Title: Manning Up
Author: Bee Walsh
Genre: Childrens Fiction, Teen & YA
Publisher: West 44 Books
Release Date: 1st October 2019
BLURB from Goodreads
Jack is at the top of his game. He's a senior running back on the football team, dominating every opponent in his way. To everyone else, Jack is totally in control. In reality, he struggles with an eating disorder that controls every aspect of his daily life. When Jack starts using steroids, he feels invincible, but will the steroids help him win the big game, or will he lose everything he's ever worked for?
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REVIEW
I
was attracted to reading this book as it is a Hi Lo book which roughly means,
when I googled it to explain it correctly, I found the following explanations “A hi-lo
book, broadly defined, is a title that offers highly interesting subject
matter at a low reading level. A number of publishers have focused on
producing these books, though they often take slightly different
approaches to creating the products that best fit a particular market.” Also,
another description I have come across is, ““Books where stuff happens…but easy
to read. Not a book for kids.” This is a common readers’ advisory question for
reluctant or struggling teen readers (and their adults). Such readers often
feel keenly the gap between the books they are able to read, and the topics they
*want* to read. Must they read from the children’s section, with its juvenile
topics and the same titles they would have picked in grade school? Not at all.
This is a gap that hi/lo books aim to fill.”
I
really like the cover of this book and in fact, generally like the covers of Hi
Lo books as the ones I have come across are bright, colourful and certainly
draw your eyes and attention to them. The genres listed for this book are
Children’s fiction, Teens and YA and it does fit those genres but as an adult I
still enjoyed reading this book, I would say personally I think the book is
aimed at the teenaged end of children’s fiction rather than under 12’s though.
The
books main character is Jack a high school soccer player who is already really
good though he does watch what he eats fairly carefully. Where his team mates
go for milkshakes and burgers after school, Jack will go along but by moving
table to table, talking to different team mates he manages to get away with not
eating anything and no one noticing he isn’t eating too. The soccer coach is
constantly pressuring the team to play better, train harder to get to the
championships. Though he is already a great soccer player when he see’s other
team members receiving medication to help them bulk up more than he is already
naturally with his gym sessions. Jack soon discovers the side affects of taking
medication is a real problem.
Jack
lives with his mum and sister Beth as his dad died years before. Jack sort of
considers himself as the man of the house and takes a lot of responsibility on
his shoulders. He tries his hardest to be strong and doesn’t share his emotions
and feelings very well. Jack worries about hi sister Beth being bullied at
school, and worries when he hears his mother sat crying at the kitchen table
surrounded by bills. He really takes on the whole family’s problems and issues.
When his friends at school are counting the days to the end of school, thinking
about who to ask to the homecoming dance and talking about going away to college
and what they want from the years ahead, Jack cannot seem to get excited for
leaving school and cannot see what his future will be.
I
won’t go any further into the details of the book but I have to say I felt
really pulled into the book. Even though it is a fairly short book it is a very
quick read. I really didn’t want to put it down and became quickly
attached to the character of Jack. The story and plot come across really
realistic and I think this book would be a great one to be read in schools to
prompt conversations.
I have to say I adored the characters in
this book. The book illustrates perfectly that body dysmorphia and eating
disorders are not exclusive to females. This book tells the story of a
fantastic football player called Jack who doesn't believe he is good enough.
I have to say I adored the characters in
this book. The book illustrates perfectly
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