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A review by theespressoedition
Fat Chance, Charlie Vega by Crystal Maldonado
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
If you're looking for a cute YA book with a pretty stereotypical plot-line, this is it. It's honestly the kind of book to get you out of a reading slump because it's not much more than fluff (which isn't always a bad thing).
I think the thing that really rubbed me the wrong way was how the mother was written. If you're going to give us a toxic character, you either need to redeem them or dispose of them, and this book did neither. Instead, the problem just kind of dissolves, and you're left with a bad taste in your mouth. Considering the fact that the whole book, Charlie is accepting of her own weight and who she is - her mom being fatphobic and just flat-out cruel was something that needed to be resolved better. It was a major discussion throughout the book and then it seemed as though Charlie's best friend wound up being the antagonist in the long run, which didn't settle well with me at all!
I realize that this is a YA book and that it might not be the most practical occurrence to have a 16-year-old just decide to dip because her mom is emotionally abusive, but it would've been a really good conversation to have. In fact, it would've added so much necessary depth to the story had that been a discussion at any point!
I think the thing that really rubbed me the wrong way was how the mother was written. If you're going to give us a toxic character, you either need to redeem them or dispose of them, and this book did neither. Instead, the problem just kind of dissolves, and you're left with a bad taste in your mouth. Considering the fact that the whole book, Charlie is accepting of her own weight and who she is - her mom being fatphobic and just flat-out cruel was something that needed to be resolved better. It was a major discussion throughout the book and then it seemed as though Charlie's best friend wound up being the antagonist in the long run, which didn't settle well with me at all!
I realize that this is a YA book and that it might not be the most practical occurrence to have a 16-year-old just decide to dip because her mom is emotionally abusive, but it would've been a really good conversation to have. In fact, it would've added so much necessary depth to the story had that been a discussion at any point!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Toxic friendship