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Food Fight
"A must-read for anyone who has ever fought their own battles with both fitting in and being themselves." — Shannon Schuren, author of Where Echoes Lie Ben Snyder is ready for middle school. But his super picky eating, which has never been a big deal before, is about to take him down. Suddenly everybody’s on his case about what he’s eating and what he’s not—his old friends, his new friends, his weird lab partner, the girl he’s crushing on, and a bully—and Ben finds himself in social free fall, sliding toward the bottom of the middle school food chain. Even worse, there’s an upcoming three-day class trip to a colonial campsite. Knowing he can’t handle the gag-worthy menu, Ben prepares for the outing like it’s a survival mission. Armed with new and unexpected information about his eating habits that could change everything, he sets out with three tactical impress the girl, outsmart the bully, and avoid every single meal. But when epic hunger threatens to push him over the edge, Ben must decide how far he will go to fit in and if he has the courage to stand out.
238 pages, Paperback
Published June 27, 2023
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2109 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
July 8, 2023
this book felt deeply personal to me. I got diagnosed with arfid after high school so had many shared experiences with the main character. I loved Olivia’s character and how the bully even shared his food at the end. I don’t forgive him and the main character shouldn’t either but it was a nice touch.
May 31, 2023
Wow! FOOD FIGHT is the only book I've seen for tween readers that addresses picky eating head-on, specifically the little-known condition of ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder). For that reason, this is an important and trailblazing book. Sixth-grader Ben Snyder starts middle school and finds his eating choices fall under scrutiny by both bullies and peers. His struggles intensify as he must prepare to attend a multi-day school overnight trip at a historic site where they're expected to dine on colonial fare. For someone who eats ten items, most of them white and processed, the prospect of eating succotash presents a formidable challenge. Linda Davis tells his story with humor and heart, and the resolution is both realistic (hint: it does not involve vastly expanding his palette!) and emotionally satisfying. A lively cast of supporting characters - friends old and new, bullies, and a girl who doesn't quite fit in for other reasons - makes this such an absorbing read. The ways in which peer groups reorganize in middle school and bullying can become quite subtle but impactful feels spot on. I also really appreciated the depiction of how ARFID impacts the entire family. I could feel the mother's exhaustion as she served up yet another dish of buttered pasta, and the father's impatience, his wish for Ben to simply snap out of it; a riveting father-son scene at McDonalds brought tears to my eyes. Even if you don't know think you know anyone with ARFID, this is such an important book about compassion and self-acceptance. Highly recommend!
June 26, 2023
Opening Line: "I've been eating the same lunch since first grade: a plain bagel, a handful of pretzels, and two Hershey's Kisses- pretty normal and impressive only in terms of its exact sameness day after day."
Ben has been pretty happy with his routine for school lunches, it's the exact sameness in his diet that has helped him get through elementary school. But middle school is an entirely different thing. Like where you sit during lunch kind of determines what social group you'll end up in and Ben's friend, Josh is determined that they'll be a part of the popular kids. He's even started to put together a group of cool kids for Ben, Nick and him to hang out with. But being a super picky eater tends to be something that can also get you noticed, and not in a good way. Which is exactly the situation Ben finds himself in when Darren, the boy who he beat out for a spot on the soccer team ends up sitting at their lunch table. Darren is a relentless bully, he makes a point of calling Ben's meal a "sad excuse for a lunch," and taunts him any chance he gets. He tries to embarrass Ben in front of his friends and even in front of Lauren, the girl they both have a crush on. Ben tries to use humor to deflect Darren's comments, but Darren isn't easily dissuaded.
Things start to go from bad to worse when Ben learns that the upcoming three-night trip to Abner Farm will include eating six authentic colonial meals. Ben doesn't believe there is any way that he can go on the trip, as the rules are pretty strict about bringing any outside food, and he doesn't want to have his mom ask for any accommodations believing that will just draw more attention to himself. But leaving Lauren on the trip with Darren alone proves to be too hard for him to swallow and Ben decides to go on the trip. Just as Ben starts to think he can make things work on the Farm, eating the small flapjacks they offer for breakfast and the few apples he finds and tries to snack on, he is accused of bringing contraband onto the Farm (candy bars) and risks being sent home. Eventually, Ben summons the courage to explain to everyone why the candy bars couldn't belong to him and educates everyone about ARFID, or his diagnosis of Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder.
I must admit I knew very little about ARFID prior to reading Food Fight. I have however met many kids who are selective in what they like and don't like to eat. I know of one kid who only eats yogurt, waffles, and Poptart's. That's it. And another kid who won't eat any condiments (ketchup, mayo, tomato sauce etc.) and likes their pasta and rice without anything but butter and a little cheese. I can even relate to that feeling of not being able to eat certain foods. Growing up our family dinner motto was being a part of the clean plate club. Whatever mom made, we had to clean our plate, nothing was to be wasted or thrown away. Now as a kid I wasn't a fan of cauliflower or zucchini, and I spent many a dinner sitting at the table with ice cold vegetables staring at me, knowing that there was no way that I could gag them down. So yeah, I could relate to how Ben must have felt and I'm sure that many other kids can too. Ben has never been able to explain his eating habits and has kind of given up on trying because no one seems to believe him anyway. His dad was not very supportive, thinking that it's just something that he can get over by trying new foods. Chicken is just chicken. What's the big deal about trying something other than the chicken nuggets from McDonalds? What he doesn't realize is that Ben physically can't make himself swallow new foods and starts to gag when he tries. Ben's mom was more supportive and tries to find ways to help him cope. She even extends the idea about him going to counseling to better understand his condition.
