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All of Me
"Beautifully written, brilliant, and necessary," (Matt de la Pena, Newbery Medalist), here is a body-positive book about how a boy deals with fat-shaming.
Ari has body-image issues. After a move across the country, his parents work selling and promoting his mother's paintings and sculptures. Ari's bohemian mother needs space to create, and his father is gone for long stretches of time on "sales" trips.
Meanwhile, Ari makes new Pick, the gamer; the artsy Jorge, and the troubled Lisa. He is also relentlessly bullied because he's overweight, but he can't tell his parents―they're simply not around enough to listen.
After an upsetting incident, Ari's mom suggests he go on a diet, and she gives him a book to help. But the book―and the diet―can’t fix everything. As Ari faces the demise of his parents' marriage, he also feels himself changing, both emotionally and physically. Here is a much-needed story about accepting the imperfect in oneself and in life.
Ari has body-image issues. After a move across the country, his parents work selling and promoting his mother's paintings and sculptures. Ari's bohemian mother needs space to create, and his father is gone for long stretches of time on "sales" trips.
Meanwhile, Ari makes new Pick, the gamer; the artsy Jorge, and the troubled Lisa. He is also relentlessly bullied because he's overweight, but he can't tell his parents―they're simply not around enough to listen.
After an upsetting incident, Ari's mom suggests he go on a diet, and she gives him a book to help. But the book―and the diet―can’t fix everything. As Ari faces the demise of his parents' marriage, he also feels himself changing, both emotionally and physically. Here is a much-needed story about accepting the imperfect in oneself and in life.
320 pages, Paperback
First published June 11, 2019
39 people are currently reading
1897 people want to read
About the author
Chris Baron
9 books163 followersChris Baron is the award winning author of Novels for Children including ALL OF ME, an NCTE Notable Book, THE MAGICAL IMPERFECT a Sydney Taylor Book Award Notable Book/ a SLJ Best Book of 2021 & the forthcoming novels, THE GRAY a ProjectLIT 23-24 Selection and SPARK from Feiwel & Friends/Macmillan, and SECRET OF THE DRAGON GEMS, a Middle Grade novel co-authored with Rajani LaRocca from Little Bee Books, and editor of ON ALL OTHER NIGHTS: A MIDDLE GRADE PASSOVER ANTHOLOGY, from Abrams (24), He is a Professor of English at San Diego City College and the director of the Writing Center. He grew up in New York City, but he completed his MFA in Poetry in 1998 at SDSU. HE lives in San Diego with his family. He is represented by Rena Rossner from the Deborah Harris Literary Agency.
Twitter: @baronchrisbaron
Instagram: @christhebearbaron
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 177 reviews
July 29, 2019
Who Am I?
The life in my head seems
so different from the life outside,
where I am so big
that everyone stares,
but no one sees the real me.
What a poignant story! I’m worried that this book will slip through the cracks and go unnoticed. I truly hope it doesn’t. It’s a wonderful story written in verse about a seventh grade boy, Ari, who struggles with his weight and body image.
What I loved about this story is that you get a deeper understanding of Ari’s emotional issues and his feelings about his weight problem. He’s a likable boy, strong, and sensitive, and you want to pick him up every time somebody knocks him down. His character has a lot of growth and watching his transformation was so amazing and heartwarming.
The author did a fantastic job allowing the reader to walk vicariously in Ari’s shoes, so that you can get an idea of what it feels like when people mistreat you because of your weight, and see the demons people face both internally and externally.
This is an important story, one that shouldn’t be missed, especially in an era where the media tries to fit us all in a mold, and shames those that don’t fit in it. It’s a story about friendship, compassion, and empathy. It’s a lesson in understanding those around you and learning sensitivity, because we’re not made of steel, and your support could mean the world to somebody else.
Highly recommended.
CW: anti-Semitism, body shaming, and self-harm
November 21, 2018
I'll be honest. I rarely read verse novels or contemporary fiction. I read this book mainly because I had the honor of editing a near-final version of it.
I definitely don't say this about all the books I work on, but this book grabbed me from the first chapter and didn't let me go. The characters, the story, the prose, the poetry—all of it is beautiful and engaging. I finished reading this book wanting to be a better person. That's the highest praise I can give.
I definitely don't say this about all the books I work on, but this book grabbed me from the first chapter and didn't let me go. The characters, the story, the prose, the poetry—all of it is beautiful and engaging. I finished reading this book wanting to be a better person. That's the highest praise I can give.
January 5, 2019
It takes a lot to make crusty old me dissolve into a puddle of tears, but Chris Baron’s debut verse novel ALL OF ME had me pretty much bawling from page 100. This is the most moving MG novel I’ve read about how it feels to be a “big” kid on a very deep level. Beyond the taunting and bullying Ari experiences, Baron gets into Ari’s clothes, into his skin, describing precisely how it feels for a waist band to dig into flesh, the extreme vulnerability of wearing a bathing suit, a shirt hiked up to expose too much skin, and the hunger, hunger, hunger that never seems to let up. In Ari Rosenberg’s life, so much revolves around the ever-present diet book, the way people look at him when he takes that extra piece of pizza, and the self-hatred that makes Ari actually damage himself – and it’s all heartbreaking.
