Title: How Do You Lose Those Ninth Grade Blues?
Author: Barthe DeClements
Genre: Fiction
Type: Young adult, slice of life
Rating: 4/5 stars
Summary: Elsie Edwards has managed to lose the weight that has been encumbering her for years. At the start of her freshman year of high school, she finally thinks things are looking up for her. She gets the solo in choir, her friends seem to adore her, and she meets a great guy from the football team, Craddoc.
However, things at home continue to spiral downwards as her mother lashes out at Elsie, her sister begins to take advantage of her, her father (previously absent)is suddenly trying to get back in her life. Elsie's anxiety begins to take form and she makes several accusations at Craddoc, potentially losing the relationship.
I've been reading Barthe DeClements since middle school. I've always loved her writing style, it seemed so true to life, if a bit dated (like they still play records/cassette tapes). I've always appreciated her honesty when it came to kids being--well kids. Her characters don't have some kind of altruistic motive, they want to be children.
That being said, I thought this book was shorter compared to her other novels. It is young adult fiction though, so I may be wanting something that isn't aimed towards that group.
Elsie has been mentioned in a previous novel; Nothing's Fair in Fifth Grade, with a brief cameo in Sixth Grade Can Really Kill You. In Nothing's Fair in Fifth Grade, Elsie was introduced as a very complex, catalystic character. I was really excited to finally be able to read more about her.
I did feel this novel fell short of that. There was so much more to talk about, even things mentioned in this novel. Why was her dad trying to get back in her life? Why didn't Elsie confront him?
I've always loved Elsie because she struggled with weight, which was something I could relate to. This novel explored learning to love yourself, something that doesn't happen instantly after losing weight. However, it just--was a bit lack luster.
