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pomochi's review against another edition
4.0
*Disclaimer: I received an eARC of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review*
4 stars.
Sugar follows a teenage girl, named Sugar, who is obese. She has lived her whole life as prey - prey to her mother, her brother, and the other kids at school. Sugar eases all the pain she feels by binge eating. When she binge eats, Sugar is transported to a place where she feels no pain or taunting. Then, she meets a guy named Even, and he helps her see that she is more than what the evil voice inside and outside her head says.
Although this doesn’t sound engaging, this book is written in a way that completely sucks in the reader within the first few chapters with a raw, realistic, and extremely distressing. I received this eARC so long ago and I can't believe I only got around to reading it now. Sugar is such a complex character, which made her feel very real. I instantly sympathized with Sugar and wanted her to get out of this terrible situation she was in. I really appreciated how far the author went into Sugar’s thoughts and her eating disorder because it provided a very insightful and raw account of how this disorder and someone’s emotions are so closely intertwined. However, other than Sugar’s character, I felt that a lot of characters were unrealistic, but most of them played a small role so it didn’t bother me too much. However, I thought that Even was extremely unrealistic because he seemed to perfect. Although I thought Even was unrealistic, I still loved reading about the romance.
If I were rating this purely by emotions, it would have a 5 star rating. I cried a couple times reading this book (mainly towards the end), which is EXTREMELY RARE, and I didn't even realize I was so attached to these characters until that point where all the emotions felt so raw and were portrayed in a very realistic way.
My biggest problem with this book was the pacing. For the first section (about 35%), I was completely engrossed. However, after that, there was a long period of time where it became very slow and almost repetitive. I feel like a lot of the middle section could be condensed or cut out. However, it starts to pick up speed towards the end, as Sugar starts to strengthen emotionally, and finished out very strong.
Though I did have my problems, I’m still very glad that I read Sugar because it portrayed a heart-wrenching yet empowering story about a young girl who is able to pull herself out of this vicious cycle of hatred and eating.
4 stars.
Sugar follows a teenage girl, named Sugar, who is obese. She has lived her whole life as prey - prey to her mother, her brother, and the other kids at school. Sugar eases all the pain she feels by binge eating. When she binge eats, Sugar is transported to a place where she feels no pain or taunting. Then, she meets a guy named Even, and he helps her see that she is more than what the evil voice inside and outside her head says.
Although this doesn’t sound engaging, this book is written in a way that completely sucks in the reader within the first few chapters with a raw, realistic, and extremely distressing. I received this eARC so long ago and I can't believe I only got around to reading it now. Sugar is such a complex character, which made her feel very real. I instantly sympathized with Sugar and wanted her to get out of this terrible situation she was in. I really appreciated how far the author went into Sugar’s thoughts and her eating disorder because it provided a very insightful and raw account of how this disorder and someone’s emotions are so closely intertwined. However, other than Sugar’s character, I felt that a lot of characters were unrealistic, but most of them played a small role so it didn’t bother me too much. However, I thought that Even was extremely unrealistic because he seemed to perfect. Although I thought Even was unrealistic, I still loved reading about the romance.
If I were rating this purely by emotions, it would have a 5 star rating. I cried a couple times reading this book (mainly towards the end), which is EXTREMELY RARE, and I didn't even realize I was so attached to these characters until that point where all the emotions felt so raw and were portrayed in a very realistic way.
My biggest problem with this book was the pacing. For the first section (about 35%), I was completely engrossed. However, after that, there was a long period of time where it became very slow and almost repetitive. I feel like a lot of the middle section could be condensed or cut out. However, it starts to pick up speed towards the end, as Sugar starts to strengthen emotionally, and finished out very strong.
