the middle a bit, when I could predict where things were going, so the tension wasn't there for me. It was just fine, overall.
J**.
Worth a read.
This was a good one. It was a bit different, and honestly, I expected a different ending, like a twist, maybe. It was good writing, but the end fell a little flat for me. It felt rushed and thrown together. All in all, it was just okay.
S**.
Massiv
Easy read...terrible ending...unless there is another book? Perfect book for mothers with an eating disorders. It was very sad how she as totally fine and then her mom teaches her how to learn to hate food.
I**O
Excellent condition
Excellent condition
C**.
Waste of money
This book has NOTHING to offer! Spend your money elsewhere!
M**A
good read
I enjoyed reading this book. Seeing the characters struggle with eating and food hits home foe me. I recommend this book.
A**R
Three Stars
MEHH
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