Although this is the story of a fat kid growing up, coming to terms with himself and making his way in the world, there’s much more going on: Ari’s artist mom and emotionally distant dad are divorcing; he’s negotiating the rituals for a bar mitzvah that may or may not happen; dealing with a crush on his best friend, Lisa, who has plenty of problems of her own; and making new friends during a California summer that is in many ways idyllic. There are deeply touching scenes with Ari’s rabbi, who is both gentle and wise.
The verse is deftly handled and gorgeous; it feels just right for Ari’s sensibility. I truly loved this book, I loved Ari Rosenberg, and I hope ALL OF ME will find its way into every school library and into the hands of many middle grade readers, not only so big kids can see themselves portrayed with such sensitivity and beauty, but so that all kids can experience what being big feels like and share Ari’s hopeful and triumphant story.
Note: ALL OF ME publishes in June, 2019. I read an Advance Readers Copy provided by the publisher.
Although this is the story of a fat kid growing up, coming to terms with himself and making his way in the world, there’s much more going on: Ari’s artist mom and emotionally distant dad are divorcing; he’s negotiating the rituals for a bar mitzvah that may or may not happen; dealing with a crush on his best friend, Lisa, who has plenty of problems of her own; and making new friends during a California summer that is in many ways idyllic. There are deeply touching scenes with Ari’s rabbi, who is both gentle and wise.
The verse is deftly handled and gorgeous; it feels just right for Ari’s sensibility. I truly loved this book, I loved Ari Rosenberg, and I hope ALL OF ME will find its way into every school library and into the hands of many middle grade readers, not only so big kids can see themselves portrayed with such sensitivity and beauty, but so that all kids can experience what being big feels like and share Ari’s hopeful and triumphant story.
Note: ALL OF ME publishes in June, 2019. I read an Advance Readers Copy provided by the publisher.
May 28, 2019
This has one major point in its favor (male character struggling with weight rather than female), a few fairly average issues (the writing felt far more adult than middle grade in places; more than one plotline or character seemed to trail off and disappear with little resolution; although the story seemed to be taking place in the current time based on mentions of cell phones the cultural interests of the young characters seemed to have been arrested in the eighties; the Judaism that they keep talking about in theory of the mitzvot and keeping Shabbat seemed significantly at odds with what any character was doing currently) and the serious issue that I'm genuinely concerned it might contribute to a child's eating disorder.
Yes, it has the eventual "your weight doesn't matter, it's on the inside that counts" message, but only in perhaps the last quarter of the book. Prior to that, readers must follow Ari on adventures in severe bullying, self harm, crash dieting, and extreme body negativity, and the revelation only comes after he has lost weight and been noticed for it. No information is given about the genetic factors of weight gain, the complex entanglement of fatness and health, or the metabolic complications with dieting vs. keeping weight off. All adult figures including medical professionals (except perhaps the rabbi, whose storyline is somewhat separate from the weight aspect) are extremely focused on weight loss by whatever means necessary. Little change has been made or support added regarding the familial/emotional aspects to which Ari connects some of his overeating tendencies - his parents are still a mess, still absent, and he never returns to therapy. At no point is it mentioned that a body can be good for more than being thin. I would have loved for just once Ari to think to himself "I appreciate that my body helps me ride around on my bike."
I especially struggled with weight right around seventh grade, and if I had read a book like this, even if the message was allegedly that you should love yourself however you look, I would have come away angry and ashamed of my body. I would have picked up on the much stronger messages about the importance of significant food regulation, that bullying can be stopped if you just look better and don't provide as much of a target, that the culturally accepted standard of beauty or health is singular and meant to be reached by any means necessary, and that would have been tremendously damaging.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Yes, it has the eventual "your weight doesn't matter, it's on the inside that counts" message, but only in perhaps the last quarter of the book. Prior to that, readers must follow Ari on adventures in severe bullying, self harm, crash dieting, and extreme body negativity, and the revelation only comes after he has lost weight and been noticed for it. No information is given about the genetic factors of weight gain, the complex entanglement of fatness and health, or the metabolic complications with dieting vs. keeping weight off. All adult figures including medical professionals (except perhaps the rabbi, whose storyline is somewhat separate from the weight aspect) are extremely focused on weight loss by whatever means necessary. Little change has been made or support added regarding the familial/emotional aspects to which Ari connects some of his overeating tendencies - his parents are still a mess, still absent, and he never returns to therapy. At no point is it mentioned that a body can be good for more than being thin. I would have loved for just once Ari to think to himself "I appreciate that my body helps me ride around on my bike."
I especially struggled with weight right around seventh grade, and if I had read a book like this, even if the message was allegedly that you should love yourself however you look, I would have come away angry and ashamed of my body. I would have picked up on the much stronger messages about the importance of significant food regulation, that bullying can be stopped if you just look better and don't provide as much of a target, that the culturally accepted standard of beauty or health is singular and meant to be reached by any means necessary, and that would have been tremendously damaging.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
March 17, 2019
Thank you to the author and MacMillan Publishing for sharing an ARC with Collabookation.
