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The Heart is Not a Size
Georgia knows what it means to keep secrets. She knows how to ignore things. She knows that some things are better left unsaid. ...Or are they?
When Georgia and her best friend, Riley, travel along with nine other suburban Pennsylvania kids to Anapra, a squatters' village in the heat-flattened border city of Juarez, Mexico, secrets seem to percolate and threaten both a friendship and a life. Certainties unravel. Reality changes. And Georgia is left to figure out who she is outside the world she's always known.
Beth Kephart paints a world filled with emotion, longing, and the hot Mexican sun.
244 pages, Hardcover
First published March 13, 2010
4 people are currently reading
329 people want to read
About the author
Beth Kephart
57 books336 followersI'm the award-winning writer of more than two-dozen books in multiple genres—memoir, middle grade and young adult fiction, picture books, history, corporate fable, and books on the making of memoir.
I'm also an award-winning teacher at the University of Pennsylvania, co-founder of Juncture Workshops, and an essayist and critic with work appearing in The New York Times, Life magazine, Ninth Letter, Catapult, The Millions, The Rumpus, Chicago Tribune, Washington Post, and elsewhere.
Please visit me at junctureworkshops.com or bethkephartbooks.com.
I'm also an award-winning teacher at the University of Pennsylvania, co-founder of Juncture Workshops, and an essayist and critic with work appearing in The New York Times, Life magazine, Ninth Letter, Catapult, The Millions, The Rumpus, Chicago Tribune, Washington Post, and elsewhere.
Please visit me at junctureworkshops.com or bethkephartbooks.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
December 16, 2015
I was super surprised and excited when I found a pristine condition copy of this book at my local go-to shop for super-cheap books. I started it almost immediately, and now that I'm finished, I have to say I'm disappointed. I've heard great things about this book. I wanted to love it. I wanted to be so moved by it so that I would need for other people to read it, and experience what I did.
The Heart Is Not A Size had enormous potential to be absolutely amazing. It had the potential to be one of those books that can open your eyes and change your life. With the kind of issues that teens face these days, this could have been a book that would speak to them and actually have something to say that means something. About body issues and eating disorders and the pressure that teens are under to be perfect and to do something extraordinary. About friendship and loyalty and where the line between the two is, because they aren't always on the same side - sometimes you have to be disloyal to be a true friend to someone. About helping and giving of yourself to someone who needs it.
All of these things, and more, would have made this an important, MUST READ book for all ages, not just teens or young adults, but a book that everyone could benefit from. But these facets, the ones that I feel should have been the heart and soul of the story, weren't given the respect and attention that they deserved. It was like the story skirted around these aspects and only looked at them from the corner of its eye. To me, this felt like a cop out and was a complete disappointment.
What is this story about if it is not about the issues that Georgia faces with her panic attacks? What is it about if it is not about Riley, Georgia's best friend since kindergarten, who has an eating disorder? What is it about if it is not about DEALING with these issues? What does this story teach or communicate to someone who is struggling with these issues, or for someone who is trying to help someone deal with them?
In my opinion, anywhere from 'not very much' to 'nothing at all'. This book didn't delve into the true danger of eating disorders. It did focus on the wedge that it can drive between friends, but I felt that this was mostly because of Georgia's panic attacks that we got this impression from her. She worried about how they could not be friends anymore when they've been friends over 2/3 of their lives. But they remained friends for that long because Georgia was the "open-arms, no-judgment" friend, which can be just as unhealthy in a friendship as betrayal is. Because it is a betrayal of your friend if you let them hurt themselves in silence, which is something the Georgia finally realizes. This one aspect, Georgia speaking up and finally finding the gumption to stand up to her friend for her friend's sake, is what earned this book a two star rating rather than one.
There is so much superfluous detail that what should be important here is buried. Things like the color and texture of sand, to the doll that is being ravaged by the sun on top of a shanty tin roof, to the way that a volunteer carries himself when he listens. Yes, its beautiful writing, but it doesn't add to a story that has nothing to say about the important issues that its flirting with. Nothing is resolved; not the charity project that the girls went to Mexico for, not the issues between them, not anything. This is literally just a several month long diary entry, from winter when Georgia finds the charity listing and starts looking into it, to mid-summer in Mexico, when apparently Georgia loses her diary after the pinata party.
I wanted to love this. I wanted to be able to gush and force it into the hands of my friends and make them read it and pass it on to their friends. I just can't because this book didn't have the courage to be the book it should have been.
The Heart Is Not A Size had enormous potential to be absolutely amazing. It had the potential to be one of those books that can open your eyes and change your life. With the kind of issues that teens face these days, this could have been a book that would speak to them and actually have something to say that means something. About body issues and eating disorders and the pressure that teens are under to be perfect and to do something extraordinary. About friendship and loyalty and where the line between the two is, because they aren't always on the same side - sometimes you have to be disloyal to be a true friend to someone. About helping and giving of yourself to someone who needs it.
All of these things, and more, would have made this an important, MUST READ book for all ages, not just teens or young adults, but a book that everyone could benefit from. But these facets, the ones that I feel should have been the heart and soul of the story, weren't given the respect and attention that they deserved. It was like the story skirted around these aspects and only looked at them from the corner of its eye. To me, this felt like a cop out and was a complete disappointment.
What is this story about if it is not about the issues that Georgia faces with her panic attacks? What is it about if it is not about Riley, Georgia's best friend since kindergarten, who has an eating disorder? What is it about if it is not about DEALING with these issues? What does this story teach or communicate to someone who is struggling with these issues, or for someone who is trying to help someone deal with them?
In my opinion, anywhere from 'not very much' to 'nothing at all'. This book didn't delve into the true danger of eating disorders. It did focus on the wedge that it can drive between friends, but I felt that this was mostly because of Georgia's panic attacks that we got this impression from her. She worried about how they could not be friends anymore when they've been friends over 2/3 of their lives. But they remained friends for that long because Georgia was the "open-arms, no-judgment" friend, which can be just as unhealthy in a friendship as betrayal is. Because it is a betrayal of your friend if you let them hurt themselves in silence, which is something the Georgia finally realizes. This one aspect, Georgia speaking up and finally finding the gumption to stand up to her friend for her friend's sake, is what earned this book a two star rating rather than one.
There is so much superfluous detail that what should be important here is buried. Things like the color and texture of sand, to the doll that is being ravaged by the sun on top of a shanty tin roof, to the way that a volunteer carries himself when he listens. Yes, its beautiful writing, but it doesn't add to a story that has nothing to say about the important issues that its flirting with. Nothing is resolved; not the charity project that the girls went to Mexico for, not the issues between them, not anything. This is literally just a several month long diary entry, from winter when Georgia finds the charity listing and starts looking into it, to mid-summer in Mexico, when apparently Georgia loses her diary after the pinata party.
I wanted to love this. I wanted to be able to gush and force it into the hands of my friends and make them read it and pass it on to their friends. I just can't because this book didn't have the courage to be the book it should have been.
January 20, 2010
I received an ARC of this book because I stood at the publisher's booth at ALA Midwinter and raved about Beth Kephart. I had a stack of ARCs after ALA, but this was the first I wanted to read, and I was not disappointed.
