Holding Up the Universe
I received a complimentary copy of Nemesis from the Children’s and Young Adult Book Review Board of Missouri in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Everyone thinks they know Libby Strout, the girl once dubbed “America’s Fattest Teen.” But no one’s taken the time to look past her weight to get to know who she really is. Following her mom’s death, she’s been picking up the pieces in the privacy of her home, dealing with her heartbroken father and her own grief. Now, Libby’s ready: for high school, for new friends, for love, and for every possibility life has to offer. In that moment, I know the part I want to play here at MVB High. I want to be the girl who can do anything.
Everyone thinks they know Jack Masselin, too. Yes, he’s got swagger, but he’s also mastered the impossible art of giving people what they want, of fitting in. What no one knows is that Jack has a newly acquired secret: he can’t recognize faces. Even his own brothers are strangers to him. He’s the guy who can re-engineer and rebuild anything, but he can’t understand what’s going on with the inner workings of his brain. So he tells himself to play it cool: Be charming. Be hilarious. Don’t get too close to anyone.
Until he meets Libby. When the two get tangled up in a cruel high school game—which lands them in group counseling and community service—Libby and Jack are both pissed, and then surprised. Because the more time they spend together, the less alone they feel. Because sometimes when you meet someone, it changes the world, theirs and yours.
Published October 4th 2016 by Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28686840-holding-up-the-universe
Holding up the Universe is now one of my top books! I knew I wanted to read it after I read the description on Goodreads. It does contain some offensive language and some grownup ideas. Jennifer Niven does such a wonderful job with her characters. I instantly loved Libby with her “nothing can stop me attitude”. Libby is someone that you will cheer for throughout the book. Jack, on the other hand, is a character that you at first want to hate, but as the book goes along, you will come to love. I really like the storyline of this book. To me it is very original. Niven’s secondary characters are also very well written. They are kids we all knew in high school and fit so many of the stereotypes: cheerleader, dorks, freaks, insecure fat friend, and the jerks. Without these supporting characters the book would fall flat.
I also found it very interesting how the author taught the reader about prosopagnosia and being accepted for who you really are in a very personal and real way. I will remember this book and its characters for a very long time.
This book is to be released as a movie this year. Personally, I believe that there is no way movies do a book justice, so I probably will not go see it. I don’t think any actor on a big screen could capture the real Libby and Jack.
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