Ari is fat, and the other kids at school never cease reminding him of it. Ari has always been bigger than the other kids, but the continued harassment is beginning to take its toll on his self-image. When he turns to self-harm, his mother knows she needs to find him help. This book is the tale of Ari finding himself ~ who he is on the inside, instead of defining himself the way the rest of the world has chosen to.
Written in verse, All of Me is open, honest, and raw. Ari's working through the changes puberty brings, his new feelings for girls, and his parents' disfunctional relationship. Through all these tumultuous times, he isn't scared to try to figure himself out. Introspective and wise, he takes the words of others, kind or unkind, to heart and dissects them. His work to become a man, the best man he can be, is an honor to witness. His sense of kindness and peacefulness aren't always welcomed, and more than one important person in his life demands that he 'man up.'
Ari does just that. After all, adolescents do become adults, whether they want to or not. But Ari finds the control he needs to hold his head up high and be proud of himself at any weight or size.
In a world that often stresses appearance over almost anything else, this book is a beacon to those children whose outside may not quite yet match their beauty on the inside.
Highly recommended for students in grade 6 and up.
Ari is fat, and the other kids at school never cease reminding him of it. Ari has always been bigger than the other kids, but the continued harassment is beginning to take its toll on his self-image. When he turns to self-harm, his mother knows she needs to find him help. This book is the tale of Ari finding himself ~ who he is on the inside, instead of defining himself the way the rest of the world has chosen to.
Written in verse, All of Me is open, honest, and raw. Ari's working through the changes puberty brings, his new feelings for girls, and his parents' disfunctional relationship. Through all these tumultuous times, he isn't scared to try to figure himself out. Introspective and wise, he takes the words of others, kind or unkind, to heart and dissects them. His work to become a man, the best man he can be, is an honor to witness. His sense of kindness and peacefulness aren't always welcomed, and more than one important person in his life demands that he 'man up.'
Ari does just that. After all, adolescents do become adults, whether they want to or not. But Ari finds the control he needs to hold his head up high and be proud of himself at any weight or size.
In a world that often stresses appearance over almost anything else, this book is a beacon to those children whose outside may not quite yet match their beauty on the inside.
Highly recommended for students in grade 6 and up.
January 30, 2019
I was lucky enough to read an ARC of this luminous novel before it was published. Written in verse, ALL OF ME is the story of Ari, a 13-year-old boy growing up in the San Francisco area after recently moving from New York. Ari is overweight, and as a result he has to deal with not-so-subtle and sometimes brutal bullying from other kids. This book is about a summer Ari spends at the beach with his mom, a bohemian artist, and his friends. It's about his journey to lose weight, prepare for his Bar Mitzvah, and become comfortable in his own skin. Ari is a thoughtful and kind young man, and his determined gentleness in the face of violence (verbal and physical) is one of the most remarkable things about this book. This is the kind of "boy" book we need: if anything is the antidote to "toxic masculinity," it's stories like this. Gorgeous writing transports the reader to the California coast, and to age 13, when anything is still possible, and the future is yet to be written.
December 27, 2019
I really wanted to like this book. I went in hoping to find some quality fat representation, Jewish representation, and a great upper MG/bridge to YA book. And I understand why a lot of people have had a positive reaction to an emotional story about a fat 7th grader coming into his own and finding some sort of self-love. But I didn't get that from this book.
What I read was a story about a boy who is told he is fat by everyone around him and that being fat is bad. However he seems like a fairly active 7th grader; he rides his bike, he walks places, at one point he is "running around" with his friends (but then later is upset he doesn't move as quickly as the other kids in his class...?). His eating habits show a pattern of self-soothing through food because he is struggling with his parents fighting and also being mercilessly bullied in school. At this point I could have gotten on board with a story that depicts binge-eating disorder and how he finds self acceptance through intuitive eating and therapy.
Instead, we see him go on a horrible crash diet, quit therapy after one visit, and find self acceptance only after losing weight and altering his physical appearance. Despite his insistence that his self-acceptance doesn't come from this weight loss, he hyper focuses on it, to the point where he even tells us the size pant he is wearing to his first day of school.
I can't get on board with a story that ends with Ari losing the weight through incredibly unsafe means, somehow mastering intuitive eating without the help of a dietitian or therapist, and then goes to school to be lavished with compliments on how great he looks. This book super missed the mark, and I'm very sad about that.
What I read was a story about a boy who is told he is fat by everyone around him and that being fat is bad. However he seems like a fairly active 7th grader; he rides his bike, he walks places, at one point he is "running around" with his friends (but then later is upset he doesn't move as quickly as the other kids in his class...?). His eating habits show a pattern of self-soothing through food because he is struggling with his parents fighting and also being mercilessly bullied in school. At this point I could have gotten on board with a story that depicts binge-eating disorder and how he finds self acceptance through intuitive eating and therapy.
Instead, we see him go on a horrible crash diet, quit therapy after one visit, and find self acceptance only after losing weight and altering his physical appearance. Despite his insistence that his self-acceptance doesn't come from this weight loss, he hyper focuses on it, to the point where he even tells us the size pant he is wearing to his first day of school.
