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karen_hallam's review against another edition
5.0
Thank you to Wunderkind for an ARC of this book.
An honest and emotional portrayal of a young girl struggling with the ways her body is changing and what this means to her life’s passion, basketball.
When she doesn’t hit her marks on the court, she’s sure it because she isn’t eating healthy, or what her mother terms as healthy. But Sarah’s mother has had her own issues with food.
Sometimes she forgets to make dinner. Or pick up snacks for her sleepover, or stock the refrigerator. But she’s always there to watch Sarah’s games and they love reading and decoding detective stories.
Half of Sarah’s teammates suspect something (and they aren’t very nice about it) when she isn’t eating, but it’s her BFF that steps in and tells their coach.
When the boy she crushes on asks to be her partner in a cooking competition, she learns how much she enjoys cooking and she can take control of what she eats and stand up for what she needs at home in order to feel safe and confident.
Sarah comes to an understanding about food, that no food is bad. It just is.
An honest and emotional portrayal of a young girl struggling with the ways her body is changing and what this means to her life’s passion, basketball.
When she doesn’t hit her marks on the court, she’s sure it because she isn’t eating healthy, or what her mother terms as healthy. But Sarah’s mother has had her own issues with food.
Sometimes she forgets to make dinner. Or pick up snacks for her sleepover, or stock the refrigerator. But she’s always there to watch Sarah’s games and they love reading and decoding detective stories.
Half of Sarah’s teammates suspect something (and they aren’t very nice about it) when she isn’t eating, but it’s her BFF that steps in and tells their coach.
When the boy she crushes on asks to be her partner in a cooking competition, she learns how much she enjoys cooking and she can take control of what she eats and stand up for what she needs at home in order to feel safe and confident.
Sarah comes to an understanding about food, that no food is bad. It just is.
adelaideclaire's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
A valuable book on disordered eating, eating disorders, self confidence, friendship, and belonging. Touches on topics like RED-S, moms perpetuating eating disorders, and “friendly” bullying in an effective way. Ultimately hopeful and motivating. I felt seen.
rachyrachael's review against another edition
5.0
Ah man. I'm definitely going to be recommending this book to students. I love that the way this book explores all the different motivations and emotions that can go into disordered eating, beyond the "wanting to be skinny" narrative that sometimes gets pushed as the end-all-be-all of ED. Sarah was a well-rounded character who reminded me of myself as a kid (though she's much better at basketball than I was ever was). This story really treats all the complicated emotions surrounding puberty, parents, cliques, and crushes with all the weight and empathy kids deserve.
rachelwrites007's review against another edition
5.0
Wow.
I have previously enjoyed Alyson Gerber's other middle grade books ([b:Braced|29283087|Braced|Alyson Gerber|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1464793179l/29283087._SY75_.jpg|49523923] and [b:Focused|34308552|Focused|Alyson Gerber|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1579322896l/34308552._SY75_.jpg|55362915]), but I think Taking Up Space is her best one yet.
Sarah is in 7th grade and her body is changing after she gets her period. She loves to play basketball and hang out with her friends, but soon she feels she is slower on the court and slowing her friends down. After a health class handout explores "healthy foods", Sarah decides she is going to follow the rules. Meanwhile, her crush Benny is her partner for a cooking YouTube competition, and one of her best friends doesn't like that (she likes him too!). At. home, Sarah's mom sometimes forgets to leave food for Sarah to eat when she gets home (especially if Sarah's dad is away on business trips) and talks heavily about health, "good for you" foods and cooks "healthily". This makes following the food rules easier for Sarah. But when things go too far and Sarah falls on the basketball court during a game, Sarah has to take a hard look at who she wants to be and what she wants to put in her body.
I loved this book. It was easy to read and easy to relate to. Alyson Gerber manages to talk about disordered eating (and mentions of anorexia recovery for another character's sister) without talking about weight, calorie counting or anything that may be triggering - or possibly a tool - for kids (and adults alike!). I was super impressed. Sarah and her friends felt like real 7th graders - a little young, but also trying to be very, very mature and grown up. I liked that Sarah had a good friend group, worked friend troubles out, and had a supportive family (even if things were confusing at home). Her mom and dad were willing to listen to Sarah's school counselor and even go to therapy. Props to Alyson Gerber for showing us flawed adults who are willing to do better for their kids. Props to Sarah's friend group, who don't allow this to go too far and are willing to make sure she gets the help she needs.
This is a must read for kids today.
