Food Fight

A tween struggles to combat criticism and bullying surrounding his eating habits in Davis’s empathetic debut, which addresses avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder. Sixth grader Ben Snyder enters the Crestwood Middle School cafeteria ready to eat the same packed lunch he’s had daily since starting elementary school: a plain bagel, pretzels, and two Hershey’s Kisses. Ben has never questioned his need to only eat foods that his brain registers as “safe” until a classmate begins taunting him for his diet, and family members, including his father, start insisting on Ben eating whatever he’s served. Pressures mount as a school trip draws near that involves two overnight stays and a menu that only includes classic colonial American cuisine. While Ben’s father is certain that the trip will force him to eat more broadly, Ben worries about starvation and social survival, especially as his friends start aligning with a bully. A secondary plot in which Ben repeatedly resists friendship with an unpopular classmate adds nuance to his internal conflicts in working to both understand and communicate his needs. Honest-feeling prose and thoughtful characterizations capably drive themes of self-acceptance and self-discovery in this gently humorous novel. Characters present as white. Ages 9–12. (June)