I can't get on board with a story that ends with Ari losing the weight through incredibly unsafe means, somehow mastering intuitive eating without the help of a dietitian or therapist, and then goes to school to be lavished with compliments on how great he looks. This book super missed the mark, and I'm very sad about that.
January 1, 2019
Growing up overweight is a special kind of hell and Chris Baron articulates it perfectly in this beautiful novel in verse. Ari's dilemma is so much more than mean names and husky jeans and his solution requires much more than the diet book his doctor gives him. It's as much an emotional struggle as it is a physical one. Told in lyrical poems spanning a summer where everything changes for Ari, we go for the ride with him, traveling comfortably in the pocket of his ever-loosening pants. We feel every bit of his anguish, his determination, his satisfaction, his frustration and ultimately his sense of freedom that comes with accepting all of it, accepting himself.
This is a book for everyone-those who are walking a path similar to Ari's, struggling to achieve self-acceptance for whatever reason, those who want to understand what it's like to be an overweight kid and (maybe especially) for those who think that being overweight is a simple matter of eating too much.
This is a book for everyone-those who are walking a path similar to Ari's, struggling to achieve self-acceptance for whatever reason, those who want to understand what it's like to be an overweight kid and (maybe especially) for those who think that being overweight is a simple matter of eating too much.
December 31, 2018
There is something almost kaleidoscopic about this novel in verse, which beautifully layers themes of loss, friendship, acceptance and emotional growth.
Ari is a boy unhappy in his own skin. Although he struggles with a cross-country move and his parents’ relationship problems, the main thing that troubles Ari is his weight—there’s too much of it. When he becomes a target, he embarks on a diet, and many changes ensue.
Although some of this book is about what Ari hopes to lose, it is also very much about everything he gains, especially his friendships. Ari is lovable (even if he doesn’t know it!) and his story is important and relatable. Highly recommended.
Ari is a boy unhappy in his own skin. Although he struggles with a cross-country move and his parents’ relationship problems, the main thing that troubles Ari is his weight—there’s too much of it. When he becomes a target, he embarks on a diet, and many changes ensue.
Although some of this book is about what Ari hopes to lose, it is also very much about everything he gains, especially his friendships. Ari is lovable (even if he doesn’t know it!) and his story is important and relatable. Highly recommended.
March 25, 2019
This main character grabs you by the heartstrings on page one and doesn't let go. This heart-warming, sometimes painful, sometimes comforting read is loaded with problems, challenges and tender moments many readers will identify with. Loved every single page!
January 24, 2019
Ari struggles with his weight. With his family. With preparing for his bar mitzvah. But while Ari struggles, he also triumphs. Succeeds in coming to terms with the imperfections in himself and in the world around him. Ari's journey in ALL OF ME (which I had the privilege of reading as an ARC, pre-publication) is at once familiar and extraordinary. The kind of novel that is needed by--and will be so valuable to--kids uncomfortable in their own skin for any number of reasons. And, speaking on a personal note, ALL OF ME is the kind of novel that I would have benefitted from when I was a kid as well.
Written entirely in verse, Chris Baron's writing glows on every page with the warmth of California in the summer and Ari's kind, genuine self.
I'm so very glad this book exists and future readers will be too.
Written entirely in verse, Chris Baron's writing glows on every page with the warmth of California in the summer and Ari's kind, genuine self.
I'm so very glad this book exists and future readers will be too.
March 25, 2019
ALL OF ME is a raw and powerful novel-in-verse about the summer after Ari Rosensweig finishes seventh grade. All his life, Ari has heard and seen and felt this question coming from others: Why are you so fat? His artist mother and often-disappearing father are divorcing. At school, he is bullied, and he desperately wants to fit in.
Ari feels all of this deeply and fully and often so heartbreakingly. And over this summer, while building friendships and testing out a diet and preparing for his belated bar mitzvah with his wonderful rabbi, he wrestles with that paradox of growth: that he cannot change until he accepts and loves himself as he is, flaws, weight, and all. All of himself.
Ari feels all of this deeply and fully and often so heartbreakingly. And over this summer, while building friendships and testing out a diet and preparing for his belated bar mitzvah with his wonderful rabbi, he wrestles with that paradox of growth: that he cannot change until he accepts and loves himself as he is, flaws, weight, and all. All of himself.
January 15, 2019
What a gorgeous book! There is so much to this story, all circling around Ari's search for himself beyond his weight (which is certainly a piece of him). From painful moments that include bullying and self-harm to the highs that come from time spent with friends, Ari gradually becomes comfortable in his own skin and worthy of all the love, including self-love. Such a great story to tell in verse, with lovely images peppered throughout. Absolutely loved this!
November 26, 2021
*4.5 this was hard for me to get through, but I didn't wanna dnf it as I felt it was a necessary read. I feel like I was right. I learned a thing or two.