While reading I also felt really sad about all the bullying that Ben endured and that his friends didn't pick up what Darren was doing at first. While feeling so realistic to what kids encounter at school, it also made me sad and pretty mad. It's that sort of subtle bullying where snide comments are made in the hallway, or insults are made under your breath to shame the person. Unfortunately, this is the kind of bullying that can so easily go unnoticed or be misinterpreted as just having made a joke. Ugg, I so dislike bullying. Ben had a strategy to deal with it most of the time and I certainly commend him for his tolerance. My favorite character had to be Olivia. She's just so darn friendly and doesn't seem to let other people's thoughts about her bother her. She reminds me of the kids who wear what they want to wear, and don't want to be a part of some popular clique. They just want to be themselves and who cares what other people think right? There was just so much about this book that worked for me. The characters and circumstances were all so realistic and felt so relatable. I'm looking forward to see what the author writes next.
Ben has been pretty happy with his routine for school lunches, it's the exact sameness in his diet that has helped him get through elementary school. But middle school is an entirely different thing. Like where you sit during lunch kind of determines what social group you'll end up in and Ben's friend, Josh is determined that they'll be a part of the popular kids. He's even started to put together a group of cool kids for Ben, Nick and him to hang out with. But being a super picky eater tends to be something that can also get you noticed, and not in a good way. Which is exactly the situation Ben finds himself in when Darren, the boy who he beat out for a spot on the soccer team ends up sitting at their lunch table. Darren is a relentless bully, he makes a point of calling Ben's meal a "sad excuse for a lunch," and taunts him any chance he gets. He tries to embarrass Ben in front of his friends and even in front of Lauren, the girl they both have a crush on. Ben tries to use humor to deflect Darren's comments, but Darren isn't easily dissuaded.
Things start to go from bad to worse when Ben learns that the upcoming three-night trip to Abner Farm will include eating six authentic colonial meals. Ben doesn't believe there is any way that he can go on the trip, as the rules are pretty strict about bringing any outside food, and he doesn't want to have his mom ask for any accommodations believing that will just draw more attention to himself. But leaving Lauren on the trip with Darren alone proves to be too hard for him to swallow and Ben decides to go on the trip. Just as Ben starts to think he can make things work on the Farm, eating the small flapjacks they offer for breakfast and the few apples he finds and tries to snack on, he is accused of bringing contraband onto the Farm (candy bars) and risks being sent home. Eventually, Ben summons the courage to explain to everyone why the candy bars couldn't belong to him and educates everyone about ARFID, or his diagnosis of Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder.
I must admit I knew very little about ARFID prior to reading Food Fight. I have however met many kids who are selective in what they like and don't like to eat. I know of one kid who only eats yogurt, waffles, and Poptart's. That's it. And another kid who won't eat any condiments (ketchup, mayo, tomato sauce etc.) and likes their pasta and rice without anything but butter and a little cheese. I can even relate to that feeling of not being able to eat certain foods. Growing up our family dinner motto was being a part of the clean plate club. Whatever mom made, we had to clean our plate, nothing was to be wasted or thrown away. Now as a kid I wasn't a fan of cauliflower or zucchini, and I spent many a dinner sitting at the table with ice cold vegetables staring at me, knowing that there was no way that I could gag them down. So yeah, I could relate to how Ben must have felt and I'm sure that many other kids can too. Ben has never been able to explain his eating habits and has kind of given up on trying because no one seems to believe him anyway. His dad was not very supportive, thinking that it's just something that he can get over by trying new foods. Chicken is just chicken. What's the big deal about trying something other than the chicken nuggets from McDonalds? What he doesn't realize is that Ben physically can't make himself swallow new foods and starts to gag when he tries. Ben's mom was more supportive and tries to find ways to help him cope. She even extends the idea about him going to counseling to better understand his condition.
While reading I also felt really sad about all the bullying that Ben endured and that his friends didn't pick up what Darren was doing at first. While feeling so realistic to what kids encounter at school, it also made me sad and pretty mad. It's that sort of subtle bullying where snide comments are made in the hallway, or insults are made under your breath to shame the person. Unfortunately, this is the kind of bullying that can so easily go unnoticed or be misinterpreted as just having made a joke. Ugg, I so dislike bullying. Ben had a strategy to deal with it most of the time and I certainly commend him for his tolerance. My favorite character had to be Olivia. She's just so darn friendly and doesn't seem to let other people's thoughts about her bother her. She reminds me of the kids who wear what they want to wear, and don't want to be a part of some popular clique. They just want to be themselves and who cares what other people think right? There was just so much about this book that worked for me. The characters and circumstances were all so realistic and felt so relatable. I'm looking forward to see what the author writes next.
June 28, 2023
I enjoyed reading this a lot! There are a lot of parts that really remind me of my middle school years, and is very relatable to all for other parts. The feelings of being different, fear of fitting in, and peer pressure are all fears everyone feels. Even though this is a middle grade book, I’m sure everyone will find something relatable in this book!
July 25, 2023
This is a book I wish I would have read ten years ago. Our son had, and still has issues with eating a lot of different food items, including a lot of foods that most kids eat. I don’t know why our son has a difficult time with food and we may never know. Maybe he was born with it. Maybe it occurred after an eating episode as a young child. We will never likely know, but I do know that he doesn’t want to have this struggle with food any more than someone wants to have any other condition that separates them from the norm.
Ben is starting middle school which means there is a whole new group of kids that he has to be around and acclimate to. Middle school is already hard but add Ben’s unique eating to the mix and he is worried that this will make his social life quite difficult. Ben only eats about ten different foods and it isn’t that he is a picky eater, he just can’t eat them. He gags, throws up, and even has a hard time being near certain foods.
Ben’s close friends have known about his eating dilemmas and haven’t given him any grief, even having his favorite pretzels on hand whenever he comes over to their house. But, when a certain student starts to notice that Ben’s eating is a little different, he starts to make a big deal about singling Ben out and embarrassing Ben, especially when he is right next to a certain cute girl.