Though I did have my problems, I’m still very glad that I read Sugar because it portrayed a heart-wrenching yet empowering story about a young girl who is able to pull herself out of this vicious cycle of hatred and eating.
beillumined's review against another edition
5.0
What a lovely, well-written, emotional book this is. Clearly I could not put it down, considering I finished the second half in one sitting, not wanting to miss a second of what was going to happen next. And it really wasn't about excitement or suspense or thrill, it was about how real and connected you felt to Sugar. Certainly there is a "twist" in the book, a heart-wrenching one at that, but I don't dare give it away to you because I am encouraging you to pick up this book and read it for yourself. An incredibly raw account of the innermost effects that bullying, hatred and emotional abuse can have on a child, and on a family, and can be applied across all situations.
silver_and_vengeance's review against another edition
4.0
This book was hard to start simply because of the way Sugar's circumstances made my heart ache. But I stuck with it and I'm glad I did.
aethenea's review against another edition
2.0
I received a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you NetGalley and Amazon Children's Publishing!
There's one word that could some up my experience with this book: FRUSTRATION!!! Unfortunately, it's not the good kind of frustration (if there can be a good kind of frustration)... I was so frustrated reading this book that I considered quitting! Sometimes you read books and their topic is very serious, you feel bad for the characters, you sympathize with them and you feel for them. In Sugar, I didn't feel none of it.
Sugar, as her nickname shows, is a very fat girl that suffers from a really bad case of insecurity. When I started reading this I thought I could connect with Sugar as I myself have never been slim. I've been overweight for the majority of my life but I decided to do something with this and lost the wight. That's the thing, when you don't suffer from some physical condition that prevest you from losing weight, you can do this, you just have to be dedicated to your goal!
Sugar hovewer... she is annoying! Sorry, I guess she has reasons to be so insecure and scared, but girl, you're almost adult, you can do something about your life! And Sugar is just whinny, she pitties herself and guess what! For 80 % of the book she does NOTHING!! to change her life. And is it a good role model for young girls that are overweight? I don't think so. Young girls should know that there are ways to be satisfied with being themselves and that they have no reason to let themselves be bullied!
Seriously, Sugar lives with her mom, who seems to be the most bitter and horrible person in the whole world. She cannot move from her bed so Sugar has to take care of her. But guess what. Mum is not grateful, Mum just bullies Sugar, yells at her, tells her she is so fat and useless. And Sugar still takes care of her mum... FRUSTRATING!
Also, Sugar lives with her brother Skunk, who is also the most annoying and horrible person in the worls. Again, he bullies Sugar not only mentally, but also physically. He's not really afraid to hit her and harm her. And again, guess what? Sugar does nothing! FRUSTRATING!!
Then comes Even, this perfect guy who is incredibly handsome, obviously likes Sugar and he's the sweetheart of the book. Also, he is just so implausible, that guy seriously cannot exist. I love sweet boys in YA literature, I fall in love with them so quickly, but I have to believe they could exist. Sorry Even, you're not my fictional boyfriend!
My ain proble is that I feel that for the majority of the book nothing happens. And when something finally happens, there's no foreswadowing, you're thrown into it in one sentence. Everything is okay, we live our frustrating lives. By the way, major plot twist happpened yesterday! Can I say something - FRUSTRATING!!!
The message is definitely good. Not skinny girls should realize that they can love themselves. This message is huge. But I don't think that those girl would get it from this book. There's also a very distinct division between black and white characters. There are not 50 shades of gray. There are not even two shades of gray. I guess there's no gray at all. You have absolutely horrible characters - Skunk and mum (and I hope that those characters cannot exist either because who could behave like this??) and than super awesome character in Even. No gray...
I wanted to enjoy the book so much, I really did. I really wanted to physically harm almost all characters in the book. I didn't like them, I could connect... And that was just too much for me. But I appreciate that there are books about characters that are not perfect. You know, not all girls have beautiful faces and sexy bodies. But what is beautiful and sexy?
You can also find this review HERE and on Amazon.