July 25, 2019
While the writing in this novel in verse is elegant and personal, there were parts of the protagonist's weight loss journey that seemed unrealistic to me. Ari Rosensweig hasn't had the best year as a seventh grader after his family's move from New York City to San Francisco. Because of his size and being Jewish and new to the area, he's bullied and belittled by classmates Mark and Frank, and even beaten up at one point. It's clear that his parents aren't getting along, and he often is left to his own devices, turning to food to fill the void. After an incident in which he makes clear just how much pain and self-loathing he's experiencing, Ari embarks on a strict diet, spurred on by his mother. It consists of strict regulation and measurement of food portions as well as positive self-talk. When Ari's artist mother decides to spend the summer at the beach and bring along his best friend, Lisa, who has her own challenges due to her upbringing, Ari has plenty of time to work on himself. Despite his fears about his appearance and his ill-fitting clothing, he makes friends with Jorge and eventually comes to some self-acceptance. While this is an important story and many parts of it rang true for me, I finished the book feeling troubled that many youngsters will read it and see weight loss as an essential part of self-acceptance or a way to avoid being bullied. Or that they will end up thinking that losing a few pounds over the summer is the key to happiness. While it might be critical to becoming healthier, I know from a lifetime of experience that the weight is merely a symptom of something else that is missing from one's life. Losing the pounds or controlling the food intact isn't enough until you do some work on you and your heart and mental health. Other than a brief counseling session and sporadic visits with the rabbi who is helping him prepare for his bar mitzvah, Ari doesn't seem to get the help he needs, which makes me worry for him in the future. I was quite frustrated and annoyed with his parents, both of whom were absent in different ways. And I worried about poor Lisa, who was making some bad choices as well. In the end, I found the book's title more than a little problematic since neither Ari nor those around him ever fully embraces all of him, instead seeming to love him more, the less there was of him. That's not the best message to send out into the world, is it?
February 16, 2019
I was fortunate enough to read an eARC (something I usually try to avoid because I love holding a book in my hands) of this novel-in-verse, and I became so engrossed in Ari's story I could not put it down. His voice is raw, capturing all of the insecurities of coming of age. The characters are human and flawed. The story of Ari's struggle with his self image, his weight, and his parents' fighting is brutally honest. There is no magical cure, but through the course of the story Ari finds small pieces of hope in authentic ways.
This book is geared towards upper MG, early YA, an age that often doesn't have relate-able options. Ari is 13 in the summer before his 8th grade year. Because of some of the themes of abuse and even self-harm, I will be handing this book to 7th and 8th graders at my middle school, and I think it could appeal through 9th and 10th grade as well. #LitReviewCrew
This book is geared towards upper MG, early YA, an age that often doesn't have relate-able options. Ari is 13 in the summer before his 8th grade year. Because of some of the themes of abuse and even self-harm, I will be handing this book to 7th and 8th graders at my middle school, and I think it could appeal through 9th and 10th grade as well. #LitReviewCrew
March 18, 2019
Oh my heart! Ari’s story is written in verse and is a raw and wonderfully honest look at what it’s like to grow up overweight. The cruelty of other people, the struggle to love oneself, dressing in clothes that don’t fit, the diet book that almost taunts him and is ever in his mind.
With parents that are going through a divorce and Ari’s newfound feeling for his best friend, Lisa, there are a lot of other things happening. Ari’s rabbi adds a gentle touch with his wisdom and caring for a lost soul who desperately needs to feel loved as is.
Ari struggles, and grows, and as his acceptance of self becomes real, we cheer for his triumphant story.
I hope this comes out in audiobook because I want to listen to this one. It’s beautiful.
With parents that are going through a divorce and Ari’s newfound feeling for his best friend, Lisa, there are a lot of other things happening. Ari’s rabbi adds a gentle touch with his wisdom and caring for a lost soul who desperately needs to feel loved as is.
Ari struggles, and grows, and as his acceptance of self becomes real, we cheer for his triumphant story.
I hope this comes out in audiobook because I want to listen to this one. It’s beautiful.
January 24, 2019
"My life doesn't feel good enough, and I don't know how to change it." Your heart will absolutely shatter as Ari struggles with his weight, searches for answers, and yearms to discover who he is. What does it mean to be a man? A friend? A son? A good person? The questions he grapples with are universal, and the language in this eloquent debut novel-in-verse is breathtaking. This is book is honest and real and beautiful. Ari will stay with me for a very long time.
March 11, 2019
This is a beautiful book that really does a good job of being a bridge between MG and YA. There is a character trying to lose weight in this story, so if you don't want that in a body image narrative, be aware. But the whole point of the book is that this boy is so much more than his weight, even though that is what everyone sees. A very moving look at growing up.
February 17, 2019
Ugh, my heart. Chris Baron has captured the authentic voice of every insecure adolescent and combines it with heart-wrenching imagery. Told in verse, Ari's story is both intensely personal and entirely universal. I cried real tears and laughed out loud as I devoured the pages.
June 30, 2019
It was a privilege to be an early reader of this book written by my student’s dad. Excellent!
September 10, 2019
Seventh-grader Ari Rosensweig is the new kid in school and not very happy about it. His family has just moved from New York to San Francisco, where his parents are in the business of promoting his mother's artwork. Now, he has to face new kids who will just see him as a fat boy and not who he really is - a kid who likes to ride his bike, play video games, make up role-playing games and has an interest in cryptozoology.