I have previously enjoyed Alyson Gerber's other middle grade books ([b:Braced|29283087|Braced|Alyson Gerber|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1464793179l/29283087._SY75_.jpg|49523923] and [b:Focused|34308552|Focused|Alyson Gerber|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1579322896l/34308552._SY75_.jpg|55362915]), but I think Taking Up Space is her best one yet.
Sarah is in 7th grade and her body is changing after she gets her period. She loves to play basketball and hang out with her friends, but soon she feels she is slower on the court and slowing her friends down. After a health class handout explores "healthy foods", Sarah decides she is going to follow the rules. Meanwhile, her crush Benny is her partner for a cooking YouTube competition, and one of her best friends doesn't like that (she likes him too!). At. home, Sarah's mom sometimes forgets to leave food for Sarah to eat when she gets home (especially if Sarah's dad is away on business trips) and talks heavily about health, "good for you" foods and cooks "healthily". This makes following the food rules easier for Sarah. But when things go too far and Sarah falls on the basketball court during a game, Sarah has to take a hard look at who she wants to be and what she wants to put in her body.
I loved this book. It was easy to read and easy to relate to. Alyson Gerber manages to talk about disordered eating (and mentions of anorexia recovery for another character's sister) without talking about weight, calorie counting or anything that may be triggering - or possibly a tool - for kids (and adults alike!). I was super impressed. Sarah and her friends felt like real 7th graders - a little young, but also trying to be very, very mature and grown up. I liked that Sarah had a good friend group, worked friend troubles out, and had a supportive family (even if things were confusing at home). Her mom and dad were willing to listen to Sarah's school counselor and even go to therapy. Props to Alyson Gerber for showing us flawed adults who are willing to do better for their kids. Props to Sarah's friend group, who don't allow this to go too far and are willing to make sure she gets the help she needs.
This is a must read for kids today.
mrs_bookdragon's review against another edition
5.0
This is a book that I didn't know I needed nor would I think I would connect with so strongly...BUT I DID. I poured all of my attention into this book, felt everything so deeply, and just wanted a happy ending. This book will make you think-about food, about our relationships with food and our loved ones, happiness, self-care, and body image. This is a must read for all, but middle schoolers will get the most out of it because they are going through such a rough time and this book can bring some reassurances and some help. Thank you Alyson Gerber and Scholastic for sharing this with the LitReview Crew in exchange for an honest review.
angiedkelly's review against another edition
5.0
I have to admit this book was not an easy read. First the main character loves basketball. The references to the sport was definitely a glossing over for me. But. This book is powerful. The main character's voice is so authentic. Not only does she deal with body image issues but so does her mom. I feel this is something that is not addressed so much in especially middle grade books. It also deals with friendships and the budding of boy/girl relationships but not in a fake way. Again very true and relatable to so many of that age group (4th grade and up).
Highly recommend!
Highly recommend!
fallingletters's review against another edition
5.0
Review originally published 29 January 2023 at Falling Letters.
Here is another excellent book where I find myself wondering, “Why didn’t I review this right after I finished reading it?” I still remember reading Taking Up Space in nearly a single sitting, interrupted only by Sunday dinner with Grandpa. From her debut and sophomore novels alone, Gerber has a reputation for nuanced and thoughtful realistic middle grade. Taking Up Space confirms that reputation is well-earned.
Gerber’s three novels each explore a health challenge that a middle school girl has to face. In [b: Braced|29283087|Braced|Alyson Gerber|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1464793179l/29283087._SY75_.jpg|49523923], Rachel’s scoliosis has worsened and she needs to wear a back brace twenty-three hours a day. In [b: Focused|25744928|Deep Work Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World|Cal Newport|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1447957962l/25744928._SY75_.jpg|45502249], Clea finds controlling her thoughts challenging and learns she has ADHD. In Taking Up Space, Sarah’s body is changing and so is her relationship to food and eating.
The story hints early on at what’s to come. Sarah reflects on why her home has little food but lots of hidden candy, and starts to think about her mom – “I’m pretty sure Mom doesn’t have an eating disorder, because she doesn’t fit into the categories we learned about in health class” (pg 23). The influence Sarah’s mom has on Sarah’s eating habits is a central point of the story.
(Interlude to state that Sarah’s dad is not wholly blameless, either. He is one of many adult characters in the book who demonstrate how easily a child can internalize a throwaway comment from an adult they respect, with the adult clueless of the impact of their words.)