There's one word that could some up my experience with this book: FRUSTRATION!!! Unfortunately, it's not the good kind of frustration (if there can be a good kind of frustration)... I was so frustrated reading this book that I considered quitting! Sometimes you read books and their topic is very serious, you feel bad for the characters, you sympathize with them and you feel for them. In Sugar, I didn't feel none of it.
Sugar, as her nickname shows, is a very fat girl that suffers from a really bad case of insecurity. When I started reading this I thought I could connect with Sugar as I myself have never been slim. I've been overweight for the majority of my life but I decided to do something with this and lost the wight. That's the thing, when you don't suffer from some physical condition that prevest you from losing weight, you can do this, you just have to be dedicated to your goal!
Sugar hovewer... she is annoying! Sorry, I guess she has reasons to be so insecure and scared, but girl, you're almost adult, you can do something about your life! And Sugar is just whinny, she pitties herself and guess what! For 80 % of the book she does NOTHING!! to change her life. And is it a good role model for young girls that are overweight? I don't think so. Young girls should know that there are ways to be satisfied with being themselves and that they have no reason to let themselves be bullied!
Seriously, Sugar lives with her mom, who seems to be the most bitter and horrible person in the whole world. She cannot move from her bed so Sugar has to take care of her. But guess what. Mum is not grateful, Mum just bullies Sugar, yells at her, tells her she is so fat and useless. And Sugar still takes care of her mum... FRUSTRATING!
Also, Sugar lives with her brother Skunk, who is also the most annoying and horrible person in the worls. Again, he bullies Sugar not only mentally, but also physically. He's not really afraid to hit her and harm her. And again, guess what? Sugar does nothing! FRUSTRATING!!
Then comes Even, this perfect guy who is incredibly handsome, obviously likes Sugar and he's the sweetheart of the book. Also, he is just so implausible, that guy seriously cannot exist. I love sweet boys in YA literature, I fall in love with them so quickly, but I have to believe they could exist. Sorry Even, you're not my fictional boyfriend!
My ain proble is that I feel that for the majority of the book nothing happens. And when something finally happens, there's no foreswadowing, you're thrown into it in one sentence. Everything is okay, we live our frustrating lives. By the way, major plot twist happpened yesterday! Can I say something - FRUSTRATING!!!
The message is definitely good. Not skinny girls should realize that they can love themselves. This message is huge. But I don't think that those girl would get it from this book. There's also a very distinct division between black and white characters. There are not 50 shades of gray. There are not even two shades of gray. I guess there's no gray at all. You have absolutely horrible characters - Skunk and mum (and I hope that those characters cannot exist either because who could behave like this??) and than super awesome character in Even. No gray...
I wanted to enjoy the book so much, I really did. I really wanted to physically harm almost all characters in the book. I didn't like them, I could connect... And that was just too much for me. But I appreciate that there are books about characters that are not perfect. You know, not all girls have beautiful faces and sexy bodies. But what is beautiful and sexy?
You can also find this review HERE and on Amazon.
flaneussy's review against another edition
2.0
Would round down to 2.5/5 if given the option.
This was one of those "I can't remember the last time I looked at the written word and I need something quick to get me started again," and Sugar functioned well in that regard (I blew through most of it in one sitting on a flight). The novel has some sweet elements, as the novel might suggest. Hall deftly and compellingly describes the ins and outs of abuse, as well as family dysfunction and all of its nuances. I appreciated the authors' lack of moral judgment regarding Sugar's size, as well as the fact that weight loss isn't a central part of the character's journey (incidental though it may be). Also, it was just nice to watch the development of a wholesome, supportive, loving relationship. While Hall went with the most predictable ending imaginable, I'm glad that she didn't go with option #2 (i.e., villainizing Even). I'm glad Sugar was allowed to have one good thing.