Over the course of seventh grade, Ari is brought to a rabbi for bar mitzvah preparation a year late, bullied by some of the boys in school because of his weight, makes a first friend named John, nicknamed Pick, a gamer who is also into robots, and a second friend named Lisa, the troubled rebel girl who sometimes misses school, and takes art lesson with Ari's mom. By the end of seventh grade, he is also dealing with an increasingly absent father he discovers is cheating on his mother.
At Stinson Beach for the summer, Ari becomes more and more aware of his weight and the anger Pick feels because of an earlier violent encounter on a bike path between Ari and his bullies that he witnessed. One sleepless night, after a fight with Pick about the encounter, Ari's pain comes to a head resulting in a self-inflicted wound that propels him into finally dealing with his weight.
Meantime, Lisa comes to stay with them at Stinson Beach while her mother is away dealing with her own problems. Over the course of the summer, Ari begins to sense an awakening in himself as his feelings for Lisa start to surface, discovers why Pick is so angry about the incident on the bike path, and begins to deal with the demise of his parent's marriage. Before the diet, Ari had always been defined only by his weight, but as he loses it, as his body physically changes, he realizes more and more that losing weight isn't a cure-all, that there is so much more to who he is than just body image, but that his weight will always be a work in progress.
If All of Me rings true to readers, perhaps it is because it is based on the author's own experiences as a overweight child. Perhaps that is why Ari's pain is so palpable, but so are his good moments. And he is strong character even if he does begin his story asking "Who am I?" Who he is is already there, it remains for him to discover it and redefine himself to himself. Most admirable, is that he knows he does not want to physically fight his bullies, as his father and Pick would have him do. He has enough self-awareness to think "There has to be a different way/to stand up for myself,/to take responsibility,/to be a man."
All of Me chronicles Ari's journey in a series of free verse poems. They are poignant, honest, raw, and realistic. Importantly, Baron allows Ari moments when he caves to desire while on his diet, but he never gives up and he doesn't beat himself up for slip-ups. I think that sticking to his weight-loss plan instead of just chucking it and comforting himself with food shows a real strength in Ari. I think that is an important message to kids who are struggling with issues around self-acceptance.
Ari's is an important multi-layered story, one that is needed, and one that you won't want to miss.
This book is recommended for readers age 9+
This book was purchased for my personal library
Over the course of seventh grade, Ari is brought to a rabbi for bar mitzvah preparation a year late, bullied by some of the boys in school because of his weight, makes a first friend named John, nicknamed Pick, a gamer who is also into robots, and a second friend named Lisa, the troubled rebel girl who sometimes misses school, and takes art lesson with Ari's mom. By the end of seventh grade, he is also dealing with an increasingly absent father he discovers is cheating on his mother.
At Stinson Beach for the summer, Ari becomes more and more aware of his weight and the anger Pick feels because of an earlier violent encounter on a bike path between Ari and his bullies that he witnessed. One sleepless night, after a fight with Pick about the encounter, Ari's pain comes to a head resulting in a self-inflicted wound that propels him into finally dealing with his weight.
Meantime, Lisa comes to stay with them at Stinson Beach while her mother is away dealing with her own problems. Over the course of the summer, Ari begins to sense an awakening in himself as his feelings for Lisa start to surface, discovers why Pick is so angry about the incident on the bike path, and begins to deal with the demise of his parent's marriage. Before the diet, Ari had always been defined only by his weight, but as he loses it, as his body physically changes, he realizes more and more that losing weight isn't a cure-all, that there is so much more to who he is than just body image, but that his weight will always be a work in progress.
If All of Me rings true to readers, perhaps it is because it is based on the author's own experiences as a overweight child. Perhaps that is why Ari's pain is so palpable, but so are his good moments. And he is strong character even if he does begin his story asking "Who am I?" Who he is is already there, it remains for him to discover it and redefine himself to himself. Most admirable, is that he knows he does not want to physically fight his bullies, as his father and Pick would have him do. He has enough self-awareness to think "There has to be a different way/to stand up for myself,/to take responsibility,/to be a man."
All of Me chronicles Ari's journey in a series of free verse poems. They are poignant, honest, raw, and realistic. Importantly, Baron allows Ari moments when he caves to desire while on his diet, but he never gives up and he doesn't beat himself up for slip-ups. I think that sticking to his weight-loss plan instead of just chucking it and comforting himself with food shows a real strength in Ari. I think that is an important message to kids who are struggling with issues around self-acceptance.
Ari's is an important multi-layered story, one that is needed, and one that you won't want to miss.
This book is recommended for readers age 9+
This book was purchased for my personal library
June 1, 2022
2,5⭐ - It was fine
I think the idea was good, writing was good and the message was something that many can relate to, if you are chubby/were chubby in school.
But it was a bit repetitive on the subject, which made me bored....
I think the idea was good, writing was good and the message was something that many can relate to, if you are chubby/were chubby in school.
But it was a bit repetitive on the subject, which made me bored....
