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Not a Fat Annie
If you or your child is a fan of Starfish by Lisa Fipps, Blubber by Judy Blume or Taking up Space by Alyson Gerber, you’ll love Not A Fat Annie.
At a time when mental health and well-being are at an all-time low and bullying and body shaming is at an all-time high, comes this relevant, timely, fun, fast-paced book.
Best-selling author, nationally recognized body image expert and lifestyle coach, Anne Poirier, CSCS has written a life-enriching game changing book for tweens and the adults who love them.
Join Aly, the ‘fattest’ kid in her class and her best friend Rayanne as they navigate the trials and tribulations of middle school. When the 5th grade theatre production is posted, and it’s her favorite musical ANNIE, she is devastated. There is NO WAY she will be trying out, because of course, no one has ever heard of a FAT ANNIE!
Not a Fat Annie tackles the difficult yet relatable and familiar subjects of bullying, body shaming, fatphobia, and self-criticism while offering readers (both tweens and adults) tools to enhance body image, boost self-esteem, build resiliency and save lives.
Make room in your heart for this uplifting positive story as Aly and Ray learn the value of self-acceptance, positive self-talk, and the importance of true friendship and family.
At a time when mental health and well-being are at an all-time low and bullying and body shaming is at an all-time high, comes this relevant, timely, fun, fast-paced book.
Best-selling author, nationally recognized body image expert and lifestyle coach, Anne Poirier, CSCS has written a life-enriching game changing book for tweens and the adults who love them.
Join Aly, the ‘fattest’ kid in her class and her best friend Rayanne as they navigate the trials and tribulations of middle school. When the 5th grade theatre production is posted, and it’s her favorite musical ANNIE, she is devastated. There is NO WAY she will be trying out, because of course, no one has ever heard of a FAT ANNIE!
Not a Fat Annie tackles the difficult yet relatable and familiar subjects of bullying, body shaming, fatphobia, and self-criticism while offering readers (both tweens and adults) tools to enhance body image, boost self-esteem, build resiliency and save lives.
Make room in your heart for this uplifting positive story as Aly and Ray learn the value of self-acceptance, positive self-talk, and the importance of true friendship and family.
139 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 5, 2021
1 person is currently reading
6 people want to read
About the author
Anne Poirier
2 books20 followers"Thank you Anne for sharing this gem with the world!" Achea Redd
"Not a Fat Annie is an inspiring story that portrays the power of support, the effects of bullying, and the universal harm of the diet culture through relatable characters. It is a celebration of differences and a must read for all ages!" Liz Altunkara-NEDA Director of Education
“Unlearn” the rules of diet culture and finding self-compassion". Elyse Resch
"Anne is the voice for the anti-diet movement, this book is a game changer!"Pamela Bruner
Having struggled with my own eating, food, weight and body image challenges, I Founded Shaping Perspectives, A Woman’s Way to Joy and decided to write the book the Body Joyful: My Journey from Self-Loathing to Self-Acceptance.
My mission is to support, encourage and inspire women of all sizes, shapes and weights so that they can say 'no to diets', 'reject society’s thin ideal' and heal from diet culture. I help women feel more comfortable and confident in their own bodies and selves so they know their true value and worth.
Anne Poirier CSCS, is a nationally recognized Body Image Expert, author of the Body Joyful, and leader of the Body Joyful Revolution. As a pioneer and leading voice for the body neutrality movement she has been featured and cited in major media outlets around the world including Shape, Women’s Health, Prevention New York Times, Washington Post, Newsy, Livestrong, Huff Post, ABC, Fox, CBS and NPR. As a long-time eating disorder survivor, non-diet coach and certified self-talk trainer Anne has been a guest 55+ podcasts and serves on the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) Lived Experience Task Force. In a 35+ year fitness and coaching career and now as a certified Intuitive Eating Councilor, Eating Disorder Specialist and Life Coach, Anne helps women free themselves from diet culture and society’s thin ideal using her Body Joyful Solution. Anne can be reached at anne@thebodyjoyful.com
Some fun facts...