That said... Hall drills that old rule about "showing, not telling" straight into the ground, and the dialogue is practically unreadable. Stilted, overly self-aware, and in no way reminiscent of how real people speak, the wooden dialogue served to lock the characters into the particular roles they were there to fulfill; Even as a Manic Pixie Dream Boy of sorts, Sugar's mother as a resentful hag who can't stand to watch her children surpass her, and the newly-therapized Henry as the one that escaped the dysfunction. I feel like Hall didn't have to define these characters or their dynamics so explicitly; she could have trusted the readers to figure it all out on their own.
In short: If you didn't think Bridge to Terabithia was depressing enough, this might be your book. If you want something that isn't exactly a feel-good novel, but that doesn't require a ton of work to understand, this might be your book. If you're worried that you're becoming illiterate, and you have a few hours to kill on a plane...well, you know.
This was one of those "I can't remember the last time I looked at the written word and I need something quick to get me started again," and Sugar functioned well in that regard (I blew through most of it in one sitting on a flight). The novel has some sweet elements, as the novel might suggest. Hall deftly and compellingly describes the ins and outs of abuse, as well as family dysfunction and all of its nuances. I appreciated the authors' lack of moral judgment regarding Sugar's size, as well as the fact that weight loss isn't a central part of the character's journey (incidental though it may be). Also, it was just nice to watch the development of a wholesome, supportive, loving relationship. While Hall went with the most predictable ending imaginable, I'm glad that she didn't go with option #2 (i.e., villainizing Even). I'm glad Sugar was allowed to have one good thing.
That said... Hall drills that old rule about "showing, not telling" straight into the ground, and the dialogue is practically unreadable. Stilted, overly self-aware, and in no way reminiscent of how real people speak, the wooden dialogue served to lock the characters into the particular roles they were there to fulfill; Even as a Manic Pixie Dream Boy of sorts, Sugar's mother as a resentful hag who can't stand to watch her children surpass her, and the newly-therapized Henry as the one that escaped the dysfunction. I feel like Hall didn't have to define these characters or their dynamics so explicitly; she could have trusted the readers to figure it all out on their own.
In short: If you didn't think Bridge to Terabithia was depressing enough, this might be your book. If you want something that isn't exactly a feel-good novel, but that doesn't require a ton of work to understand, this might be your book. If you're worried that you're becoming illiterate, and you have a few hours to kill on a plane...well, you know.
pseudocrab's review against another edition
5.0
I read this book back when I was in 7th or 8th grade, and I absolutely loved it. It was a gift from my librarian who loved the book so much she bought a ton of copies to hand out to all the book nerds that hung around.
It was definitely my favorite book for a good amount of years. Me being not your average weight, it made me feel seen. I haven’t read it in a long time, but it still has its place on my updated book shelf.
Definitely worth the read.
It was definitely my favorite book for a good amount of years. Me being not your average weight, it made me feel seen. I haven’t read it in a long time, but it still has its place on my updated book shelf.
Definitely worth the read.
lisawhelpley's review against another edition
5.0
I really liked this book. Found this summary online, maybe from the author, maybe not: "The most difficult journey can be the discovery of the uncharted terrain of one's innermost self." Heartbreaking in parts, in other parts, had me cheering for the main character, Sugar.
ally1uvs's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse
Moderate: Eating disorder
Minor: Death and Death of parent
ellyrarg's review against another edition
3.0
I read this in one sitting, zipping through it pretty quickly. It was engaging and pulled me in, there were a few moments of what felt like author-splaining where parts of the plot were painfully spelt out unnecessarily but hey ho. It all started very formulaic but I wasn’t expecting the direction change in the middle.
It also bothered me that sugar really pulled her punches when she shouldn’t have (or wouldn’t have in reality, I don’t think). I wondered how realistic the school scenes were really, and some of the characters were painful one dimensional.
Still, I enjoyed it well enough. Worth a read, I’d say.
It also bothered me that sugar really pulled her punches when she shouldn’t have (or wouldn’t have in reality, I don’t think). I wondered how realistic the school scenes were really, and some of the characters were painful one dimensional.
Still, I enjoyed it well enough. Worth a read, I’d say.