Loving Penny [Paperback]

Diane Dorce (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up

Penny Marie Thompson is your typical 13-year-old, about to enter her first year of Middle School and excited about it. Penny however has no idea that her weight will become an issue in everything she does. Being big has been a way of life for Penny and she has become accustomed to the jokes and name-calling. She just simply ignored them. When her best friend Cher tries out for cheerleading, Penny goes out for the team as well. She doesn't see it coming even when she is the topic of jokes and underhanded comments during and after tryouts. She was happy to be the mascot. Penny unaware of the nasty remarks made behind her back befriends those who speak against her. Unfortunately Penny subconsciously soothes her anger and hurt with eating. The more she eats, the bigger she gets and the more depressed becomes. After losing her best friend Cher, Penny sinks to an all-time low, and high of sorts. And it's an uphill battle all the way to regain her self-esteem and tackle her increasing weight problem. A hard and heartfelt lesson is taught and Penny ultimately learns that change begins with her, loving Penny.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Paperback: 108 pages
• Publisher: Writers Club Press (November 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0595145418
• ISBN-13: 978-0595145416
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,588,321 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Love Thyself, June 27, 2003

By 

TheRAWKidzReview - See all my reviews

This review is from: Loving Penny (Paperback)

Penny is excited about a new school year. She and her best friends, Cher and Tamika, will be attending a brand new middle school, and she is sure that things will be great. She soon discovers things are nothing like she expected. Tamika moves away, and when Penny tries out for cheerleading with Cher, she is rejected because she is overweight. To add to her misery, she is made the team mascot and is teased by all. Penny becomes depressed and deals with her depression by binge eating, which makes her even more overweight and puts her health in jeopardy.

LOVING PENNY allows the reader a glimpse into the psyche of an overweight young girl. The book describes the cycle of being depressed because of obesity and overeating because of depression. Yet, the book shows the strength that Penny exhibits to gain self-esteem and to learn to love herself. I was also impressed with the approach used for Pennys transformation and by the recipes included. Diane Dorce has done an excellent job describing Penny and the anguish she experiences. I recommend this book to all preteens, so that they can see how harmful bullying and name-calling can be. This book may also be especially helpful to those who may be overweight or have other issues with their self-esteem.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining, thoughtful, and revealing, March 12, 2001

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Loving Penny (Paperback)

Penny had it all worked out in her mind. It was going to be the best year ever at her brand new Middle School where she would attend with her two very best friends. She also had the best homeroom teacher ever and expected a truly terrific year! Then she looses out for cheerleader and becomes the team mascot instead. Then she lost her a friend, couldn't stop eating, and become depressed. For the first time in her life she had to admit she was fat and feels it's everyone's fault that her life has taken such a down turn. Penny's got some growing up to do and some important life changes to make -- but at what cost? Loving Penny is a unique and exceptionally well written novel for the pre-teen reader as author Diane Corce addresses the problem of childhood obesity and its emotional impact within the context of an engaging novel that is entertaining, thoughtful, and revealing.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderfully entertaining and heart-warming book., January 23, 2001

By 

Blanche (Atlanta, GA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Loving Penny (Paperback)

Loving Penny was a joy to read. It brought back memories of those difficult times many of us faced while growing up. I think this is a must read for young teen and pre-teen girls. It will enlighten and hopefully cause all to focus on what's really important. Finding and loving oneself!