Beth Kephart writes novels like a poet: every word matters as she creates a setting, characters, and plot. Particularly evocative are the scenes in Anapra, the village in Juarez, Mexico where Georgia, Riley, and other high school juniors and seniors from the Main Line suburbs of Philadelphia are voluntarily spending two weeks in the summer building the town's only bathroom.
Before the trip, Georgia had begun having secret panic attacks due to the responsibility and pressure at school and home. Although Kephart never says so, the reader also believes that Georgia's suppressed knowledge that something is very wrong in her best friend Riley's life is contributing to the anxiety.
Body image, family relationships, privilege, and friendship are explored in beautifully written prose. Another excellent, thought-provoking young adult novel from one of my favorite contemporary authors.
Beth Kephart writes novels like a poet: every word matters as she creates a setting, characters, and plot. Particularly evocative are the scenes in Anapra, the village in Juarez, Mexico where Georgia, Riley, and other high school juniors and seniors from the Main Line suburbs of Philadelphia are voluntarily spending two weeks in the summer building the town's only bathroom.
Before the trip, Georgia had begun having secret panic attacks due to the responsibility and pressure at school and home. Although Kephart never says so, the reader also believes that Georgia's suppressed knowledge that something is very wrong in her best friend Riley's life is contributing to the anxiety.
Body image, family relationships, privilege, and friendship are explored in beautifully written prose. Another excellent, thought-provoking young adult novel from one of my favorite contemporary authors.
January 3, 2011
I have very mixed feelings on this book. In some ways, I loved it. In others, I just really didn't like it at all.
I love how Kephart creates wonderful settings and characters. Both Georgia and Riley are amazing characters. They aren't fake characters - they have problems, and they aren't afraid to admit that. The one thing that I really love about Kephart's characters is that they aren't all perfect. They know that they have physical flaws, and personality flaws, and they don't think that they're perfect.
The only thing that I didn't really like about this book was how slow and forced it was. I couldn't get into the storyline until halfway through the book. And throughout the whole thing, the writing seemed forced. I don't know what it is about it, but it just didn't seem natural to me.
Overall, it's an amazing book if you can get past the forced writing and slow beginning. C+.
I love how Kephart creates wonderful settings and characters. Both Georgia and Riley are amazing characters. They aren't fake characters - they have problems, and they aren't afraid to admit that. The one thing that I really love about Kephart's characters is that they aren't all perfect. They know that they have physical flaws, and personality flaws, and they don't think that they're perfect.
The only thing that I didn't really like about this book was how slow and forced it was. I couldn't get into the storyline until halfway through the book. And throughout the whole thing, the writing seemed forced. I don't know what it is about it, but it just didn't seem natural to me.
Overall, it's an amazing book if you can get past the forced writing and slow beginning. C+.
Read
April 21, 2015Color explodes in Beth Kephart's The Heart is Not a Size, a story about true friendship. Pithy nuggets of food for thought weave through this well-written YA novel. The characters are real and the problems are many. I'm worried...
I had to finish. I had to find out about Georgia and her friends. Kephart offers her readers, and her characters, hope. There are no easy answers in life. Here on this journey to Mexico to build a community bathroom in a squatters' village, readers mature along with Kephart's brainiac protagonist. A wonderful book!
I had to finish. I had to find out about Georgia and her friends. Kephart offers her readers, and her characters, hope. There are no easy answers in life. Here on this journey to Mexico to build a community bathroom in a squatters' village, readers mature along with Kephart's brainiac protagonist. A wonderful book!
September 25, 2010
Title: The Heart Is Not A Size
Author: Beth Kephart
ISBN: 978-0-385-34124-0
Pages: 337
Release Date: August 25, 2009
Publisher: Harper Teen
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
Rating: 5 out of 5
Publisher: Georgia knows what it means to keep secrets. She knows how to ignore things. She knows that some things are better left unsaid. . . . Or are they?
When Georgia and her best friend, Riley, travel along with nine other suburban Pennsylvania kids to Anapra, a squatters' village in the heat-flattened border city of Juarez, Mexico, secrets seem to percolate and threaten both a friendship and a life. Certainties unravel. Reality changes. And Georgia is left to figure out who she is outside the world she's always known.
Beth Kephart paints a world filled with emotion, longing, and the hot Mexican sun.
My Thoughts: The Heart Is Not A Size is a beautifully written story about one young woman's struggle to be responsible for her life and become the person she wants to be. Georgia, at seventeen, is discovering that growing up is an exciting but confusing and sometimes, frightening process. She wants to do the right thing but she's realizing that sometimes the choice isn't easy to make, especially when it will hurt someone she loves. Riley, one of the most important people in Georgia's life, is her best friend Georgia knows Riley's in trouble and needs help. She wants to be loyal to Riley but also be responsible to herself, to others, and do the right thing..
Georgia struggles to be the perfect daughter, sister, best friend, student: in other words, the perfect human being. Everybody has always been able to trust Georgia to do the right thing and be responsible. Georgia puts more pressure on herself than anyone else ever would which, at times, has adverse effects. Concerns about her brother Kevin, about college and especially about her best friend, Riley, keep her up nights. Did she ask for these responsibilities? Does she want them? What about what she wants and needs?
Georgia's loyalty, in fact, may not be the best thing for Riley right now, but how can she betray her? It's difficult to come to terms with the idea that doing the right things may sometimes mean hurting someone you love. Keeping Riley's secrets and being loyal conflicts with Georgia's sense of right and wrong. How to balance the two troubles her. Figuring things out in this community that knows her so well and expects her to be responsible doesn't feel possible, and as a result, Georgia feels trapped and stymied. She's counting on the journey to Juarez, a very different place from where she's grown up, to help her sort out her thoughts, figure out who she is and wants to be and what she needs to do.
Juarez is a mixture of beauty, sadness, happiness and despair. There, Georgia experiences a harsh, painful reality and realizes that life back home in Pennsylvania is not all there is and things will soon change. Georgia repeats to herself the advice her mother gave her shortly before she left for Juarez "Apply your intelligence to every living thing-to where you go, to how you behave, to the way that you look after Riley because, Georgia, you will have to look after Riley. She's not as good as you are at looking after herself." (p.110). In Juarez, Georgia understands things more clearly as she comes into her own as a person, recognizing that she, too, is a beautiful and talented human being. Georgia allows her mother's voice to guide her as she embraces responsibility to herself and others and becomes the young woman she's always wanted to be.
Beth Kephart created an amazing character in Georgia, narrator of The Heart is Not A Size, and the reason the book works so well. Georgia is insightful, smart, thoughtful, responsible, trustworthy, a worrier and an over-achiever. She's so focused on making sure other people are happy and taken care of that she's forgotten about her own needs. I think many women can see a little bit of themselves in Georgia as she wrestles with her loyalty to Riley versus caring for her and figuring out the right thing to do. I know I do! Georgia is so familiar to me but more worldly, more aware of the opportunities available to her as well as the value of taking advantage of them. Georgia reminds me of those long-ago days of high school when my small world seemed so important and every decision monumental. I really enjoyed following Georgia on this difficult and beautiful emotional journey.