*I love walks on the beach, chasing & capturing sunrises on my phone and collecting sand dollars
*I dance to 80's music...in my driveway early in the morning
*Swinging on a swing set happens whenever I see one.
I am the mother of two adult daughters and live in the beautiful Hilton Head Island in SC
"Not a Fat Annie is an inspiring story that portrays the power of support, the effects of bullying, and the universal harm of the diet culture through relatable characters. It is a celebration of differences and a must read for all ages!" Liz Altunkara-NEDA Director of Education
“Unlearn” the rules of diet culture and finding self-compassion". Elyse Resch
"Anne is the voice for the anti-diet movement, this book is a game changer!"Pamela Bruner
Having struggled with my own eating, food, weight and body image challenges, I Founded Shaping Perspectives, A Woman’s Way to Joy and decided to write the book the Body Joyful: My Journey from Self-Loathing to Self-Acceptance.
My mission is to support, encourage and inspire women of all sizes, shapes and weights so that they can say 'no to diets', 'reject society’s thin ideal' and heal from diet culture. I help women feel more comfortable and confident in their own bodies and selves so they know their true value and worth.
Anne Poirier CSCS, is a nationally recognized Body Image Expert, author of the Body Joyful, and leader of the Body Joyful Revolution. As a pioneer and leading voice for the body neutrality movement she has been featured and cited in major media outlets around the world including Shape, Women’s Health, Prevention New York Times, Washington Post, Newsy, Livestrong, Huff Post, ABC, Fox, CBS and NPR. As a long-time eating disorder survivor, non-diet coach and certified self-talk trainer Anne has been a guest 55+ podcasts and serves on the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) Lived Experience Task Force. In a 35+ year fitness and coaching career and now as a certified Intuitive Eating Councilor, Eating Disorder Specialist and Life Coach, Anne helps women free themselves from diet culture and society’s thin ideal using her Body Joyful Solution. Anne can be reached at anne@thebodyjoyful.com
Some fun facts...
*I love walks on the beach, chasing & capturing sunrises on my phone and collecting sand dollars
*I dance to 80's music...in my driveway early in the morning
*Swinging on a swing set happens whenever I see one.
I am the mother of two adult daughters and live in the beautiful Hilton Head Island in SC
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 29, 2023
“Not A Fat Annie” was a journey that took me back to middle school. This time, I saw triumph and the ability to overcome the negative thoughts that can so easily beat someone down. Having grown up with some of the same exact thoughts that the MC, Aly experienced, it was sort of a struggle for my inner child to get through the beginning of this book. But I am so glad that I did - Anne never shies away from dismantling thoughts and “cultures” that have brought us to this point as a society. EDs, mental illnesses, and bullying are such taboo topics, ESPECIALLY in a “tween” book. But Anne handles them with grace, poise, and extreme discernment. Aly's journey from page 1 was one that so many children have been (and will be, sadly) able to relate to.
It’s a must-read for all rising tweens. No matter what their walk of life is, “Not A Fat Annie” shows how detrimental the effects of the world around us can be, and how WE have the power to create the change. This is seen in something as profound as a sibling relationship through Anne’s book, and how one bad thought can trickle down to the youngest person, even if you think you’re good at hiding it.
This book is a must-have for school libraries, for a 10-year-old’s bookshelf, and even for grown-ups, just trying their best to leave the world a little better for those coming after us. Our words have weight and meaning, carry them responsibly. You never know who is watching.
It’s a must-read for all rising tweens. No matter what their walk of life is, “Not A Fat Annie” shows how detrimental the effects of the world around us can be, and how WE have the power to create the change. This is seen in something as profound as a sibling relationship through Anne’s book, and how one bad thought can trickle down to the youngest person, even if you think you’re good at hiding it.
