Customer Reviews

Models Don't Eat Chocolate Cookies

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I really enjoyed this book. Maybe it's because I have a soft spot for overweight young girls being as that was me in middle school and high school. I thought Dionne handled the weight issue very well showing that while eating healthy and exercising can help you lose weight what is really important is how you feel about yourself. Celeste was a loveable character who you have to feel sorry for as she is picked on by by the "popular" kids and abandoned by her best friend. This story was a nice mix of humor, discovering what is really important in friendships and most of all being confident in yourself no matter how you feel you may look.

Talk about a good book! "Models Don't Eat Chocolate Cookies" is a novel that I will never forget. It combines the two problems that some girl teens may ponder about: if they are getting fat and facing the queen bee in school. Erin Dionne mixed together the plot perfectly, and I finished the book in a single day. I was unwilling to put it down. I would recommend this to all teenage girls around me.

I laughed, a lot, at this book. Well not at the book but with the book. As a middle-schooler I had been teeny-tiny in every way possible (height, weight, voice) so while I never got the taunts of 'Mooooo' from my classmates, I did get height jokes a plenty. And mouse jokes. I felt as if Celeste and I had a lot in common (not just the love of cookies) and that made me root for her the entire time.

I admit her attempts to wreck her chances at Miss Husky Peach (husky, who in their right mind would refer to a girl as 'husky'?) were fun and creative. I was thrilled that she didn't angst about the fact she was chubby neither before or after her Operation Skinny Celeste plan. She might not have been thrilled with being chubby, but she didn't spend most of the book whining about it and trying unhealthy methods to lose weight.

And her positive message I think won me over. Just because we're not all size zero doesn't mean we're any better or worse for it. Its how you see yourself and how you feel about yourself. Sure eating cookies instead of veggies isn't healthy, but why deny yourself a treat every so often? Learn to balance out everything and in the end you'll be a happier you.

I am currently a fifth grade teacher and picked this book up because it seemed an interesting conversation piece for my girls, many of whom have serious issues with body image already. I was not at all pleased after reading it. Throughout the piece, the character Celeste is never empowered by her own wants, dreams and aspirations; instead, she is ignored and caves in to the taunting of her classmates, the wants of her family and the opinions of everyone else. Furthermore, characters like Lively are caricatures; they are way too wicked to be believable, for even the nastiest of bullies should have the slightest complexity in them that make readers sympathize with their behavior, even if they deem it wrong. Lively's behavior is flat out evil - no underlying insecurities, no problems at home to make her overcompensate with cruelty to others - she's just a creep who is inexplicably popular, and there is no other explanation for it. This just makes the characters seem stupid for listening to a single, solitary word she says, and her power as a bully weak and confusing. Bottom line - this book leaves the readers with several unsettling underlying messages. Fat is bad and something to conceal, change, or be ashamed of. If you are fat, you probably adhere to overweight stereotypes - you sit around eating too much, you hate sports and you dream of being thin enough for boys to like. I mean, forget about the fact that some overweight girls ARE athletic, have self confidence, and perhaps got that way for a medical reason - that couldn't be true. Meanwhile, thin/pretty/model material is good and something to be proud of. Once Celeste started losing weight, THAT'S when she started "finding" herself. Bullies may be mean, but they win, because their taunts have power over us. If your family wants you to do something badly enough, your opinion doesn't matter - grin, bear it, and do it, and forget about communication or your own free will. It doesn't matter how degraded, unappreciated or ignored you feel - let them throw in the words "opportunity" and "proud", jumble it into a topic that makes you most insecure, and close your mouth about it. These are awful messages to send to vulnerable young girls; I was hoping for something far more uplifting and empowering based upon the reviews and was very disappointed with what I read. With the exception of some humor in the writing, this book was a complete let down. I'm still looking for a book written for larger girls that actually shows them they don't have to cry and long for a day in the life of a thin girl; that, maybe, they can have insecurities like everyone else, but overpower them through some avenue OTHER than losing weight and being a beauty queen. This, most certainly, was not the book I was looking for, and I definitely wouldn't urge my students or my daughter to read it.

this book was absolutely amazing! i couldnt put it down. it was the perfect length but i liked it so much i wish it was longer. i strongly recommend this book to any girls about ages 9-14. im eleven and it was perfect:)

This is a cute, funny book about a junior high student struggling to find out who she is. Celeste's thoughts are hilarious and she is a really fun person to get to know. The book is written in 1st person and so Celeste is the most fully developed character. She is brutally honest about the people around her and the fascination that food holds for her. I loved hearing her thoughts on the world and really felt like I could identify with her even thought I am quite a bit older and did not struggle with my weight in junior high. You will definitely find yourself cheering Celeste on as she tackles life's daily challenges one by one.

There is nothing unique or special about this book and the plot has been done before, but this book is still worth reading if you like these types of stories. It is well written and has relatively big type so that it is a quick, easy read for preteens, but adults will enjoy it too. I recommend it for preteens and teens, especially those who are struggling with self esteem and/or weight issues.

Length:: 1:50 Mins

My first book comes out August 25, 2009! Check it out: As You Wish

this is hands down one of the best books that i have read! it is all about a girl named Celeste who is "chubby" and gets bullied alot by a horrible girl Lively about being overweight. it is difficult because her annoying aunt signs her up for a modeling contest made for chuby girls who need a self-confidence boost. she really does not need anymore bullying to deal with if she becomes a chubby teen queen and gets her photo taken and put on a magazine cover. along the way, Celeste has to deal with a major problem. her only friend sandra has been lured into Lively's trap and has become one of the popular brats. but Celeste finds two girls that help her loose weight and face Lively and Sandra. Eventually, she decides that she likes the ckntest so she enters and wins but she is proud of it. this book is really inspiring and my sixth grade self can totlly relate! definately deseres 5 stars! :):):):)

This book is really funny and sweet. I'm a preteen and I would recomend this book to all my friends who are facing difficult decisions. You can easily relate to Celeste, who is overweight, bullied, and dumped by her best friend for her worst enemy.Then in the midst of all this, she has to compete in a modeling challenge for husky girls. To get out of it she decides to lose weight. It is a really great story about life, friendship, motivation and never giving up. Plus, it's super funny! Don't be afraid to buy this book. It's worth every penny. A great read! :D

This is a great book. I love anything like that. This book caught my eye and had me stuck to it. I love this author and will look for more books like this. Thank you for having this one on your list. Blessings