The Heart Is Not A Size is the first of Beth Kephart's books I've read but it will not be the last. Since I finished it, I've found myself going back again and again to re-read passages. Kephart's writing is beautiful, the imagery so vivid you can almost see it before you. Her writing is so clear and intuitive, there's an immediate connection and understanding of what Kephart is saying. By way of example:
"I needed stars and moon and night air, so I walked-worrying about women I'd never know; thinking about all that can't be changed or controlled; trying to envision Juarez, this place of complications and contradictions, where perfect, I pretty quickly figured out, wasn't the issue: Survival was. Survival under a hot sun, along a tired river, among factory jobs that paid hardly enough to sustain a family, and also among unsolved murders and loss. (p.23)
"Panic, I'm telling you, begins in the heart. Panic is big buzzard wings banging wretched and trapped against the bones of your ribs, knocking your wind-pipe loose, swiping your logic. Panic makes you stupid when you have to be smart. It makes you stop in your tracks when what you must do right there is run. (p.42)
This is a beautifully written book with a simple but important story to tell about growing up, figuring out who you are, what you want to be and facing and managing the pressures and responsibilities that are linked to the choices we make. I would recommend this book to young women as well as to their parents of young girls. It’s invaluable in providing an understanding of the struggles young women experience as they grow into the people they are meant to be.
I won a copy of The Heart Is Not A Size from Nicole at Linus' Blanket.
Author: Beth Kephart
ISBN: 978-0-385-34124-0
Pages: 337
Release Date: August 25, 2009
Publisher: Harper Teen
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
Rating: 5 out of 5
Publisher: Georgia knows what it means to keep secrets. She knows how to ignore things. She knows that some things are better left unsaid. . . . Or are they?
When Georgia and her best friend, Riley, travel along with nine other suburban Pennsylvania kids to Anapra, a squatters' village in the heat-flattened border city of Juarez, Mexico, secrets seem to percolate and threaten both a friendship and a life. Certainties unravel. Reality changes. And Georgia is left to figure out who she is outside the world she's always known.
Beth Kephart paints a world filled with emotion, longing, and the hot Mexican sun.
My Thoughts: The Heart Is Not A Size is a beautifully written story about one young woman's struggle to be responsible for her life and become the person she wants to be. Georgia, at seventeen, is discovering that growing up is an exciting but confusing and sometimes, frightening process. She wants to do the right thing but she's realizing that sometimes the choice isn't easy to make, especially when it will hurt someone she loves. Riley, one of the most important people in Georgia's life, is her best friend Georgia knows Riley's in trouble and needs help. She wants to be loyal to Riley but also be responsible to herself, to others, and do the right thing..
Georgia struggles to be the perfect daughter, sister, best friend, student: in other words, the perfect human being. Everybody has always been able to trust Georgia to do the right thing and be responsible. Georgia puts more pressure on herself than anyone else ever would which, at times, has adverse effects. Concerns about her brother Kevin, about college and especially about her best friend, Riley, keep her up nights. Did she ask for these responsibilities? Does she want them? What about what she wants and needs?
Georgia's loyalty, in fact, may not be the best thing for Riley right now, but how can she betray her? It's difficult to come to terms with the idea that doing the right things may sometimes mean hurting someone you love. Keeping Riley's secrets and being loyal conflicts with Georgia's sense of right and wrong. How to balance the two troubles her. Figuring things out in this community that knows her so well and expects her to be responsible doesn't feel possible, and as a result, Georgia feels trapped and stymied. She's counting on the journey to Juarez, a very different place from where she's grown up, to help her sort out her thoughts, figure out who she is and wants to be and what she needs to do.
Juarez is a mixture of beauty, sadness, happiness and despair. There, Georgia experiences a harsh, painful reality and realizes that life back home in Pennsylvania is not all there is and things will soon change. Georgia repeats to herself the advice her mother gave her shortly before she left for Juarez "Apply your intelligence to every living thing-to where you go, to how you behave, to the way that you look after Riley because, Georgia, you will have to look after Riley. She's not as good as you are at looking after herself." (p.110). In Juarez, Georgia understands things more clearly as she comes into her own as a person, recognizing that she, too, is a beautiful and talented human being. Georgia allows her mother's voice to guide her as she embraces responsibility to herself and others and becomes the young woman she's always wanted to be.
Beth Kephart created an amazing character in Georgia, narrator of The Heart is Not A Size, and the reason the book works so well. Georgia is insightful, smart, thoughtful, responsible, trustworthy, a worrier and an over-achiever. She's so focused on making sure other people are happy and taken care of that she's forgotten about her own needs. I think many women can see a little bit of themselves in Georgia as she wrestles with her loyalty to Riley versus caring for her and figuring out the right thing to do. I know I do! Georgia is so familiar to me but more worldly, more aware of the opportunities available to her as well as the value of taking advantage of them. Georgia reminds me of those long-ago days of high school when my small world seemed so important and every decision monumental. I really enjoyed following Georgia on this difficult and beautiful emotional journey.
The Heart Is Not A Size is the first of Beth Kephart's books I've read but it will not be the last. Since I finished it, I've found myself going back again and again to re-read passages. Kephart's writing is beautiful, the imagery so vivid you can almost see it before you. Her writing is so clear and intuitive, there's an immediate connection and understanding of what Kephart is saying. By way of example:
"I needed stars and moon and night air, so I walked-worrying about women I'd never know; thinking about all that can't be changed or controlled; trying to envision Juarez, this place of complications and contradictions, where perfect, I pretty quickly figured out, wasn't the issue: Survival was. Survival under a hot sun, along a tired river, among factory jobs that paid hardly enough to sustain a family, and also among unsolved murders and loss. (p.23)
"Panic, I'm telling you, begins in the heart. Panic is big buzzard wings banging wretched and trapped against the bones of your ribs, knocking your wind-pipe loose, swiping your logic. Panic makes you stupid when you have to be smart. It makes you stop in your tracks when what you must do right there is run. (p.42)
This is a beautifully written book with a simple but important story to tell about growing up, figuring out who you are, what you want to be and facing and managing the pressures and responsibilities that are linked to the choices we make. I would recommend this book to young women as well as to their parents of young girls. It’s invaluable in providing an understanding of the struggles young women experience as they grow into the people they are meant to be.
I won a copy of The Heart Is Not A Size from Nicole at Linus' Blanket.
May 23, 2010
In a matter of pages Beth Kephart has you hooked, completely drawn in and begging to turn page after page of this beautiful novel. This is the story of Georgia and her good friend Riley as they travel to Juarez Mexico to discover where their hearts lie and how much they can hold. Somehow during this journey they discover that who they are is more than what others tell them, but how they care for the path they are given and those they meet along the way. Through this they find that the Heart truly is Not a Size.
There is so much I could say about this book, because there are so many layers to it. Two of which would be first - the actual place, Juarez Mexico and secondly - the complicated relationships we have with those we care for. It's amazing to me that Kephart can create such an incredible story in such a small amount of space. I quite literally devoured this book in a matter of two or three hours tops!
First, I'd just like to mention Juarez. I've driven by this city at least half a dozen times on trips from California to Texas and every time it strikes me to my core. I still have images in my mind of the buildings next to the freeway in El Paso, how freely people drove from place to place and the luxury of it all. Yes, I know, El Paso is still not the most beautiful city to some, but it's drastic difference with the city on the other side of the border is hard to forget. Just turn your head south and you immediately see the opposite, the disparity, the struggle and the poverty. It's hard to believe that people could find joy in seeing what they lack so often by just looking to the north, but they do. Some of the happiest people my husband has ever met were those he met while serving his mission in Mexico in some of the most poverty stricken areas. People can find joy no matter their circumstance, it's all how you approach your life and Kephart doesn't fail to mention this.