On the first few days of school, the students learn there is a major field trip coming up that includes 3 days of living as a person would in Colonial Times, including eating all the foods available to them only at that time. Ben looks through the menu and realizes there isn’t really anything on that menu that he will eat. How can he attend this field trip, maintain his social status, and not starve for 3 days?
The author used her own nephew as a resource for facing challenges as a picky eater and I found all the situations that Ben was placed in to be very realistic. He handled them as a typical middle school boy would, trying to outsmart someone or keep things to himself, when in reality, talking to someone could have made the whole situation better.
As a mom, I realized how much our son likely had to deal with criticism and ridicule as a “picky eater” and I wished I had thought more about how difficult his school days, social outings, and field trips may have been…even with my rigorous planning ahead for him. I read a few passages to him while I was reading this book on our vacation and he said that Ben’s feelings in the book and situations with classmates were pretty accurate.
An unexpected friendship in this story helps Ben see what is really important when it comes to relating to others and being yourself. I was struck by the analogy that it is bad manners to call attention to someone’s physical differences just as it is poor manners to question why someone is or isn’t eating something. I know I have teased someone for not liking something that most people enjoy like cheese or ketchup when in reality, I am doing the same thing that many, many others have said to our son about his eating.
This book opened my eyes to something that has always been part of our family’s lives and reminded me that we all have our differences and it is important to find a way to just accept them. The next time you think about saying, “Is that all you are eating?” or “You really haven’t ever eaten a pickle?” you might just want to say, “I’m so glad we can eat together today.”
“You know, once you become an expert in being yourself,
navigating the world gets a whole lot easier.”
Ben is starting middle school which means there is a whole new group of kids that he has to be around and acclimate to. Middle school is already hard but add Ben’s unique eating to the mix and he is worried that this will make his social life quite difficult. Ben only eats about ten different foods and it isn’t that he is a picky eater, he just can’t eat them. He gags, throws up, and even has a hard time being near certain foods.
Ben’s close friends have known about his eating dilemmas and haven’t given him any grief, even having his favorite pretzels on hand whenever he comes over to their house. But, when a certain student starts to notice that Ben’s eating is a little different, he starts to make a big deal about singling Ben out and embarrassing Ben, especially when he is right next to a certain cute girl.
On the first few days of school, the students learn there is a major field trip coming up that includes 3 days of living as a person would in Colonial Times, including eating all the foods available to them only at that time. Ben looks through the menu and realizes there isn’t really anything on that menu that he will eat. How can he attend this field trip, maintain his social status, and not starve for 3 days?
The author used her own nephew as a resource for facing challenges as a picky eater and I found all the situations that Ben was placed in to be very realistic. He handled them as a typical middle school boy would, trying to outsmart someone or keep things to himself, when in reality, talking to someone could have made the whole situation better.
As a mom, I realized how much our son likely had to deal with criticism and ridicule as a “picky eater” and I wished I had thought more about how difficult his school days, social outings, and field trips may have been…even with my rigorous planning ahead for him. I read a few passages to him while I was reading this book on our vacation and he said that Ben’s feelings in the book and situations with classmates were pretty accurate.
An unexpected friendship in this story helps Ben see what is really important when it comes to relating to others and being yourself. I was struck by the analogy that it is bad manners to call attention to someone’s physical differences just as it is poor manners to question why someone is or isn’t eating something. I know I have teased someone for not liking something that most people enjoy like cheese or ketchup when in reality, I am doing the same thing that many, many others have said to our son about his eating.
This book opened my eyes to something that has always been part of our family’s lives and reminded me that we all have our differences and it is important to find a way to just accept them. The next time you think about saying, “Is that all you are eating?” or “You really haven’t ever eaten a pickle?” you might just want to say, “I’m so glad we can eat together today.”
“You know, once you become an expert in being yourself,
navigating the world gets a whole lot easier.”
May 22, 2023
Food Fight by Linda Davis tells the story of Ben, a 6th grader who struggles with Selective Eating Disorder (often referred to as "picky eating") and has a very limited number of foods he feels comfortable eating. As he transitions to middle school, he starts to face some teasing and bullying about his unusual eating patterns. Readers follow Ben's first few weeks of middle school where he: runs for vice president to impress a girl, sees a therapist about her eating challenges, gets assigned a girl he isn't a fan of as his science lab partner, and obsesses over an upcoming field trip to a colonial farm where eating will definitely be a problem. This Middle Grade novel addresses themes and messages like: peer pressure, bullying, friendship, standing up for yourself and the value of letting go of secrets. The wording/language is age appropriate for readers in the grades 5-8 range, and there is very limited mature content. Some of the bullying is physical, including one character getting a nose bleed, and the word "crap" is used a bit, but nothing inappropriate for this age group. Additionally, shining a light on a different type of eating disorder and showing that people experiencing something like this are not alone, makes this book a great choice for classroom libraries and teachers wanting diverse characters. I would definitely recommend this book! Thanks to netgalley for the opportunity to read and review it, you can preorder your copy now for the pub date on June 27th!
June 27, 2023
This book was fantastic! I found myself able to relate to every single character at different times throughout the book. The author was able to convey so much nuance in the main character Ben’s internal struggles with wanting to fit in, but knowing his personal boundaries and limitations.
I found myself relating to his parents in wanting what’s best for him, but struggling to know what is the right balance of how much to push, and how much to comfort in difficult situations.
I think my favorite character is Ben’s lab partner, Olivia. I absolutely want a sequel that follows her story and dives into her history.
I would recommend this book to any middle schooler or high schooler, or truly anyone who enjoys a good story.
I found myself relating to his parents in wanting what’s best for him, but struggling to know what is the right balance of how much to push, and how much to comfort in difficult situations.