March 6, 2019
I feel so fortunate to have read an ARC of this very engaging, beautifully crafted novel in verse. The poetry is gorgeous and accessible; the MC and supporting characters complex, interesting, and sympathetic; the message empowering. Ari worked his way into my heart on the first page and never left it.
October 8, 2019
I enjoy novels in verse and this one was one of the best because of the honest, not-holding-back way it portrayed bullying, body-shaming, learning to accept yourself and the body God gave you, as well as friendship, family drama, and first crushes. This is a book for all shelves, for all readers, including adults. I am so happy I finally bought a copy and it may be reread many times. I needed this book in my life as a kid and could identify with so much inside. Highly recommended.
April 14, 2019
A wonderfully touching MG poetry in verse novel about a boy learning to like his body (and himself) over a summer.
October 28, 2019
All of Me by Chirs Baron is a phenomenal novel in verse. The story is about the summer of a middle school aged boy Ari. Throughout his life Ari has struggled with his body image, and this summer he goes on a diet and visits a psychologist after harming himself. I believe that this novel does an amazing job telling a story that many middle aged children can relate to no matter their gender identity. The novel also weaves in additional struggles Ari is having with his friendships, religious obligations, and parents’ marital status in a way that creates windows and mirrors for many children.
The novel does a great job opening a dialect about body image and dieting at a young age. It does this from the perspective of Ari and describes how he views himself. Along with how he feels both physically and emotionally. The novel also includes his friends and families thoughts about his personality and character. By bringing in and explicitly talking about Ari’s personality the novel stresses the importance of getting to know people rather than judging them by their looks. I would encourage every person to read this book because it is an important and beautifully told story.
The novel does a great job opening a dialect about body image and dieting at a young age. It does this from the perspective of Ari and describes how he views himself. Along with how he feels both physically and emotionally. The novel also includes his friends and families thoughts about his personality and character. By bringing in and explicitly talking about Ari’s personality the novel stresses the importance of getting to know people rather than judging them by their looks. I would encourage every person to read this book because it is an important and beautifully told story.
March 14, 2019
I LOVE THIS BOOK.
Told in beautiful verse, it's about a boy Ari who deals with being overweight. But he's really so much more than the number on the scale.
A moving and raw story that will stay with me.
Told in beautiful verse, it's about a boy Ari who deals with being overweight. But he's really so much more than the number on the scale.
A moving and raw story that will stay with me.
June 20, 2022
It's really tricky to write about a character losing weight over the course of a story while they also learn valuable lessons about life and confidence and such. People are allowed to do whatever they want with their bodies, and it's not inherently fatphobic to have a story where a fat character decides to change their lifestyles and get fit. That CAN be a triumphant story.
However, In this book's case, I think the thing that could have been better defined is: Ari lost weight... really, just in response to other peoples' comments.
And while that's really really realistic (more on how VERY REALISTIC this book is in a sec), boy oh boy do people feel compelled to comment on fat bodies, I feel... frustrated that Ari changed himself (that his parents made him change himself) because people told him to. It lessens the idea that he is "figuring out who he really is" over the course of the story -- would he be pretty fine with who he "is" if mean people weren't always telling him, "it's bad to be fat"? I think he would, because on page 2 right off the bat, Ari tells us: "Even though I'm overweight, I can still do everything everyone else can...but people just see me as different."
I think if the framing was different, if the focus was that Ari wanted to change his body because he didn't actually like eating a lot of food but just felt trapped by bad coping skills, or that he wanted to do a sport that was difficult for him, or something like that, this would be a much more powerful story. I think we could have had both the realistic bullying AND also Ari realizing that being more fit made HIM feel better since he could do [specific activity that he couldn't before]. Because I do want to cheer for Ari to do awesome activities that maybe he couldn't before! I don't really want to cheer for Ari to change his body because mean people told him he should.
Basically, my takeaway from the book was this: Ari's parents and doctors are bad people for putting him on this crash diet. I think what I personally wanted from this book is: I wanted Ari to have more space to be mad at those people for putting him on this crash diet because he loves himself!
This book still deserves a high rating IMO because it is SO realistic, so raw, and I think would still be a good (careful) read for young people who are trying to figure out how they feel about themselves. The self-harm scene is heartbreaking. The way Ari describes his cravings and his relationship with food makes sense as-is even if I wish there was more of him, himself, realizing he doesn't want to eat like that anymore. I love the way Ari and his friends bond over their activities that have nothing to do with a person's size or appearance. I think the way crushes are handled makes sense. I love how Ari starts applying lessons he learns from the Rabbi in his adventures.
Really, overall, this is powerful. It's just that I think changing the framing would have made this truly a haunting AND triumphant experience.
(Content warnings: self-harm, some alcohol/tobacco use, some antisemitic speech)
However, In this book's case, I think the thing that could have been better defined is: Ari lost weight... really, just in response to other peoples' comments.