The second layer to the story are the people, the relationships, primarily between Georgia and Riley, and then with their own families. I related to Riley more than I think I'd like to admit. Her struggle for acceptance and approval is heart wrenching. She goes to the very most extreme, just have her mother reach out to her in a way that can help her understand she is happy with her choices in life. Georgia on the other hand has her own set of struggles and through Riley and Juarez she is able to step outside of her cage to discover her freedom.
The beauty of this story truly rests with Kephart's writing. There were some passages I found myself reading over and over again just to find the deepest meaning possible with them. It touched me beyond anything I've read in a very long time. A couple of my favorites:
"Silence defeats like nothing else does. There is no fighting it." p.144
"You can want something more than you can say. That doesn't ever mean it's yours." p.205
The Heart Is Not a Size is a book everyone should read. Everyone. You will learn so much about yourself, about others and how you can reach out to others in some times extraordinarily simple ways. Truly the Heart is Not a Size and Kephart has captured that in this wonderful journey. A favorite of mine for years to come.
There is so much I could say about this book, because there are so many layers to it. Two of which would be first - the actual place, Juarez Mexico and secondly - the complicated relationships we have with those we care for. It's amazing to me that Kephart can create such an incredible story in such a small amount of space. I quite literally devoured this book in a matter of two or three hours tops!
First, I'd just like to mention Juarez. I've driven by this city at least half a dozen times on trips from California to Texas and every time it strikes me to my core. I still have images in my mind of the buildings next to the freeway in El Paso, how freely people drove from place to place and the luxury of it all. Yes, I know, El Paso is still not the most beautiful city to some, but it's drastic difference with the city on the other side of the border is hard to forget. Just turn your head south and you immediately see the opposite, the disparity, the struggle and the poverty. It's hard to believe that people could find joy in seeing what they lack so often by just looking to the north, but they do. Some of the happiest people my husband has ever met were those he met while serving his mission in Mexico in some of the most poverty stricken areas. People can find joy no matter their circumstance, it's all how you approach your life and Kephart doesn't fail to mention this.
The second layer to the story are the people, the relationships, primarily between Georgia and Riley, and then with their own families. I related to Riley more than I think I'd like to admit. Her struggle for acceptance and approval is heart wrenching. She goes to the very most extreme, just have her mother reach out to her in a way that can help her understand she is happy with her choices in life. Georgia on the other hand has her own set of struggles and through Riley and Juarez she is able to step outside of her cage to discover her freedom.
The beauty of this story truly rests with Kephart's writing. There were some passages I found myself reading over and over again just to find the deepest meaning possible with them. It touched me beyond anything I've read in a very long time. A couple of my favorites:
"Silence defeats like nothing else does. There is no fighting it." p.144
"You can want something more than you can say. That doesn't ever mean it's yours." p.205
The Heart Is Not a Size is a book everyone should read. Everyone. You will learn so much about yourself, about others and how you can reach out to others in some times extraordinarily simple ways. Truly the Heart is Not a Size and Kephart has captured that in this wonderful journey. A favorite of mine for years to come.
March 30, 2012
The heart is not a size; it has great capacity to expand and accommodate, as Georgia discovers during two weeks on a service project south of the border in Juarez, Mexico. She learned about the project during her routine perusal of the community bulletin board at the supermarket, and almost immediately decided that she and her best friend, Riley, were going along with a group of fellow teens to build a community bathroom in Anapra, a squatters' village just outside the city. As Georgia, Riley, and their parents attend the orientation sessions that the service group, GoodWorks, conducts before the trip, they're told that the work they'll be doing is about "transformation." Georgia will see that the concept doesn't just apply to the physical work they're doing for the community.
Juarez is a different world to these suburban kids: desert hot, impoverished, and dangerous. They're told about "los muertas de Juarez" - the many girls and women who have mysteriously been snatched and murdered over the years - and instructed never to leave their work group's compound and wander alone. But Georgia is struck by the way the locals she meets, including the many curious children who come to watch the group work, are able to keep going day by day in the face of such struggles and losses.
Georgia's own struggles are different, and more personal. For a couple of years, she has been experiencing sudden panic attacks that she hasn't discussed with anyone - not even Riley, and they've been best friends since first grade. She also hasn't been able to discuss Riley's increasingly apparent eating disorder with her; anxiety about the possible fallout of bringing up that subject feeds the panic, and drives exploration of the complexities of an evolving, long-term friendship.
Beth Kephart has a gift for voicing thoughtful, eloquent teens, and Georgia is no exception - the author made the heart and mind of this sixteen-year-old thoroughly vivid to me, and drew me fully into what she was experiencing. She also never wavered in conveying the narrative voice as that of a teen - I never felt that Georgia's voice was more adult than it should be. And as in her previous novel, Nothing But Ghosts, Kephart again shows her understanding that a summer can be just as significant to the learning and growth of a teenager as the school year.
The project that Georgia and Riley join is much like one Kephart participated in with her own church group, and the author's familiarity and fascination with the setting and circumstances made them just as fascinating to me - and to be honest, I wasn't sure they would be. I really wasn't drawn to the premise of The Heart is Not a Size initially. What drew me to the book was a knowledge and appreciation of the quality of Kephart's writing, my trust in the author's ability to make me connect with her story...and the good things other book bloggers had to say about this novel.
Juarez is a different world to these suburban kids: desert hot, impoverished, and dangerous. They're told about "los muertas de Juarez" - the many girls and women who have mysteriously been snatched and murdered over the years - and instructed never to leave their work group's compound and wander alone. But Georgia is struck by the way the locals she meets, including the many curious children who come to watch the group work, are able to keep going day by day in the face of such struggles and losses.
Georgia's own struggles are different, and more personal. For a couple of years, she has been experiencing sudden panic attacks that she hasn't discussed with anyone - not even Riley, and they've been best friends since first grade. She also hasn't been able to discuss Riley's increasingly apparent eating disorder with her; anxiety about the possible fallout of bringing up that subject feeds the panic, and drives exploration of the complexities of an evolving, long-term friendship.
Beth Kephart has a gift for voicing thoughtful, eloquent teens, and Georgia is no exception - the author made the heart and mind of this sixteen-year-old thoroughly vivid to me, and drew me fully into what she was experiencing. She also never wavered in conveying the narrative voice as that of a teen - I never felt that Georgia's voice was more adult than it should be. And as in her previous novel, Nothing But Ghosts, Kephart again shows her understanding that a summer can be just as significant to the learning and growth of a teenager as the school year.
The project that Georgia and Riley join is much like one Kephart participated in with her own church group, and the author's familiarity and fascination with the setting and circumstances made them just as fascinating to me - and to be honest, I wasn't sure they would be. I really wasn't drawn to the premise of The Heart is Not a Size initially. What drew me to the book was a knowledge and appreciation of the quality of Kephart's writing, my trust in the author's ability to make me connect with her story...and the good things other book bloggers had to say about this novel.