I think my favorite character is Ben’s lab partner, Olivia. I absolutely want a sequel that follows her story and dives into her history.
I would recommend this book to any middle schooler or high schooler, or truly anyone who enjoys a good story.
June 29, 2023
Delightful and informative perspective on middle school dynamics and ARFID – a disorder I did not previously know about! While I don’t normally read YA, Food Fight was very engaging and provided strong character development throughout. I can definitely see this story resonating with young adults like Ben and their parents, friends, and family members that support them.
July 9, 2023
Really good Middle Grade read. About a boy with food issues but also just about how hard it is to navigate 6th grade, friendships, parents and school!
July 8, 2023
Enjoyed it, it was kinda quirky. Related a lot to Ben as a kid and even now. It made me feel seen and all that. I'm not really good at words most of the time so😮💨😅❤️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 28, 2023
Remember the feel of the start of middle school? It was scary, exciting, confusing, and fun all at once. Now imagine starting middle school with a secret. Ben's got one. And it's kind of a difficult one to keep. His secret is that he has Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID). That means he isn’t comfortable eating most foods. In fact, his list of what he is comfortable eating is ten foods long (lunch is a plain bagel, pretzels, and a couple of Hershey’s Kisses). It's hard enough navigating a new school and friend groups but Ben finds out that his entire class will go on a three day overnight trip which includes colonial food and no outside food is allowed. How will Ben get through the weekend away from home and deal with a bully who's determined to expose Ben's secret?
Food Fight is a heartwarming and entertaining depiction of the struggles of a kid with ARFID. I learned what it's really like for people who are often referred to as picky eaters through Linda's lively characters and their relationships. I look forward to hearing more from this author!
Food Fight is a heartwarming and entertaining depiction of the struggles of a kid with ARFID. I learned what it's really like for people who are often referred to as picky eaters through Linda's lively characters and their relationships. I look forward to hearing more from this author!
July 10, 2023
What a compelling read! The author does a great job making the kids seem like real kids - in good and bad ways.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC
July 7, 2023
This was a fun middle-grade read! The author did a great job explaining Ben’s “picky-eating” situation and how he handled being bullied. Ben makes mistakes, lets his emotions win at times, but by the end he is able to make the best choices for himself. I just passed this along to my (future) 6th grader and I’m sure she will enjoy the story too!
June 29, 2023
Well written with engaging characters and witty dialogue, middle grade students and adults will enjoy this novel. Readers will come away with a better and more empathetic understanding of selective eating disorder.
November 8, 2023
olivia supremacy
August 7, 2023
This review and a fun list of the author's Top Ten Addictions can be found on my blog: Feed Your Fiction Addiction
A middle grade contemporary that highlights feelings of loneliness, even in a crowd. Will has always been a “picky eater” to the extreme (he has less than a dozen foods he can eat), but it was never an issue before middle school. His friends knew about his eating habits, and they never seemed to care. But middle school means a whole new crowd, and suddenly Will feels left out more than he feels like he fits in. One thing that I liked about this book is the way that it highlights how kids often write off bullying as being “funny.” The character who torments Will the most is well-liked, and he’s seen as a jokester, so every time he makes a rude comment, it gets laughed off, and Will ends up feeling like he needs to laugh it off too. This is such a realistic depiction of middle school because there is honestly a fine line between good-natured ribbing between friends and mean-spirited teasing, and the book shows how this behavior can spiral. There is also a hint of romance in the story for kids to root for, and it captures the longing of this age perfectly. In the end, readers will learn about a medical condition that they probably didn’t know existed and learn a little empathy along the way, all while enjoying a story that captures those feelings of “other” that are so common in middle school. I definitely recommend this one!!
***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via Books Forward Publicity so I could provide an honest review. No compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
A middle grade contemporary that highlights feelings of loneliness, even in a crowd. Will has always been a “picky eater” to the extreme (he has less than a dozen foods he can eat), but it was never an issue before middle school. His friends knew about his eating habits, and they never seemed to care. But middle school means a whole new crowd, and suddenly Will feels left out more than he feels like he fits in. One thing that I liked about this book is the way that it highlights how kids often write off bullying as being “funny.” The character who torments Will the most is well-liked, and he’s seen as a jokester, so every time he makes a rude comment, it gets laughed off, and Will ends up feeling like he needs to laugh it off too. This is such a realistic depiction of middle school because there is honestly a fine line between good-natured ribbing between friends and mean-spirited teasing, and the book shows how this behavior can spiral. There is also a hint of romance in the story for kids to root for, and it captures the longing of this age perfectly. In the end, readers will learn about a medical condition that they probably didn’t know existed and learn a little empathy along the way, all while enjoying a story that captures those feelings of “other” that are so common in middle school. I definitely recommend this one!!
***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via Books Forward Publicity so I could provide an honest review. No compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
March 12, 2023
I recieved a free eARC of this book. Thank you for the opportunity to read it.
I'm a picky eater. Between food allergies and sensory sensitivities, I have a lot of things I avoid. However, I can usually find something in a given setting which I can work with. Not so for Ben. Ben is smart, athletic, and has a few good friends going into middle school. He also has ARFID-Avoidant-Restrictive Food Intake Disorder. He only eats about 10 things, total, and it's even more picky than that. McDonald's fries and Chicken Nuggets are OK. Others are not. Penne pasta with just butter is OK, but not elbows. Hershey's kisses, not Hershey's bars.
When Ben enters middle school, his friends want to expand their friend circle, but that includes a bully who wants to make Ben's eating an issue, especially in front of the girl he likes. Ben also has a looming problem-a class trip to live at a historical reconstruction site for several days, including an authentic menu, of which one thing, total, is something Ben can even start to physically eat, leaves Ben in a situation where he can't hide.
This is an interesting book about a lesser known condition, and is likely to be relatable for many kids.
