(I was unable to read this clearly on my Kindle, so this review is based on a review copy I got from my district library services office).

This is a very moving, and insightful, book that addresses the struggles of a boy who is overweight and trying to figure out who he is. He has good friends, but his parents have a rocky relationship and he is also struggling with his religious education obligations as he tries to prepare for his bar mitzvah. Everything together makes for a hard summer, but over time, as he tries to develop a healthier relationship with food and he realizes how special his friends really are, he develops a new attitude about his self-worth, as well.

Some of the flow of the verse was a bit hard for me to follow and keep a rhythm with reading, but I think the verse will be a positive for kids because it makes the story feel more like a true emotional account.

Probably fifth grade and up. I'm not sure I'll add this to my collection, but I will pass it on to a middle school librarian so that it can hopefully find its way to the right reader.

Wonderful book full of honesty and heart. The main character is relatable and likable. I will recommend this book to students.

I wish that I had a book like this growing up. This book in verse hit me hard, and is a must read for all children. My entire family adored it.

This was a beautifully written novel-in-verse about the power of friendship and self-acceptance. A must-read for all ages.

This has one major point in its favor (male character struggling with weight rather than female), a few fairly average issues (the writing felt far more adult than middle grade in places; more than one plotline or character seemed to trail off and disappear with little resolution; although the story seemed to be taking place in the current time based on mentions of cell phones the cultural interests of the young characters seemed to have been arrested in the eighties; the Judaism that they keep talking about in theory of the mitzvot and keeping Shabbat seemed significantly at odds with what any character was doing currently) and the serious issue that I'm genuinely concerned it might contribute to a child's eating disorder.

Yes, it has the eventual "your weight doesn't matter, it's on the inside that counts" message, but only in perhaps the last quarter of the book. Prior to that, readers must follow Ari on adventures in severe bullying, self harm, crash dieting, and extreme body negativity, and the revelation only comes after he has lost weight and been noticed for it. No information is given about the genetic factors of weight gain, the complex entanglement of fatness and health, or the metabolic complications with dieting vs. keeping weight off. All adult figures including medical professionals (except perhaps the rabbi, whose storyline is somewhat separate from the weight aspect) are extremely focused on weight loss by whatever means necessary. Little change has been made or support added regarding the familial/emotional aspects to which Ari connects some of his overeating tendencies - his parents are still a mess, still absent, and he never returns to therapy. At no point is it mentioned that a body can be good for more than being thin. I would have loved for just once Ari to think to himself "I appreciate that my body helps me ride around on my bike."

I especially struggled with weight right around seventh grade, and if I had read a book like this, even if the message was allegedly that you should love yourself however you look, I would have come away angry and ashamed of my body. I would have picked up on the much stronger messages about the importance of significant food regulation, that bullying can be stopped if you just look better and don't provide as much of a target, that the culturally accepted standard of beauty or health is singular and meant to be reached by any means necessary, and that would have been tremendously damaging.

I am glad I have read this book. Verse is not my go to, so experiences in non-preferred area are always a plus.
The book reflects the reality very well - the feelings inside that hold one back even after there have been outside changes, the way they eventually subside when you finally get the freedom - freedom from the "old you", freedom to be the "new you". The "outside" happenings go through multiple changes as well from family problems to bullying, to carefree parts of the summer, to disappointment, to realizing the truth even though at first you might refuse to accept it.
Being in the elementary world, I would probably not use it with my students. There are some things here that, in my opinion, would not go well at the elementary level. I am sure it would be better suited for middle school students.

I received this ARC from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I really wanted to like this one, but felt it dragged and just went on too long.. Ari is an overweight boy string with his weight, self image, and the treatment he receives from others ranging from unkind comments to abuse.. As he embarks on his weightloss journey, he struggles with absent parents, and an unusual group of friends, some of whom struggles with their own demons and aren't always available to him. I'm sure there are others who will find this book a perfect fit, but it wasn't for me.

This is a story about Ari, who's family has moved from NY to San Francisco so his parents can pursue their art business dreams. His mom is the artist and his dad is the salesman. It's unclear really why they moved, although apparently it caused a certain amount of schism in the family because they don't really speak to the east coast relatives any more. Ari struggles with his weight. He perfectly describes what overeating is like. He's also bullied pretty consistently. He does have friends, although they have their issues as well. I didn't really love this one. I'm not sure if it was a problem with the download or it was part of the artistic nature of the book, but about a third of the words didn't have any spacing between them, which required a lot of re-reading on my part. I didn't really feel the flow of the poetry (it looked like it could have been poetry, but maybe not). It was nice to read about the struggles of some one with a weight problem-I think this an issue more and more of our students are facing. It's probably more appropriate for a middle school or high school library than my elementary one.

A beautifully written verse novel with one of the most vulnerable and real main characters I’ve ever read. It was refreshing and engaging to see a book with body issue themes have a male main character. This coming of age tale about finding who you really are and being comfortable with yourself will engage and speak to young readers and provide lots of opportunity for discussion. Highly recommended.

This book was amazing! As someone who struggles with weight, the story of Ari really resonated with me. While I think this book is too mature for my third graders, it would make an excellent addition to a classroom library for middle school and above. Beautiful story told in verse. Teens and preteens will love it.

This is a beautifully written novel-in-verse that sensitively explores not only issues of weight, but also divorce, Jewish identity, friendships, bullying, and other coming-of-age issues. This is a boy main character who is allowed to feel a full range of feelings - such a powerful antidote to endless portrayals of toxic masculinity. Highly recommend.

Oh my heart! Ari’s story is written in verse and is a raw and wonderfully honest look at what it’s like to grow up overweight. The cruelty of other people, the struggle to love oneself, dressing in clothes that don’t fit, the diet book that almost taunts him and is ever in his mind.

With parents that are going through a divorce and Ari’s newfound feelings for his best friend, Lisa, there are a lot of other things happening. Ari’s rabbi adds a gentle touch with his wisdom and caring for a lost soul who desperately needs to feel loved as is.

Ari struggles, and grows, and as his acceptance of self becomes real, we cheer for his triumphant story.

I hope this comes out in audiobook because I want to listen to this one. It’s beautiful.