July 7, 2015
Georgia, an introverted and studious high school junior, and her best friend, the whimsical and somewhat wild Riley, go on a service trip to Juarez, Mexico during school break with a handful of other students. While there, they learn about the life and hardships in this drastically different culture, but also face a dilemma in their lifelong friendship. Georgia, dealing with panic attacks, is concerned when she notices Riley’s newly developed Anorexia (which she is doing to make a point to her rich and snobby mother), and when she calls her on it, Riley turns her back and stops talking to her. So we see two stories running parallel: the students trying to help build up a community in Juarez by building the foundation for a community bathroom, and Georgia trying to reconcile and come to terms with her friendship with Riley.
I thought the message of this novel was excellent. I liked that the author made a point of recognizing another culture, and the significance of helping in places such as Juarez. Literature is a great place to share such things and to learn about other cultures, and ways that we can help, so I really enjoyed that aspect of the book. I also thought the writing had a certain lyrical aspect which made the story beautiful to read. What I didn’t enjoy so much was the fact that there were so many characters in such a short book and I was left feeling as though I never made a connection with any of them and that most of them were far too underdeveloped. I did like Georgia, and did feel somewhat of a connection with her, and can sympathize with some of her problems, but that’s about it. I think this novel had a lot of potential, but that it was far too short to reach said potential. Not to say this book was not worthwhile – it certainly was, but it just wasn’t the right book for me. I like to see really strongly developed characters.
This reads a lot like my last review, in which I also complain about lack of characterization. I’m seeing a theme here. I’m drawn to character-driven novels, (which is probably why I’m a huge fan of memoirs and essayists), and I really need to see deep development in order to connect with a character. If not, I find it hard to get engrossed in a book.
Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I thought the message of this novel was excellent. I liked that the author made a point of recognizing another culture, and the significance of helping in places such as Juarez. Literature is a great place to share such things and to learn about other cultures, and ways that we can help, so I really enjoyed that aspect of the book. I also thought the writing had a certain lyrical aspect which made the story beautiful to read. What I didn’t enjoy so much was the fact that there were so many characters in such a short book and I was left feeling as though I never made a connection with any of them and that most of them were far too underdeveloped. I did like Georgia, and did feel somewhat of a connection with her, and can sympathize with some of her problems, but that’s about it. I think this novel had a lot of potential, but that it was far too short to reach said potential. Not to say this book was not worthwhile – it certainly was, but it just wasn’t the right book for me. I like to see really strongly developed characters.
This reads a lot like my last review, in which I also complain about lack of characterization. I’m seeing a theme here. I’m drawn to character-driven novels, (which is probably why I’m a huge fan of memoirs and essayists), and I really need to see deep development in order to connect with a character. If not, I find it hard to get engrossed in a book.
Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 14, 2012
Reviewed by Sally Kruger aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com
Beth Kephart fans are not going to be happy with this review. Don't get me wrong, the book is terrific, but it isn't scheduled for release until the end of March 2010. It is definitely worth waiting for, though, so put it on your wish list.
It seems that more and more one hears about teens going on work experience trips to underprivileged countries. There always seem to be fund-raisers going on and pledge drives to send someone or other off to help build houses or clean up after a flood or earthquake or hurricane. Beth Kephart uses one such trip as the backdrop for THE HEART IS NOT A SIZE.
Georgia convinces her parents to let her travel with a group to Juarez, Mexico, to help improve life for those living in a devastatingly poor area of the border town. Despite the poor living conditions and threats to personal safety, Georgia believes she can make a difference. Leaving behind her comfortable life in Pennsylvania, she spends her time under the hot Mexican sun building, of all things, a community toilet for the local natives.
Going along for the experience is Georgia's best friend, Riley. Giving up the comforts of home are harder on Riley, who enjoys shopping and looking her best at whetever she does. Georgia knows she'll be able to handle the heat and the hard physical labor, but she has her doubts about Riley. There's been something bothering her about her best friend, but she hasn't been able to confront her.
Georgia knows that Riley is constantly striving to live up to her mother's high expectations. In an effort to please her mother, Riley seems to have stopped eating. Georgia knows what is going on but doesn't know how to deal with the problem. She has hopes that the time together will give her an opportunity to rescue her friend.
Kephart's writing simply flows as she explores the emotions of friendship, the tragedy of poverty, and the importance of giving. Readers will easily relate to Georgia as she struggles to help a friend and finds it more difficult than she dreamed.
Beth Kephart fans are not going to be happy with this review. Don't get me wrong, the book is terrific, but it isn't scheduled for release until the end of March 2010. It is definitely worth waiting for, though, so put it on your wish list.
It seems that more and more one hears about teens going on work experience trips to underprivileged countries. There always seem to be fund-raisers going on and pledge drives to send someone or other off to help build houses or clean up after a flood or earthquake or hurricane. Beth Kephart uses one such trip as the backdrop for THE HEART IS NOT A SIZE.
Georgia convinces her parents to let her travel with a group to Juarez, Mexico, to help improve life for those living in a devastatingly poor area of the border town. Despite the poor living conditions and threats to personal safety, Georgia believes she can make a difference. Leaving behind her comfortable life in Pennsylvania, she spends her time under the hot Mexican sun building, of all things, a community toilet for the local natives.
Going along for the experience is Georgia's best friend, Riley. Giving up the comforts of home are harder on Riley, who enjoys shopping and looking her best at whetever she does. Georgia knows she'll be able to handle the heat and the hard physical labor, but she has her doubts about Riley. There's been something bothering her about her best friend, but she hasn't been able to confront her.
Georgia knows that Riley is constantly striving to live up to her mother's high expectations. In an effort to please her mother, Riley seems to have stopped eating. Georgia knows what is going on but doesn't know how to deal with the problem. She has hopes that the time together will give her an opportunity to rescue her friend.
Kephart's writing simply flows as she explores the emotions of friendship, the tragedy of poverty, and the importance of giving. Readers will easily relate to Georgia as she struggles to help a friend and finds it more difficult than she dreamed.
March 1, 2010
Original review posted here: http://thebookpixie.blogspot.com/2010...
Review
The Heart is Not a Size was a good read and I liked it but it was not quite as great as I was expecting it to be, I'm afraid.
Georgia, though a likable character, was sadly not very memorable to me. Riley was more interesting and better developed but I found it hard to connect with her or even like her. As for the other characters, well, there were so many of them that you really didn't go to know them or see their own individual personalities. They seemed liked they could have been great characters but the book was just too short for them to have a chance to develop properly. The one character that really stood out to me, however, was Drake. He was just so different then your typical YA guys in books these days and I just wish there had been more of him.
They story itself was thought-provoking and moving. The details were very accurate which makes sense considering Kephart has actually been to Juarez. The secrets mentioned in the synopsis weren't what I was expecting but worked well.
The writing, however, was something I had mixed feelings about. The dialogue and context in general were very beautiful and believable but sometimes scenes and events seemed to change too abruptly. There was also something about the actual writing style that through me off and made it hard for me to establish any kind of flow while reading, at first. Once I got into Part 2, things picked up the pace a bit and the book was more enjoyable.
The ending was good but seemed to happen a little too quickly. Something else that could have benefited from the book being longer.