I'm a picky eater. Between food allergies and sensory sensitivities, I have a lot of things I avoid. However, I can usually find something in a given setting which I can work with. Not so for Ben. Ben is smart, athletic, and has a few good friends going into middle school. He also has ARFID-Avoidant-Restrictive Food Intake Disorder. He only eats about 10 things, total, and it's even more picky than that. McDonald's fries and Chicken Nuggets are OK. Others are not. Penne pasta with just butter is OK, but not elbows. Hershey's kisses, not Hershey's bars.
When Ben enters middle school, his friends want to expand their friend circle, but that includes a bully who wants to make Ben's eating an issue, especially in front of the girl he likes. Ben also has a looming problem-a class trip to live at a historical reconstruction site for several days, including an authentic menu, of which one thing, total, is something Ben can even start to physically eat, leaves Ben in a situation where he can't hide.
This is an interesting book about a lesser known condition, and is likely to be relatable for many kids.
May 14, 2023
Food Fight is a great book that tells a story about a sixth grader who is new to middle school, very picky, and facing a variety of problems. He must go on a school trip at a colonial campsite which he compares to a survival mission where he must outsmart his bully and avoid every meal given to him. But when his plans go sideways and hunger pushes him to the edge, Ben must decide between the food he is comfortable with and fitting in. My favorite part about this book is during the scavenger hunt in the woods when Oliva and Ben must run as hard as they can to get to the end after messing up, showing their dedication to the challenge. If you like reading about adventures and friendships, you will love food fight.
Hannah (6th grade)
Hannah (6th grade)
November 26, 2022
Linda Davis has a knack for zingy dialogue and depicting multi-faceted sixth-grade characters, but the story behind her book Food Fight goes much deeper. Protagonist Ben suffers from ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder). Typical middle school fare like pizza and fries literally makes him sick, and he uses humor to divert attention away from himself and his eating habits. But keeping his secret strains his friendships with teammates and worse, a hopeful first crush goes haywire. Davis’s pacing moves right along and yet never diminishes Ben’s emotional journey to self-acceptance, striking a pitch-perfect balance for middle-grade readers.
May 5, 2023
This book is great! I love the topic of selective eating disorder and how it affects the main character's life, because not only was it interesting but it was also educational, and I learned a lot about this disorder through the main character's experiences. I also loved how the story brought up a lot of other issues, not just the main one, the eating disorder. It talked about bullying, and friendships, and crushes, and it was really well written.
March 16, 2023
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Ben is excited about entering middle school with his friends Nick and Josh, especially since he has gotten on a travel soccer team. However, there are challenges when he enters the Wild West of middle school-- the lunchroom. Josh is usually a well liked kid, but he's determined to put together a "squad" of at least ten kids so that there is some social protection or cool factor attached to them. Ben would fit right in except for one thing; he only eats ten foods, and his lunch every single day is a plain bagel, mini pretzels, and piece of chocolate. When Darren, who is a dirty soccer player and didn't make the team, gives him a hard time about it, Ben tries to laugh it off, but Darren is relentless. It doesn't help that Ben's own father has given him problems for years. It's not that Ben just doesn't like food, he gags if he is even around certain strong smells like coffee. His father makes frequent comments that he needs to "snap out of it", and even tries to get Ben to eat a simple chicken and rice dish for dinner instead of buttered pasta. Ben's mother is more understanding, but very concerned about an upcoming school field trip to the historical Abner Farm. She makes a deal with Ben that if he attends two counseling sessions to try to find ways to cope with his food avoidance, she will try to get his father to back off. Ben finds out that he probably suffers from ARFID (avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder), but would rather just keep things under wraps instead of letting everyone at school know. The Abner Farm trip looms large. In addition to living in tents, students will be eating historical food like succotash, and there's no way that Ben can eat that. At first, he thinks he just won't go, but then there is Lauren. He has a huge crush on her, but so does Darren. Darren is constantly picking at Ben. When the kids hang out, he notices that Ben doesn't eat pizza. He makes fun of him and Olivia, Ben's lab partner and super smart student who has an unfortunate past. Olivia is kind to Ben, and even helps him take a "supertaster" test. He even causes a brief rift between Ben and Lauren when Ben decides to run for vice president and Lauren runs for president of the sixth grade. Deciding that he can't let Darren and Lauren go to Abner Farm without him, he decides to go, and even leaves the granola bars his mother wants him to take behind. He figures that the flapjacks on the menu are close enough to the pancakes he will eat, and plans to survive on those. It's harder than he thinks, although he manages to help out with meals and avoid most of the foods that trigger him. He manages to get by, and the wise Olivia even brings him a granola bar, but Darren keeps finding ways to bother him. When a bag of candy bars is found in Ben's duffle and he faces being thrown out of camp, he finally admits that he has a severely restrictive diet, thus the food cannot be his. Darren's antics come to light, and Ben's friends are able to be a little more understanding of his condition.
Strengths: This was an excellent blend of realistic school concerns and a health problem, and contains the absolute finest writing about bullying I have ever seen. Bullying is not necessarily fights and swirlies and wedgies. It's kids picking at each other under their breath, "joking around" with nicknames, and manipulating people around them to also look askance at another student. The lunchroom and science class scenes are perfect, and we all know kids like Olivia who just don't quite understand students around them and don't tempter their actions, and get treated poorly as a result even though they are good kids. There are some really excellent scenes, like Lauren oversalting fries to the point that Ben can't eat them, and then offering them to Darren saying "They're terrible. They would be perfect for you." Ben offers Lauren his travel soccer warm up when Darren bumps Ben and spills food on Lauren: there's SO MUCH in that scene! Modern children have a lot of anxiety about overnights with other children even if they don't have identified disorders, so the trip to Abner Farm is a great inclusion, even though I haven't seen an overnight trip (other than the 8th grade D.C. one) in a middle school in 30 years. The framework of this, with standard middle school circumstances that are completely impacted by how Ben is treated about his eating, is quite brilliant. The best part? Ben isn't really bothered by eating just ten things. He is bothered that other people are bothered. Isn't that most of middle school in a nutshell?