This book is a must-have for school libraries, for a 10-year-old’s bookshelf, and even for grown-ups, just trying their best to leave the world a little better for those coming after us. Our words have weight and meaning, carry them responsibly. You never know who is watching.
August 29, 2023
To say that the author has nailed the language and impact of negative self talk is an absolute understatement! Aly's bullying problems start with the mean girls in her class, but she surely takes them to a new level all on her own, believing and embracing the feelings of inadequacy the bullying evokes in her. She becomes her own worst enemy, as so often happens. Then she catches her sweet (though sometimes annoying) little sister repeating a familial pattern of self loathing, and she is immediately taken out of her own head.
Aly responds to Jo's need for affirmation and together they look for healthy, balanced ways to think about personal differences, strengths, and character traits. I love the comparison that is made between differences in breeds of dogs and differences in people! Such a simple yet clever technique that is sure to appeal to children and parents alike!
A good friend, a new point of view, and valuable tools help Aly to love herself. When she does, she is able to ignore the bullies and embrace her love for singing, performing, and doing the things that make her happy!
What a great job Anne Poirer has done in talking about the ugly ways in which we undermine ourselves (and each other), while also shining a light on hope, love, and solid strategies to rise above the negativity! Bravo!
Aly responds to Jo's need for affirmation and together they look for healthy, balanced ways to think about personal differences, strengths, and character traits. I love the comparison that is made between differences in breeds of dogs and differences in people! Such a simple yet clever technique that is sure to appeal to children and parents alike!
A good friend, a new point of view, and valuable tools help Aly to love herself. When she does, she is able to ignore the bullies and embrace her love for singing, performing, and doing the things that make her happy!
What a great job Anne Poirer has done in talking about the ugly ways in which we undermine ourselves (and each other), while also shining a light on hope, love, and solid strategies to rise above the negativity! Bravo!
August 30, 2023
Not a Fat Annie follows 5th grader, Aly Rose, through a tough school year in which she is bullied by mean girls in school, and remotely through the media. The reader shares in the wide range of emotions that Aly experiences on a daily basis as she vacillates between her joy and sadness and her hopes and anxieties. The value of friendships; the impact of negative and positive self talk-the inner voices that we all posses; the multigenerational influences and actions related to body image and dieting within a family; and using journaling as a tool to express one’s inner self in a concrete way are expertly integrated in this book. Poirier’s characters, Aly Rose, Coletta Jo, Rayanne and Aly Rose’s mother are easy to relate to. The author has created multidimensional characters with universal appeal. I cried along with Aly whenever the “mean” girls called her ugly names like “Fat Cow” and “Blubber Gut” and happily rejoiced with her as Aly created her “Power Pose”. Not a Fat Annie is a fairly short book which is a must read. Every middle school and public library should acquire a copy for their patrons. They’ll thank you for it.
Jacqueline P Drown, MLIS Retired Middle School Library Media Specialist
Jacqueline P Drown, MLIS Retired Middle School Library Media Specialist
October 18, 2023
I love this book. The writing is excellent and easy to read, and the main character, Aly, is totally relatable (even though I’m not 10 anymore 😊. The story starts with Aly talking about how she already hates her classroom and the kids in it. This book would engage young readers right from the start.
Sections of the book use italicized dialogue to show what Aly is thinking to herself. It’s super effective, especially when the character struggles to fight her negative self-talk. It made me reflect on how my own thoughts can be mean to myself. What a great awareness builder! The character learns how to focus her attention instead on her positive self-talk and ignore the negative. I think this is great modeling for all humans!
The protagonist’s mother also appears in the story, and we see how she models diet culture behaviors without realizing how much her daughters are picking up from her. She is “always on a diet,” and her daughters start following her lead. I think this is a GREAT reminder to parents that every action is being absorbed without them being aware of it.
An excellent book for young kids, I also think parents should read this! Highly recommend.