All in all, to me, The Heart is Not a Size was a worthwhile read though not perfect. I'm not entirely sure if this is one I'd reread though I do intend to read Kephart's other books. If this book sounds good to you then I'd say pick it up, after all, I've noticed most the ratings on this book are high and it is worth the time.
Review
The Heart is Not a Size was a good read and I liked it but it was not quite as great as I was expecting it to be, I'm afraid.
Georgia, though a likable character, was sadly not very memorable to me. Riley was more interesting and better developed but I found it hard to connect with her or even like her. As for the other characters, well, there were so many of them that you really didn't go to know them or see their own individual personalities. They seemed liked they could have been great characters but the book was just too short for them to have a chance to develop properly. The one character that really stood out to me, however, was Drake. He was just so different then your typical YA guys in books these days and I just wish there had been more of him.
They story itself was thought-provoking and moving. The details were very accurate which makes sense considering Kephart has actually been to Juarez. The secrets mentioned in the synopsis weren't what I was expecting but worked well.
The writing, however, was something I had mixed feelings about. The dialogue and context in general were very beautiful and believable but sometimes scenes and events seemed to change too abruptly. There was also something about the actual writing style that through me off and made it hard for me to establish any kind of flow while reading, at first. Once I got into Part 2, things picked up the pace a bit and the book was more enjoyable.
The ending was good but seemed to happen a little too quickly. Something else that could have benefited from the book being longer.
All in all, to me, The Heart is Not a Size was a worthwhile read though not perfect. I'm not entirely sure if this is one I'd reread though I do intend to read Kephart's other books. If this book sounds good to you then I'd say pick it up, after all, I've noticed most the ratings on this book are high and it is worth the time.
January 27, 2012
“When you’re seventeen years old and you’ve never kissed a boy and you’re in all the honors classes, when you can’t stand the thought of sticking fingers into your eyes so you still wear glasses and not contact lenses, when you’re the middle child of three, you have what comes down to no choice. All the neighbors choose you for their cat sitting. All the summer camps want you as their aide. All the parents suggest to their kids; You should be friends with Georgia. I was what passed for safe in a hapless world. Or at least to most people I was.” The Heart is Not a Size is a thought-provoking coming-of-age novel by Beth Kephart. Kephart has written several other books including A Slant of Sun, A National Book Award nominee.
The Heart Is Not a Size tells the tale of Georgia, teenage girl who knows everything about who she is supposed to be and nothing about who she is. Georgia has spent her whole life watching after her little brother and trying to live up to the expectations put on her by her parents and her genius older brother brother. Georgia puts everything she has into being perfect, but everything doesn’t seem to be enough. When she sees and add wanting teens to go on a work trip to Mexico she is intrigued and decides that she and her best friend Riley will go on the trip. In Mexico Georgia faces her inmost self and must decide what it means to truly be a friend.
Kephart writes gracefully as she examines the pressures the world puts on people to act, dress, speak a certain way. She faces social issues with honesty and shows how truly relevant they are to girls today. The characters are well developed and realistic. At the end of the book I felt like I had been friends with them forever.
This book is for anyone who has ever questioned who they are and how they fit into the world. It is a must read for any girl who has ever looked at herself and wished that she was prettier. The Heart Is Not a Size is a beautiful book that draws you in from the beginning, grabs hold of you, and doesn’t let go even after you’ve turned the last page.
The Heart Is Not a Size tells the tale of Georgia, teenage girl who knows everything about who she is supposed to be and nothing about who she is. Georgia has spent her whole life watching after her little brother and trying to live up to the expectations put on her by her parents and her genius older brother brother. Georgia puts everything she has into being perfect, but everything doesn’t seem to be enough. When she sees and add wanting teens to go on a work trip to Mexico she is intrigued and decides that she and her best friend Riley will go on the trip. In Mexico Georgia faces her inmost self and must decide what it means to truly be a friend.
Kephart writes gracefully as she examines the pressures the world puts on people to act, dress, speak a certain way. She faces social issues with honesty and shows how truly relevant they are to girls today. The characters are well developed and realistic. At the end of the book I felt like I had been friends with them forever.
This book is for anyone who has ever questioned who they are and how they fit into the world. It is a must read for any girl who has ever looked at herself and wished that she was prettier. The Heart Is Not a Size is a beautiful book that draws you in from the beginning, grabs hold of you, and doesn’t let go even after you’ve turned the last page.
April 25, 2010
By all outward appearances, Georgia has everything going for her – she’s a good student, she’s responsible and she has her share of friends. Inwardly though, she struggles with anxiety, so when she notices a flyer looking for young people to travel to Juárez, Mexico to help the people there build community, she’s eager to go.
Georgia convinces her parents that it’s okay and talks her best friend, Riley, into going with her. Upon arrival in Juárez, Georgia wonders what she’s gotten herself into. After she settles in, the trip turns out to be one of self-discovery for her and she grows immensely while she’s there.
The Heart Is Not a Size is a fantastic book about growing up and discovering the world. Georgia is a wonderful character and I hope there are many young people like her out there these days. I think most teen-agers can relate to her insecurities and self-doubt and even her struggles with her best friend, Riley. I know I could, and it’s been a long time since I was a teen-ager. Georgia thought,
The heart is not a size, Sophie had said; and I knew she was right - that there was no measure for the people we were becoming, no limit to what we might become.
The trip to Juárez turned out to be a life changing event for both Georgia and Riley and their experience really made me think – about how fortunate I am and about what I can do to help those who aren’t as fortunate. It also served as a reminder to me that most people are the same no matter where they live.
I’m a big fan of Beth Kephart‘s work, so it was no surprise to me that I loved The Heart Is Not a Size. Beth’s writing is so lyrical, I imagine she carefully considers each and every word in her books. This is the third one of her books that I’ve read and I’ve found myself lost in each one of them. This is a book that can be enjoyed by teen-agers and adults and I recommend it to both.
Georgia convinces her parents that it’s okay and talks her best friend, Riley, into going with her. Upon arrival in Juárez, Georgia wonders what she’s gotten herself into. After she settles in, the trip turns out to be one of self-discovery for her and she grows immensely while she’s there.
The Heart Is Not a Size is a fantastic book about growing up and discovering the world. Georgia is a wonderful character and I hope there are many young people like her out there these days. I think most teen-agers can relate to her insecurities and self-doubt and even her struggles with her best friend, Riley. I know I could, and it’s been a long time since I was a teen-ager. Georgia thought,
The heart is not a size, Sophie had said; and I knew she was right - that there was no measure for the people we were becoming, no limit to what we might become.
The trip to Juárez turned out to be a life changing event for both Georgia and Riley and their experience really made me think – about how fortunate I am and about what I can do to help those who aren’t as fortunate. It also served as a reminder to me that most people are the same no matter where they live.
I’m a big fan of Beth Kephart‘s work, so it was no surprise to me that I loved The Heart Is Not a Size. Beth’s writing is so lyrical, I imagine she carefully considers each and every word in her books. This is the third one of her books that I’ve read and I’ve found myself lost in each one of them. This is a book that can be enjoyed by teen-agers and adults and I recommend it to both.
March 14, 2010
Beth Kephart has once again created a novel that moves you. This book held a special place in my heart because of all the trips I took in high school to places that needed help - Vancouver, Minnesota, West Virginia, and more. Georgia takes a similar journey to Mexico to help her overcome her panic attacks. While there, she finds out she is not the only one with a secret. Her best friend has a weighty secret that Georgia can't seem to get her to talk about. Will Mexico make a difference or will it drive a stake between the two girls.