Weaknesses: This is only available in paperback. I'm hoping there will be a prebind available after publication, because paperbacks usually only last about three years in a school library, if that!
What I really think: Having dealt with students who will only eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, chocolate chip granola bars, chocolate milk, and bananas, I know that Ben is an absolutely true to life character. I do sort of wish there had been more about the counselor, as well as some coping strategies (is Ben at least able to take vitamins?), but this is still very well done. I will purchase this in paperback and tape the heck out of it if I have to.
Ben is excited about entering middle school with his friends Nick and Josh, especially since he has gotten on a travel soccer team. However, there are challenges when he enters the Wild West of middle school-- the lunchroom. Josh is usually a well liked kid, but he's determined to put together a "squad" of at least ten kids so that there is some social protection or cool factor attached to them. Ben would fit right in except for one thing; he only eats ten foods, and his lunch every single day is a plain bagel, mini pretzels, and piece of chocolate. When Darren, who is a dirty soccer player and didn't make the team, gives him a hard time about it, Ben tries to laugh it off, but Darren is relentless. It doesn't help that Ben's own father has given him problems for years. It's not that Ben just doesn't like food, he gags if he is even around certain strong smells like coffee. His father makes frequent comments that he needs to "snap out of it", and even tries to get Ben to eat a simple chicken and rice dish for dinner instead of buttered pasta. Ben's mother is more understanding, but very concerned about an upcoming school field trip to the historical Abner Farm. She makes a deal with Ben that if he attends two counseling sessions to try to find ways to cope with his food avoidance, she will try to get his father to back off. Ben finds out that he probably suffers from ARFID (avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder), but would rather just keep things under wraps instead of letting everyone at school know. The Abner Farm trip looms large. In addition to living in tents, students will be eating historical food like succotash, and there's no way that Ben can eat that. At first, he thinks he just won't go, but then there is Lauren. He has a huge crush on her, but so does Darren. Darren is constantly picking at Ben. When the kids hang out, he notices that Ben doesn't eat pizza. He makes fun of him and Olivia, Ben's lab partner and super smart student who has an unfortunate past. Olivia is kind to Ben, and even helps him take a "supertaster" test. He even causes a brief rift between Ben and Lauren when Ben decides to run for vice president and Lauren runs for president of the sixth grade. Deciding that he can't let Darren and Lauren go to Abner Farm without him, he decides to go, and even leaves the granola bars his mother wants him to take behind. He figures that the flapjacks on the menu are close enough to the pancakes he will eat, and plans to survive on those. It's harder than he thinks, although he manages to help out with meals and avoid most of the foods that trigger him. He manages to get by, and the wise Olivia even brings him a granola bar, but Darren keeps finding ways to bother him. When a bag of candy bars is found in Ben's duffle and he faces being thrown out of camp, he finally admits that he has a severely restrictive diet, thus the food cannot be his. Darren's antics come to light, and Ben's friends are able to be a little more understanding of his condition.
Strengths: This was an excellent blend of realistic school concerns and a health problem, and contains the absolute finest writing about bullying I have ever seen. Bullying is not necessarily fights and swirlies and wedgies. It's kids picking at each other under their breath, "joking around" with nicknames, and manipulating people around them to also look askance at another student. The lunchroom and science class scenes are perfect, and we all know kids like Olivia who just don't quite understand students around them and don't tempter their actions, and get treated poorly as a result even though they are good kids. There are some really excellent scenes, like Lauren oversalting fries to the point that Ben can't eat them, and then offering them to Darren saying "They're terrible. They would be perfect for you." Ben offers Lauren his travel soccer warm up when Darren bumps Ben and spills food on Lauren: there's SO MUCH in that scene! Modern children have a lot of anxiety about overnights with other children even if they don't have identified disorders, so the trip to Abner Farm is a great inclusion, even though I haven't seen an overnight trip (other than the 8th grade D.C. one) in a middle school in 30 years. The framework of this, with standard middle school circumstances that are completely impacted by how Ben is treated about his eating, is quite brilliant. The best part? Ben isn't really bothered by eating just ten things. He is bothered that other people are bothered. Isn't that most of middle school in a nutshell?
Weaknesses: This is only available in paperback. I'm hoping there will be a prebind available after publication, because paperbacks usually only last about three years in a school library, if that!
What I really think: Having dealt with students who will only eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, chocolate chip granola bars, chocolate milk, and bananas, I know that Ben is an absolutely true to life character. I do sort of wish there had been more about the counselor, as well as some coping strategies (is Ben at least able to take vitamins?), but this is still very well done. I will purchase this in paperback and tape the heck out of it if I have to.
May 28, 2023
For NetGalley: This is such a great account of what kids go through, how something that bothers them can affect them and what they can do about it. It is funny and supportive and relatable.
Such a great read, the characters are realistic to those in school. Could not put the book down
Such a great read, the characters are realistic to those in school. Could not put the book down
July 27, 2023
“I just did something I’ve never done before. And the best part is that I’m the only person in the whole world who knows about it.”
Food Fight follows a young boy named Ben Snyder who is struggling with Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID.) His diet consists of only 10 foods, and, even though his parents have a problem with Ben’s restrictive eating habits, his friends don’t mind. However, their attitudes change after the first week of middle school, when a boy named Darren starts hanging out with Ben’s friend group and making fun of Ben’s lunches every day. Darren notices and makes fun of everything Ben refuses to eat — pizza, Cool Ranch Doritos, and ice cream. Ben can never escape Darren’s snide remarks about his diet. To make matters worse, Ben’s best friends think Darren is hilarious and they never stand up for Ben. With a two-day field trip with a small, disgusting-looking menu looming ahead, Ben has to decide if he’ll skip the trip altogether and risk getting edged out of his friend group by Darren, or if he’ll try to survive the trip on only flapjacks and granola bars.