Eventually Sarah comes to feel that something is wrong with how food is managed in her house, but it’s difficult for her to fully accept that because her mother, of course, must love her and have her best interests at heart. But Sarah ultimately begins thinking her mother doesn’t care for her. It is so valuable to see this kind of relationship between mother and daughter depicted in middle grade, right through to acknowledgement of that the steps to improvement won’t necessarily be a smooth road.
Here is another excellent book where I find myself wondering, “Why didn’t I review this right after I finished reading it?” I still remember reading Taking Up Space in nearly a single sitting, interrupted only by Sunday dinner with Grandpa. From her debut and sophomore novels alone, Gerber has a reputation for nuanced and thoughtful realistic middle grade. Taking Up Space confirms that reputation is well-earned.
Gerber’s three novels each explore a health challenge that a middle school girl has to face. In [b: Braced|29283087|Braced|Alyson Gerber|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1464793179l/29283087._SY75_.jpg|49523923], Rachel’s scoliosis has worsened and she needs to wear a back brace twenty-three hours a day. In [b: Focused|25744928|Deep Work Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World|Cal Newport|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1447957962l/25744928._SY75_.jpg|45502249], Clea finds controlling her thoughts challenging and learns she has ADHD. In Taking Up Space, Sarah’s body is changing and so is her relationship to food and eating.
The story hints early on at what’s to come. Sarah reflects on why her home has little food but lots of hidden candy, and starts to think about her mom – “I’m pretty sure Mom doesn’t have an eating disorder, because she doesn’t fit into the categories we learned about in health class” (pg 23). The influence Sarah’s mom has on Sarah’s eating habits is a central point of the story.
(Interlude to state that Sarah’s dad is not wholly blameless, either. He is one of many adult characters in the book who demonstrate how easily a child can internalize a throwaway comment from an adult they respect, with the adult clueless of the impact of their words.)
Eventually Sarah comes to feel that something is wrong with how food is managed in her house, but it’s difficult for her to fully accept that because her mother, of course, must love her and have her best interests at heart. But Sarah ultimately begins thinking her mother doesn’t care for her. It is so valuable to see this kind of relationship between mother and daughter depicted in middle grade, right through to acknowledgement of that the steps to improvement won’t necessarily be a smooth road.
I wish I could erase certain things Mom says from my brain, because her words feel like facts, and they start to sink in and take over the way I see everything, even myself. (pg 199)The trigger for Sarah’s disordered eating is not her mother, but puberty. Sarah’s body is changing and it’s affecting her skill at basketball. She comes to think it’s her food intake that’s affecting her skill, and that if she can manage her eating habits, she can manage her changing body – “All I have to do is stick with my plan and I can put everything right back to the way it was before” (pg 94). Taking Up Space explores various challenges of puberty. It’s not always just about your first period. It can be about a loss of balance and coordination and the impact that has on how you play your favourite sport and the different ways your body seems to betray you.
I used to think it was weird for people to have armpit hair, and now I think it’s weird when they don’t. I’m not really sure what changed, but it feels like it happened out of nowhere, and like maybe it means something bigger about me and how everything keeps changing. (pg 29)Throughout the novel, Sarah attempts to follow a plethora of ‘eating rules’, some of which contradict each other and cause Sarah distress. There were so many points when my heart broke for her. I used a lot of
nssutton's review against another edition
5.0
How lucky kids are to have writers like Gerber in their world. She is so great at tackling issues without writing an “issue book” and making powerful, accessible stories out of her own. In this one, she does a fantastic job taking on disordered eating - Sarah’s and how it came from her mom’s and the way information about health can be so easily misinterpreted or miscommunicated. Plus so many gems on friendship, confidence and self-worth, crushes without kisses.
As a mom who is trying so hard to end so many different generational cycles with my own children, reading the scene in the guidance counselor’s office gutted me. It really does take a village and I’m glad that Gerber’s storytelling will be part of mine as a school librarian and parent.
As a mom who is trying so hard to end so many different generational cycles with my own children, reading the scene in the guidance counselor’s office gutted me. It really does take a village and I’m glad that Gerber’s storytelling will be part of mine as a school librarian and parent.
msghani's review against another edition
5.0
I listened to Taking Up Space as an audiobook (my first full audiobook!). It's wonderful. This book is a must-read. I can't imagine being Sarah's age, dealing with all the regular stresses of being in middle school and being an athlete, and on top of that, dealing with disordered eating. This was hard to listen to at times because of the way some of the characters behaved, but it's definitely an important topic and shouldn't be ignored.