I loved the voice of this book. Georgia is a girl that wants so much to be perfect that she literally makes herself sick over it. Something a lot of kids and teens can relate to. And they way that Georgia decides she's going to solve her problem is so very much ingrained into her personality. She needs to get out, she needs to help someone else.
The situation in Mexico is really very sad and even though nothing dramatic happens in that aspect while they are there, just seeing the loss through the eyes of others is so moving. This truly is a book that will make you realize how much we take advantage of our good lives and how much more we could help.
I loved the voice of this book. Georgia is a girl that wants so much to be perfect that she literally makes herself sick over it. Something a lot of kids and teens can relate to. And they way that Georgia decides she's going to solve her problem is so very much ingrained into her personality. She needs to get out, she needs to help someone else.
The situation in Mexico is really very sad and even though nothing dramatic happens in that aspect while they are there, just seeing the loss through the eyes of others is so moving. This truly is a book that will make you realize how much we take advantage of our good lives and how much more we could help.
June 15, 2018
A book about so much... and yet, so little. All of the immense issues, from Georgia's panic attacks, to her best friend Riley, to even the town they are helping in Juarez... it's like a novel from the outside. The surface. Skimming, and telling you pieces without ever really getting deep into the meat of what could have been so amazing. Beautifully written, but there is no resolution, little depth of characters, and loose ends left fluttering in the breeze.
November 1, 2009
There is some beautiful writing in this book and excellent characterizations. Georgia decides to participate in Transformations - a trip to Juarez to start off a construction project for the inhabitants of a town that has sprung up in an utterly inhabitable place solely to house workers at a US based factory. Lots of big issue problems are sketched out. The real story is woven of the lives of Riley, Georgia's lifelong friend who is luminous in everyone's eyes with the eclipsing exception of Riley's self obsessed mother- sadly these are the eyes that matter to Riley. Georgia who is suffering panic attacks, perhaps in some way linked to Riley's self destructive reaction to her mother's rejection and disapproval. Completing the braid is Drake, son of immense wealth, he cares about the people around him and shoulders the responsibility of positive change. there are many inspiring themes here; the privilege of responsibility, rather than the burden. The cost of burying concerns rather than addressing them. And again- the wending process of grief.
September 24, 2010
There were at least two things that I felt like were too simplified, and, oddly, they were not the issues of the text. If the two key issues are Juarez and anorexia, then those are captured. I could appreciate what the author was going for by giving slices, not trying to capture the full extent of either.
But, the question of friendship is not well developed, and in fact, for a young adult novel, I felt like it might even be oversimplified. Not just the main friendship, but the minor friendships just didn't have enough heft. I think there is too much ensemble case, when focusing more narrowly (or writing a longer book) would have been more effective.
The relationships with parents were also oversimplified too far. Again, perhaps it is because this is YA, but I don't think one set of parents can be super and another villains. It's just not that easy. My opinion is that there is too much of this construction in YA right now. In adult novels like Every Last One, this is much more nuanced. Wonder why...
But, the question of friendship is not well developed, and in fact, for a young adult novel, I felt like it might even be oversimplified. Not just the main friendship, but the minor friendships just didn't have enough heft. I think there is too much ensemble case, when focusing more narrowly (or writing a longer book) would have been more effective.
The relationships with parents were also oversimplified too far. Again, perhaps it is because this is YA, but I don't think one set of parents can be super and another villains. It's just not that easy. My opinion is that there is too much of this construction in YA right now. In adult novels like Every Last One, this is much more nuanced. Wonder why...
Read
November 6, 2012I'm not sure how to rate this one, so I'll just forgo the stars. I love Kephart's writing--it's beautiful and fluid and starkly lovely. The settings of the story grabbed me especially. Georgia lives in a neighborhood I could easily identify--right on top of the Devon Horseshow grounds, where I lived for a few years post-college. All the details brought back such great memories.
I thought the characterization was fairly well done, and yet the emotion was so underplayed that it frustrated me. Teens have a way of blowing up little moments into big ones in their minds. This book seemed to do the opposite--to treat big issues as little ones. Panic attacks, anorexia, travel to a place where entitled kids see grinding poverty face to face--these things had the potential to provide a more dramatic story than what you actually get here. Of course these things could have been spun to total melodrama too, but it felt like the author was overcompensating for that potentiality.
I'm partway into Kephart's You Are My Only, and I resonate with the level of emotion there a whole lot more.
I thought the characterization was fairly well done, and yet the emotion was so underplayed that it frustrated me. Teens have a way of blowing up little moments into big ones in their minds. This book seemed to do the opposite--to treat big issues as little ones. Panic attacks, anorexia, travel to a place where entitled kids see grinding poverty face to face--these things had the potential to provide a more dramatic story than what you actually get here. Of course these things could have been spun to total melodrama too, but it felt like the author was overcompensating for that potentiality.
I'm partway into Kephart's You Are My Only, and I resonate with the level of emotion there a whole lot more.
September 20, 2010
After Georgia reads an ad wanting teens to volunteer two weeks of their summer for a building project in Mexico, she talks her parents into allowing her to sign up. She also recruits her best friend Riley. As they get ready for their summer adventure Georgia notices Riley never eats and when she does it is usually just very small amounts. By the time they get to Mexico she realizes Riley has an eating disorder and when she confronts her friend their friendship is suddenly on the rocks. Meanwhile Georgia and her group are helping a small community build a community bath and shower house. It is hot, difficult and dirty work but Georgia is loving it. She is concerned about Riley being able to keep up with the work and she wonders if she can ever rebuild her relationship again. Beth Kephart is an artist painting pictures with her prose. She writes beautifully and any reader will find themselves engrossed in this story based on a real experience.
July 3, 2017
I wasn't sure what to think of this book when I picked it up. It turned out to be a good read but also one that left me frustrated. We know that Riley is anorexic, but Georgia never really says anything to anyone about it. I wanted her to be more of a friend towards Riley and let others know that she has a serious problem. As for Georgia's panic attacks, I didn't really see them as that big of a deal. She had four, I think, and this trip was supposed to cure her from that. They were brought up a lot in the beginning but then not so much as the book went on. I was also really frustrated at Georgia for walking off by herself when so many times it was said not to, that it was too dangerous. Yet nothing dangerous happened on her walk. I felt like this book was good but it could have been great if some of these issues were dug into more.
August 18, 2011
The Heart is Not a Size was an alright read. It wasn't amazing or anything, but still worth your time.
I loved the idea behind the plot. It was very thought provoking, but the issue I had was that I kept getting bored. None of the scenes really grabbed me and hooked me in. I loved Kephart's writing and how accurate all the descriptions were. I really enjoyed the ending.
I really enjoyed the characters. Kephart did a wonderful job in writing a wide range of characters who were all very well written. I really liked Riley as a character.
The Heart is Not a Size is a read I would definately try! It's got a great idea and good characters. It's not the most captivating read in the world, but still very good!
I loved the idea behind the plot. It was very thought provoking, but the issue I had was that I kept getting bored. None of the scenes really grabbed me and hooked me in. I loved Kephart's writing and how accurate all the descriptions were. I really enjoyed the ending.
I really enjoyed the characters. Kephart did a wonderful job in writing a wide range of characters who were all very well written. I really liked Riley as a character.
The Heart is Not a Size is a read I would definately try! It's got a great idea and good characters. It's not the most captivating read in the world, but still very good!
November 14, 2009
Three words: amazing, incredible, amazing.
THE HEART IS NOT A SIZE will be released in 2010, and it will be quite a wait for Kephart fans. The wait is worth it.
HEART is a page-turner. It's difficult to put it down, and it has everything you could ever want from a book: brilliant writing, well-developed and likable characters, relatability (if that's a word), and hints of adventure and suspense.
It's one of those books that you put down and don't have any words to describe how fantastic it is. It's beautiful to the core and absolutely the most amazing book Beth Kephart has ever written.
THE HEART IS NOT A SIZE will be released in 2010, and it will be quite a wait for Kephart fans. The wait is worth it.
HEART is a page-turner. It's difficult to put it down, and it has everything you could ever want from a book: brilliant writing, well-developed and likable characters, relatability (if that's a word), and hints of adventure and suspense.
It's one of those books that you put down and don't have any words to describe how fantastic it is. It's beautiful to the core and absolutely the most amazing book Beth Kephart has ever written.
April 28, 2010
Beth Kephart has written a beautiful little story about friendship, self-discovery and seeing the beauty in everyday. It's a tale of exploration and personal growth.
Georgia and her best friend Riley travel with nine other students to Juarez, Mexico. Their experience with helping the impoverished people of Juarez is a life-changing one. Both the students and the natives of Juarez are changed as a result of their working together.
The book is well-written and emotional. Kephart expresses such beauty in the simple lives of these impoverished people.
Read this lovely tale filled with emotion, social issues and self-exploration. You will be changed as well.
Georgia and her best friend Riley travel with nine other students to Juarez, Mexico. Their experience with helping the impoverished people of Juarez is a life-changing one. Both the students and the natives of Juarez are changed as a result of their working together.
The book is well-written and emotional. Kephart expresses such beauty in the simple lives of these impoverished people.
Read this lovely tale filled with emotion, social issues and self-exploration. You will be changed as well.
August 2, 2010
The Heart is Not a Size is a quick read, but one that is filled with amazing imagery and prose. It is something that I am constantly impressed with by Beth Kephart, how she can capture so much beauty in her writing with just a handful of simple words.
The story follows two best friends, Georgia and Riley, as they travel to Anapra with a group of fellow students and chaperone's to help build a bathroom for the small squatter village. While there, their friendship is tested as a result of keeping too many secrets. Beth Kephart says it best in her Acknowledgments, "we need truth tellers as our friends."
Recommended.
The story follows two best friends, Georgia and Riley, as they travel to Anapra with a group of fellow students and chaperone's to help build a bathroom for the small squatter village. While there, their friendship is tested as a result of keeping too many secrets. Beth Kephart says it best in her Acknowledgments, "we need truth tellers as our friends."
Recommended.
March 25, 2011
I was sort of disappointed with this one. I just picked it up off the shelf and brought it home, so I had no expectations for it, but even so it failed to deliver for me.
The timeline was incredibly choppy, I had trouble telling if we were in the past or the present sometimes, even when it should have been obvious that what she was referring to was in the past, it was so random that I couldn't understand why she was inserting that, then.
Also I didn't think that the characters were realistic, or that the resolution of their problems was realistic. I mean both characters had pretty serious issues and the story just ends, and it seems really happy and great except I don't buy it.
The timeline was incredibly choppy, I had trouble telling if we were in the past or the present sometimes, even when it should have been obvious that what she was referring to was in the past, it was so random that I couldn't understand why she was inserting that, then.
Also I didn't think that the characters were realistic, or that the resolution of their problems was realistic. I mean both characters had pretty serious issues and the story just ends, and it seems really happy and great except I don't buy it.
February 17, 2012
Georgia and Riley have been best friends forever. They do everything together, including taking a summer trip to Mexico to help a rural village get back on its feet. Georgia has been suspecting that Riley has an eating disorder, but not until they are in Mexico does she confront her about her problem. And Riley's choice to ignore her problem could have devastating consequences for all involved.
That paragraph made this book sound very intense. It's not. There's barely a plot and no drama involved. I kept waiting for the one big, exciting thing to happen but it never did. There was so much potential in this story, but sadly it fell flat. Don't bother with this one, folks.
That paragraph made this book sound very intense. It's not. There's barely a plot and no drama involved. I kept waiting for the one big, exciting thing to happen but it never did. There was so much potential in this story, but sadly it fell flat. Don't bother with this one, folks.
May 16, 2010
The Heart Is Not A Size by Beth Kephart is essentially a snapshot in time. Georgia, the main character, is a junior in high school. She's this husky, solid girl who is prone to panic attacks. One day she sees this flyer for a humanitarian trip to Juarez, Mexico. She decides going to Mexico will solve her problems. She then decides to drag her BFF, Riley along. Riley, has some inner demons of her own to battle.
Read the rest of my review here
Read the rest of my review here
May 24, 2010
This is the story of Georgia, her best friend Riley,their trip to Juarez, Mexico, and the transformations that take place there. Riley is anorexic, and Georgia has struggled in keeping her best friend's secret. At the same time Georgia has her own secret, although not as life threatening. She often as panic attacks. After answering an ad to participate in a construction project for teens across the border, Georgia and Riley venture to Mexico.
This novel is beautifully written, although a bit too brief for this reader. I would have loved to read more of Georgia and Riley's struggles.
This novel is beautifully written, although a bit too brief for this reader. I would have loved to read more of Georgia and Riley's struggles.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 29, 2010
A group of teens go to an empoverished Mexican town to build a communal washroom. While there, they combat the regular teen issues (self-image, eating disorders, panic/anxiety) and learn about the different culture. The only thing was, there were so many different characters that I didn't really feel any emotional connection to the members of the group, other than the main three. And even with those, there wasn't much there. It seemed a little typical, and almost left off without a real ending. It took me a while to get into it, and even once I was 'into it' I wasn't all that fascinated.
December 2, 2010
Georgia and Riley, two seventeen-year-olds who are best friends, decide to take a two-week “community building” and “character building” trip to Juarez, in Mexico across the Rio Grande from El Paso, Texas over spring break. [Kephart has been on one of these trips herself, and many of the episodes in the story are drawn from her own experiences.]
Beth Kephart writes beautiful prose and compelling stories. Similar to Joan Bauer, she tackles issues that aren’t always pleasant in a way that still manages to be uplifting. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend highly any of her books.
Beth Kephart writes beautiful prose and compelling stories. Similar to Joan Bauer, she tackles issues that aren’t always pleasant in a way that still manages to be uplifting. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend highly any of her books.
May 16, 2014
I really loved Undercover by this author (see my review here on Shelfari), but this one did not cast the same spell on me. The story of two best friends, each with their own secret problems and their mission trip to Mexico. Through the rigors of their work in the heat and amongst the poverty, they both come to realizations about themselves and the other. I thought this was a great idea, but just could not care enough about the characters or their relationships to stay interested. Honestly, I kept reading because I liked Undercover so much, I kept hoping I would get hooked.
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