Big Girl Small

Reader: Emily
Age: 16
Title: Big Girl Small
Author: Rachel DeWoskin
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Pub Date: 05/10/2011
Galley: Yes
Nominate for Teens’ Top 10: Yes
Recommend: Yes
Convince us to read the book: Big Girl Small is a complicated, quirky story about a teenage girl experiencing life differently than your average 16-year-old. Judy, the main character is three foot nine inches, and it isn't a disadvantage. Transferring to a creative arts high school junior year, she meets a variety of people, teachers and life-changing experiences. Big Girl Small gives a whole new perspective on what it means to be young and the consequences that you don't always see happening.
Compelling Aspect of the Book: Judy Lohden is short, yes, but she's got spunk. Most teenage girls would be forever changed by a sex tape of themselves, but she manages to maintain a relatively cool head. I like how she judge's people, but gives them a chance and tries to reason out people behavior.
Comments: The only thing that could be changed was the ending. I really think that it would have been interesting to know what happened with Judy and Jeff. Did they ever talk again? Did Jason and Alan ever right their letters? Did Jason really mean what he said in the letter? Why was Judy so cynical about them after being very understanding?
Cover: The cover of the book is very compelling to the reader. The girl flying away on the balloons in a large expanse of sky urges you, as a reader, to pick it up. The cover demonstrates the idea that the main character faces a lot, but has happiness.
Did you finish: Yes
Age Range: 14 to 18 and up
Quality: 5Q Hard to imagine a better book
Popularity: 5P Everyone wants to read it