For the most part, I enjoyed reading this novel. I thought that Ben had a really distinctive voice, and I enjoyed Linda B. Davis’ writing style. I appreciated the ARFID representation in this novel, because it’s an eating disorder that isn’t discussed as much in the media. I’m sure there will be a lot of kids who are able to relate to Ben’s struggles with eating. However, I do wish that there had been a little bit more discussion about Ben’s eating disorder with Ben’s family and his friends. His father was very dismissive of Ben’s struggles, and so were Ben’s friends. His friend group consistently stood idly by and let Ben be bullied for his eating habits, often laughing along with the jokes. I wish that there had at least been a discussion about the harmful actions of Ben’s friends and family, but the bullying was quickly forgiven by the end of the book, which made the conclusion feel less satisfying to me as a reader. Besides this complaint, however, I did enjoy the rest of the story and would recommend it to people with ARFID or to people who want to learn what it’s like to live with this little-known eating disorder.
(Pine Reads Review would like to thank Fitzroy Books for sending us a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change before final publication.)
Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook @pinereadsreview and check out our website at www.pinereadsreview.com for reviews, author interviews, blogs, podcast episodes, and more!
Food Fight follows a young boy named Ben Snyder who is struggling with Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID.) His diet consists of only 10 foods, and, even though his parents have a problem with Ben’s restrictive eating habits, his friends don’t mind. However, their attitudes change after the first week of middle school, when a boy named Darren starts hanging out with Ben’s friend group and making fun of Ben’s lunches every day. Darren notices and makes fun of everything Ben refuses to eat — pizza, Cool Ranch Doritos, and ice cream. Ben can never escape Darren’s snide remarks about his diet. To make matters worse, Ben’s best friends think Darren is hilarious and they never stand up for Ben. With a two-day field trip with a small, disgusting-looking menu looming ahead, Ben has to decide if he’ll skip the trip altogether and risk getting edged out of his friend group by Darren, or if he’ll try to survive the trip on only flapjacks and granola bars.
For the most part, I enjoyed reading this novel. I thought that Ben had a really distinctive voice, and I enjoyed Linda B. Davis’ writing style. I appreciated the ARFID representation in this novel, because it’s an eating disorder that isn’t discussed as much in the media. I’m sure there will be a lot of kids who are able to relate to Ben’s struggles with eating. However, I do wish that there had been a little bit more discussion about Ben’s eating disorder with Ben’s family and his friends. His father was very dismissive of Ben’s struggles, and so were Ben’s friends. His friend group consistently stood idly by and let Ben be bullied for his eating habits, often laughing along with the jokes. I wish that there had at least been a discussion about the harmful actions of Ben’s friends and family, but the bullying was quickly forgiven by the end of the book, which made the conclusion feel less satisfying to me as a reader. Besides this complaint, however, I did enjoy the rest of the story and would recommend it to people with ARFID or to people who want to learn what it’s like to live with this little-known eating disorder.
(Pine Reads Review would like to thank Fitzroy Books for sending us a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change before final publication.)
Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook @pinereadsreview and check out our website at www.pinereadsreview.com for reviews, author interviews, blogs, podcast episodes, and more!
June 2, 2023
With tons of heart and a nudge of humor, a boy does his best to stand the battlefield of middle school while swinging through the difficulties of ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder).
It's the first day of sixth grade and that means tackling the entirely new world called middle school. Ben isn't sure he's ready, but he'll take it on with as much style as he can. Of course, it's not easy thanks to a bully, a cute girl, a weird lab partner, and his friend, who seems to have his own idea on how to handle the new environment. All's workable, though, until a 3-day school trip hits and there isn't anything on the menu Ben can eat. Suddenly, his 10-item only food intake causes serious waves. While he does his best to keep himself from becoming the center of ridicule, hunger might put a wrench in everything.
Ben is a nice guy and as normal as can be if it wasn't for his eating disorder. When this read starts out, he realizes that his 10-item diet isn't exactly 'normal', but even his parents qualify it as simply being picky. The first days in middle school come across naturally as it doesn't cause real waves (although it's often at the fore-front of Ben's mind) outside of a bully, who also has it in for Ben for other reasons. Ben's lunch is only another place for the kid to poke at. The problem takes off with the school trip as Ben tries to balance the other aspects of finding his footing in the new situation and surroundings. It was a fun setting, which allows the serious themes to flow, while keeping everything interesting.
I did appreciate that the author hit this theme, since it's not well-known but does exist more than many realize. The message is clear throughout the tale, but Ben has a crisp sense of humor...despite the more serious side...which adds just the right amount of quirkiness to keep it from bogging down. The humor wasn't as strong as I thought it might be, meaning that it was a more dramatic read than I expected. The usual issues of bullying, first crushes, old friends changing, and new friendships drive the tale forward. And it is well done. The only thing which hit me a bit odd was that the parents didn't pick up on the issue, but that's just a side thought.
This is an entertaining read with tons of heart and enough humor to keep it light, while bringing across the theme in a meaningful way. I received a DRC and enjoyed the read.
It's the first day of sixth grade and that means tackling the entirely new world called middle school. Ben isn't sure he's ready, but he'll take it on with as much style as he can. Of course, it's not easy thanks to a bully, a cute girl, a weird lab partner, and his friend, who seems to have his own idea on how to handle the new environment. All's workable, though, until a 3-day school trip hits and there isn't anything on the menu Ben can eat. Suddenly, his 10-item only food intake causes serious waves. While he does his best to keep himself from becoming the center of ridicule, hunger might put a wrench in everything.