And while that's really really realistic (more on how VERY REALISTIC this book is in a sec), boy oh boy do people feel compelled to comment on fat bodies, I feel... frustrated that Ari changed himself (that his parents made him change himself) because people told him to. It lessens the idea that he is "figuring out who he really is" over the course of the story -- would he be pretty fine with who he "is" if mean people weren't always telling him, "it's bad to be fat"? I think he would, because on page 2 right off the bat, Ari tells us: "Even though I'm overweight, I can still do everything everyone else can...but people just see me as different."
I think if the framing was different, if the focus was that Ari wanted to change his body because he didn't actually like eating a lot of food but just felt trapped by bad coping skills, or that he wanted to do a sport that was difficult for him, or something like that, this would be a much more powerful story. I think we could have had both the realistic bullying AND also Ari realizing that being more fit made HIM feel better since he could do [specific activity that he couldn't before]. Because I do want to cheer for Ari to do awesome activities that maybe he couldn't before! I don't really want to cheer for Ari to change his body because mean people told him he should.
Basically, my takeaway from the book was this: Ari's parents and doctors are bad people for putting him on this crash diet. I think what I personally wanted from this book is: I wanted Ari to have more space to be mad at those people for putting him on this crash diet because he loves himself!
This book still deserves a high rating IMO because it is SO realistic, so raw, and I think would still be a good (careful) read for young people who are trying to figure out how they feel about themselves. The self-harm scene is heartbreaking. The way Ari describes his cravings and his relationship with food makes sense as-is even if I wish there was more of him, himself, realizing he doesn't want to eat like that anymore. I love the way Ari and his friends bond over their activities that have nothing to do with a person's size or appearance. I think the way crushes are handled makes sense. I love how Ari starts applying lessons he learns from the Rabbi in his adventures.
Really, overall, this is powerful. It's just that I think changing the framing would have made this truly a haunting AND triumphant experience.
(Content warnings: self-harm, some alcohol/tobacco use, some antisemitic speech)
April 23, 2019
I had been eyeing this book on Twitter for quite some time and I finally worked up the courage to ask the author for an ARC to read, review and share with #LitReviewCrew. I love novels in verse, as I am always amazed how such rich stories can be told with so few words. I was also drawn to the book because, like me, the main character is Jewish. There are so few realistic fiction books for the middle grade reader with a Jewish protagonist. Additionally, the book appealed to me because it addresses an issue I have seldom seen in middle grade fiction- a male character’s struggle with his weight and body image.
ALL OF ME by Chris Baron was everything I’d hoped it to be and much, much more. Ari’s story not only touched my heart, but reached out, grabbed it, broke it to pieces and made it whole again. What did I love most about it? It’s hard to say. Perhaps it was the author’s ability to find just the right words to convey both heartache and hope. Maybe it was that the main character’s story was both unique and relatable at the same time. Or perhaps it was the positive message the author conveyed through Ari’s journey to accept himself and discover who he truly is. Whatever the reason, this book will stay in my heart and in my classroom library for a long, long time.
ALL OF ME had so many different layers in it, that almost every middle grade reader could relate to a certain aspect of the story. The main character, Ari, like many teenagers, faces challenges and ups and downs. An only child, Ari moves from New York to California with his two parents. Both parents are busy with work and although they love Ari, don’t give him the attention he wants and needs. While his parents spend less and less time with each other and with him, Ari struggles with his weight, teasing and bullying. He also makes true friends too. All of this happens as Ari prepares for his Bar Mitzvah, a Jewish rite of passage when a boy becomes a man by reading from the Torah for the first time. ALL OF ME by Chris Baron touches upon many topics that middle grade readers can relate to- friendships, crushes, body image, family relationships, bullying, and self discovery and acceptance. Ari’s story is one that captures the struggles and the strength of a young teenager. Inspiring and hopeful, ALL OF ME by Chris Baron is sure to touch the hearts of all who read it.
ALL OF ME by Chris Baron was everything I’d hoped it to be and much, much more. Ari’s story not only touched my heart, but reached out, grabbed it, broke it to pieces and made it whole again. What did I love most about it? It’s hard to say. Perhaps it was the author’s ability to find just the right words to convey both heartache and hope. Maybe it was that the main character’s story was both unique and relatable at the same time. Or perhaps it was the positive message the author conveyed through Ari’s journey to accept himself and discover who he truly is. Whatever the reason, this book will stay in my heart and in my classroom library for a long, long time.
ALL OF ME had so many different layers in it, that almost every middle grade reader could relate to a certain aspect of the story. The main character, Ari, like many teenagers, faces challenges and ups and downs. An only child, Ari moves from New York to California with his two parents. Both parents are busy with work and although they love Ari, don’t give him the attention he wants and needs. While his parents spend less and less time with each other and with him, Ari struggles with his weight, teasing and bullying. He also makes true friends too. All of this happens as Ari prepares for his Bar Mitzvah, a Jewish rite of passage when a boy becomes a man by reading from the Torah for the first time. ALL OF ME by Chris Baron touches upon many topics that middle grade readers can relate to- friendships, crushes, body image, family relationships, bullying, and self discovery and acceptance. Ari’s story is one that captures the struggles and the strength of a young teenager. Inspiring and hopeful, ALL OF ME by Chris Baron is sure to touch the hearts of all who read it.
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