Taking Up Space

Seventh grader Sarah Weber loves playing basketball with her two BFFs, Ryan and Emilia. But her body is changing, making the former star player feel slow on the court and causing her worry about being cut from the team. Since Sarah’s mother, who has a complicated relationship with health, sometimes skips meals, the girl decides to follow suit, taking her coach’s advice to cut junk food and bread. Though constantly hungry as a result, Sarah starts playing better and liking the way her clothes fit. When the boy both she and Emilia like asks her to be his cooking partner for a school contest, Sarah keeps their meetups a secret for fear of losing Emilia’s friendship. Soon, tensions have escalated with her friends and mother, her eating habits—or lack of them—are drawing unwanted attention, and Sarah no longer knows what or how to eat. Gerber (Focused) portrays Sarah’s bodily discomfort and eating disorder with realism and compassion, highlighting both her desire to be healthy and her denial when things move beyond her control. Though the hopeful ending comes a bit abruptly, this affirming novel offers a normalizing message about discussing body image and mental health. Ages 8–12. (May)