Sections of the book use italicized dialogue to show what Aly is thinking to herself. It’s super effective, especially when the character struggles to fight her negative self-talk. It made me reflect on how my own thoughts can be mean to myself. What a great awareness builder! The character learns how to focus her attention instead on her positive self-talk and ignore the negative. I think this is great modeling for all humans!
The protagonist’s mother also appears in the story, and we see how she models diet culture behaviors without realizing how much her daughters are picking up from her. She is “always on a diet,” and her daughters start following her lead. I think this is a GREAT reminder to parents that every action is being absorbed without them being aware of it.
An excellent book for young kids, I also think parents should read this! Highly recommend.
August 29, 2023
If you or your child loved Starfish, Blubber or Taking Up Space, you (they'll) will LOVE NOT A FAT ANNIE!
A big beautiful book that will have you cheering for the female protagonist Aly and her best friend Ray. Not a Fat Annie tackles bullying, body shaming, and negative self-talk and other middle school issues.
Make room in your heart for this uplifting positive triumphant story as Aly and Ray learn the value of self-acceptance, positive self-talk, perseverance, family and the importance of true friendship.
Reading Not a Fat Annie will help improve children's body image, enhance their self-esteem and even save lives.
If you are a teacher, mentor, girl scour leader, parent and grandparent (anyone who works or cares about kids) get and read Not A Fat Annie with them and start a live enriching conversation for both you and them.
A big beautiful book that will have you cheering for the female protagonist Aly and her best friend Ray. Not a Fat Annie tackles bullying, body shaming, and negative self-talk and other middle school issues.
Make room in your heart for this uplifting positive triumphant story as Aly and Ray learn the value of self-acceptance, positive self-talk, perseverance, family and the importance of true friendship.
Reading Not a Fat Annie will help improve children's body image, enhance their self-esteem and even save lives.
If you are a teacher, mentor, girl scour leader, parent and grandparent (anyone who works or cares about kids) get and read Not A Fat Annie with them and start a live enriching conversation for both you and them.
September 29, 2023
Anne hit the nail on the head with this book. From page one, Aly was relatable, even to someone long displaced from that time of my life. I could see myself in the bullying that Aly faced. Bullies are relentless, no matter what they hone in on. And while this book handled topics that could have been hard to digest, Anne does it in such a palatable way that it doesn’t “hurt” as much.
As a mother of two girls, it was not easy to read about the inner thoughts that Aly (and her younger sister, too) were experiencing. We have to do better for ourselves, so we can do better for them.
I will forever be thankful for people like Anne Poirier, who continue to put themselves out there, in print, to try and better the world and the future of our kids.
As a mother of two girls, it was not easy to read about the inner thoughts that Aly (and her younger sister, too) were experiencing. We have to do better for ourselves, so we can do better for them.
I will forever be thankful for people like Anne Poirier, who continue to put themselves out there, in print, to try and better the world and the future of our kids.
August 30, 2023
What a great and important book for young girls! Annie Poirier fills the pages with meaningful wording and accurate emotional language to dissect social stigma and bullying. She expertly weaves body positivity into a great storyline that has you rooting for the main character Aly, as well as Aly"s family and best friend Rayanne. I'm looking forward to the sequel already.
September 28, 2023
Not A Fat Annie is a must read for tweens, parents, and anyone who has a tween in their life. The characters transport the reader to middle school and what it's like to feel different. Anne highlights the fat phobia and weight stigma that plague our society and offers readers, both tweens and adults, a simple yet effective way to improve their body image.
August 29, 2023
Not a Fat Annie is an inspiring story that portrays the power of support, the effects of bullying, and the universal harm of the diet culture through relatable characters. It is a celebration of differences and a must read for all ages!
October 27, 2023
Great story and lessons for teens and others coping with negative self-image, bullying, and the trials of being a teen today. Written with insight and compassion, the story provides a wonderful example of the power of changing your perspective.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews