The Real Me [Kindle Edition]

Ann Herrick (Author)

Book Description

When Mattie has issues with her weight, she decides to take charge of her life, redo her image, find confidence and maybe even dare to talk to guys. She also discovers that boys can be insecure and have self-doubts too. Will a change in lifestyle, a friend, a tormentor, and a dream guy help Mattie discover her real self and find romance along the way?

Just as real teens do, the characters have their flaws, but as they learn from their experiences, they grow and change.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...The Real Me...delves into the tumultuous feelings of a teenage girl who is unhappy with her appearance...The reader roots for Mattie to be successful with her changes and with her budding romance. Mattie has an awesome friend who helps her along the way, which has you guessing as to who is the right guy for her. The story will keep you guessing until the end!

~Krista, Single Title Reviews

"...a charming young adult novel about love and identity....a spunky heroine takes charge of her life, makes mistakes, dusts herself off, and tries again. Kevin, her heartthrob, is both believable and appealing. The plot moves quickly with enough twists and turns to keep readers guessing about whether-and with whom-Mattie will find true love ...."

~ Debra Stang, eBook Reviews Weekly"

...a plot that is big on empowerment for the female teen, while exploring the conflicting emotions, uncertainty, and dreams that are prevalent in those "between" years... a story about a young woman who has character, a sense of compassion, strong commitment, determination ... We see the questions about ethics, compassion and morality arise and how they are handled...a very good portrayal of the teen years, addressing some of the issues that are faced, the challenges and opportunities that can arise, and the choices that are made....
~ Kim Green-Spangler, Womenonwriting.com

"...a great insight into the insecurities, hopes, dreams, and confusion of being a teenager, and the self-acceptance and realization that not all is how it appears to be at first...I found it to be entertaining, and...I plan on reading more of Ms. Herrick's books in the future."
 ~ Teresa Henson, Romance Junkies

About the Author

Ann Herrick is the award-winning author of several books and short stories for kids and teens. Included in the awards her books have won are the ALA Recommended Book for Reluctant Readers, IRA/CBC Children’s Choice and EPIC Best YA Novel Finalist. Ann grew up in Connecticut, where she graduated from The Morgan School and Quinnipiac University. She now lives in Oregon with her husband, who was her high-school sweetheart. Their wonderful daughter is grown, married and gainfully employed, and has given Ann her only grand-dog, Puff, a bloodhound-rottweiller-beagle mix and six grand-kitties. While she misses the East Coast, especially houses built before 1900, she enjoys the green valleys, fresh air and low humidity in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. Ann loves cats, walking, the Oregon Ducks and working in her back yard. In addition to stories and books for children and young adults, Ann also writes copy for humorous and conventional greeting cards.

Product Details

• File Size: 281 KB
• Print Length: 151 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1484066731
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: Books We Love Ltd. (March 18, 2012)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B007MEVJES
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Not Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #454,701 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A heartwarming Teen Novel! March 27, 2012

By Sydell I. Voeller

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Ann Herrick has once again delivered a moving YA novel that speaks directly to the hearts of teens. The reader connects immediately with Mattie, the viewpoint character, as she grapples with her need to lose weight. Her doctor tells her to shed 20 pounds, a jerk at school by the name of George calls her Chunk, and she's in charge of the refreshment committee for the prom. How can she ever win this seemingly insurmountable battle? Maybe with the help of her friend, Walt? And then there's Kevin, the dreamy guy who she's had her eye on...maybe if she does take off a few pounds, she can better catch and hold his interest. Throughout the story, Mattie endures a roller-coaster ride as she struggles to to make sense of her insecurities, fears, hopes, and dreams. On the balance, Mattie is portrayed as a truly sympathetic character who battles her dragons with dignity and courage. She also learns that even a cute, popular guy can be confused and unsure of himself at times.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A fun story for smart girls June 24, 2012

By Gardenista

Format:Kindle Edition

I bought this for a friend's daughter and she loved it - couldn't put it down all afternoon and wants her friends to read it, too.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Real Me May 13, 2012

By B. Smith

Format:Kindle Edition

The Real Me is about a teenager named Mattie, who is just trying to fit in. When her new doctor tells her that she needs to loose twenty pounds and being tired of getting teased about her weight. Mattie decides its time for a change.

After loving Ann Herricks' The Farewell Season, I was completely honored to be given the chance to read and review The Real Me. Ann has quickly become one of my new favorite authors. I absolutely love her writing style. I loved the realistic characters and the fact that the moment I start reading her novels, I just can't put them down. The Real Me has a great message and makes you think about how everyone has insecurities, no matter what they look like or how popular they are. I've had weight issues my whole life and it took me quite some time to be comfortable in my own skin. Beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder.

The Real Me was a refreshingly wonderful contemporary read, that I highly recommend.

Special Thanks to Ann Herrick for providing a kindle edition copy in exchange for an honest review!

More About the Author

Award-winning author Ann Herrick grew up in Connecticut, where she graduated from The Morgan School and Quinnipiac University. Her books have received the ALA Recommended Book for Reluctant Readers Award, the IRA/CBC Children's Choice Award and EPPIE Young Adult Finalist Award.

She now lives in Oregon with her husband, who was her high-school sweetheart. Their daughter is grown, married and gainfully employed, and has given them their only grand-dog, Puff, a bloodhound-rottweiller-beagle mix, and six grand-kitties. While Ann misses the East Coast, especially houses built before 1900, she enjoys the green valleys, fresh air and low humidity in Eugene, Oregon.