Synopses & Reviews
Find your voice.
Hopeless. Freak. Elephant. Pitiful. These are the words of Skinny, the vicious voice that lives inside fifteen-year-old Ever Davies's head. Skinny tells Ever all the dark thoughts her classmates have about her. Ever knows she weighs over three hundred pounds, knows she'll probably never be loved, and Skinny makes sure she never forgets it.
But there is another voice: Ever's singing voice, which is beautiful but has been silenced by Skinny. Partly in the hopes of trying out for the school musical - and partly to try and save her own life - Ever decides to undergo a risky surgery that may help her lose weight and start over.
With the support of her best friend, Ever begins the uphill battle toward change. But demons, she finds, are not so easy to shake, not even as she sheds pounds. Because Skinny is still around. And Ever will have to confront that voice before she can truly find her own.
Donna Cooner brings warmth, wit, and startling insight to this unforgettable debut.
Review
Praise for SKINNY:
"Resounding . . . with wit, compassion, and courage, Skinny will speak to everyone who has ever felt invisible or unlovable." -- Kathi Appelt, New York Times bestselling author and winner of the Newbery Honor
"The best--and truest-- depiction of the joys and pangs of transformation I've ever read. Deeply moving, totally addictive, utterly fabulous." New York Times bestselling author Lauren Myracle
Review
Praise for SKINNY:
YPulse.com
“This book is relatable for anyone who has ever felt insecure (not only those who have struggled with weight issues) which, let’s be honest, is everyone.”
Booklist
“Debut novelist Cooner’s real-life experience with gastric bypass lends the story an irrefutable authenticity…this remains a crucial text for any teen considering such a life-changing surgery.”
Kirkus
“[Ever’s] agonizing self-awareness, imprisoned in a body under severe stress, is compelling.”
Publishers Weekly
“The negative voice that Ever constantly hears in her head, a voice she calls Skinny, will connect with anyone who has suffered from low self-esteem or been self-conscious…”
School Library Journal
“The surgery is discussed in detail; readers can see this isn’t a quick, easy solution, and that Ever’s problems don’t magically go away. This story will appeal to girls who struggle with doubts and fears, whether dealing with weight issues, loneliness, or lack of popularity.”
Voice of Youth Advocates
“At a time when many teens are struggling with personal obesity, overweight, and the definition of beauty, public and school libraries should not hesitate to include this modern tale, only loosely based on the Cinderella story, in their collection.”
NPR.org
“There haven't been very many young adult books that deal with weight loss surgery, and I applaud the author for her choice of story. I hope Skinny can start a conversation for young people who are thinking about the surgery, so they can be prepared for the major physical and mental transition it brings.”
The Mash (Chicago Tribune)
“Skinny leaves you turning the pages, eager to see Ever grow as a person and become more confident and comfortable in her own skin.”
"Resounding . . . with wit, compassion, and courage, Skinny will speak to everyone who has ever felt invisible or unlovable." -- Kathi Appelt, New York Times bestselling author and winner of the Newbery Honor
"The best--and truest-- depiction of the joys and pangs of transformation I've ever read. Deeply moving, totally addictive, utterly fabulous." – New York Times bestselling author Lauren Myracle
Review
"All of the protagonists...are pushed to ask themselves what expectations other people have of them and whether or not they have accepted these as their own. In the end, Maggie and the others become fully realized characters whose actions cannot be predicted by a YA lit algorithm."
—School Library Journal
Synopsis
Maggie Bowers thinks she knows what to expect her junior year of high school--yeah, it would be nice if her mother didnt care so much about her weight, but at least she has Nash, her out-of-the-closet best friend and a cool afterschool job at the local record store. But when Tom moves to town at the start of the school year they have something unexpected in common—feelings for the same guy. Up until now Maggie and Nash they have always chosen each other, but what if winning someones heart means losing their soul mate?
Synopsis
“Do not ignore a call from me when you know I am feeling neurotic about a boy. That is Best Friend 101.” —Nash
Maggie and Nash are outsiders. She’s overweight. He’s out of the closet. The best of friends, they have seen each other through thick and thin, but when Tom moves to town at the start of the school year, they have something unexpected in common: feelings for the same guy. This warm, witty novel—with a clear, true voice and a clever soundtrack of musical references—sings a song of love and forgiveness.
Video
About the Author
Donna Cooner lives with her goat dog, Roxanne, in Fort Collins, Colorado, where she also works as a professor of education. A former gastric bypass patient, Donna was inspired to share some of her experiences with readers. SKINNY is her debut novel. You can visit her online at www.donnacooner.com.