Ben is a nice guy and as normal as can be if it wasn't for his eating disorder. When this read starts out, he realizes that his 10-item diet isn't exactly 'normal', but even his parents qualify it as simply being picky. The first days in middle school come across naturally as it doesn't cause real waves (although it's often at the fore-front of Ben's mind) outside of a bully, who also has it in for Ben for other reasons. Ben's lunch is only another place for the kid to poke at. The problem takes off with the school trip as Ben tries to balance the other aspects of finding his footing in the new situation and surroundings. It was a fun setting, which allows the serious themes to flow, while keeping everything interesting.
I did appreciate that the author hit this theme, since it's not well-known but does exist more than many realize. The message is clear throughout the tale, but Ben has a crisp sense of humor...despite the more serious side...which adds just the right amount of quirkiness to keep it from bogging down. The humor wasn't as strong as I thought it might be, meaning that it was a more dramatic read than I expected. The usual issues of bullying, first crushes, old friends changing, and new friendships drive the tale forward. And it is well done. The only thing which hit me a bit odd was that the parents didn't pick up on the issue, but that's just a side thought.
This is an entertaining read with tons of heart and enough humor to keep it light, while bringing across the theme in a meaningful way. I received a DRC and enjoyed the read.
June 21, 2023
Ben Snyder has a complicated relationship with food. Right now, there are about ten things that he will actually eat. It's more than being a picky eater, Ben physically can't eat other foods. This hasn't been a big issue, but now Ben is in Middle School and different kids are starting to notice his habits. Ben is also running for student government, finds himself liking a girl, dealing with a bully, and finding new friendships. When a three-day history field trip to a colonial camp, complete with a mandatory colonial menu arises, Ben finds himself in a dilemma. He doesn't want to be singled out, but his diet requirements put him in a predicament.
Food Fight is a middle grade book showing a very realistic view of AFRID- Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder. Ben was an extremely relatable character and the writing showed an excellent point of view of a sixth grader. Ben dealt with changing friendships, crushes, bullying and taking on new challenges, all of the transitions that happen in middle school along with his eating disorder. I appreciated seeing AFRID from both Ben's point of view and his parents’ point of view. To Ben, this was just how he was, he didn't want to make anyone upset or make anything more difficult, he just wanted to stick to the foods he knew he could eat. His parents were worried about his health and his social life along with how it affected those around him. I was surprised that his parents took so long to get an actual diagnosis for Ben's eating and that they didn't make accommodations for the field trip. In the end, this is a story of Ben finding confidence and comfort with himself and allowing others in.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
Food Fight is a middle grade book showing a very realistic view of AFRID- Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder. Ben was an extremely relatable character and the writing showed an excellent point of view of a sixth grader. Ben dealt with changing friendships, crushes, bullying and taking on new challenges, all of the transitions that happen in middle school along with his eating disorder. I appreciated seeing AFRID from both Ben's point of view and his parents’ point of view. To Ben, this was just how he was, he didn't want to make anyone upset or make anything more difficult, he just wanted to stick to the foods he knew he could eat. His parents were worried about his health and his social life along with how it affected those around him. I was surprised that his parents took so long to get an actual diagnosis for Ben's eating and that they didn't make accommodations for the field trip. In the end, this is a story of Ben finding confidence and comfort with himself and allowing others in.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
June 15, 2023
This is the story of Ben, a smart and athletic boy who is starting middle school, trying to navigate friendship dynamics and a 6th grade overnight trip while coping with a food avoidant disorder that goes beyond being a "picky eater." In each short chapter, Ben narrates his struggles and strategies with friends who don't always have his back, an annoying bully who instinctively picks up on Ben's food sensitivity, and parents who don't see eye to eye on how to respond to Ben's situation. The plot builds as Ben reluctantly joins his class on the 6th grade colonial history weekend and tries to get by on a single pancake, but is forced by hunger and circumstances to come out about his food disorder. The first person narration is beautifully written and gives us a deeper understanding not only of Ben's feelings about his food sensitivity disorder, but also how his perspective grows and changes in many different ways. He learns a lesson in authenticity and friendship from the girl lab partner he wanted to avoid, finds the courage to face his bully, and the emotional intelligence to handle a first crush. The scene is set and the characters develop through each short chapter's mini-crisis.
This book would be an excellent read for any young person, but especially those struggling with a condition that disrupts their life that they would rather keep a secret. Ben's story shows the courage it takes to be your imperfect self out in the world and the power (and relief) that comes from showing up as your authentic self.
This book would be an excellent read for any young person, but especially those struggling with a condition that disrupts their life that they would rather keep a secret. Ben's story shows the courage it takes to be your imperfect self out in the world and the power (and relief) that comes from showing up as your authentic self.
July 27, 2023
Anyone craving a classic middle school book needs a copy of FOOD FIGHT. From class elections, first crushes, friendship troubles, and bullies to surviving a class trip—everything's covered in all its sixth-grade glory.
The story follows Ben, a smart and athletic kid whose biggest speed bump, besides the shifting social landscape of sixth grade, is his eating. There are only ten foods he eats and that fact is getting harder to hide, especially as his social group expands. In fact, he has a condition known as ARFID (Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder), but no way does he want the school faculty or the other kids to know about that. As if simply surviving middle school wasn't hard enough, poor Ben tries his best to hide his problem from everyone on a daily basis but a three day school trip (where outside food isn't allowed) may prove too much to handle.
Ben is such a likable character and the group of kids he hangs out with, from nerdy Olivia to cute Lauren and bully Darren, are so well characterized and three dimensional that it's easy to become swept up in all the social dynamics and drama at play.
Highly recommend getting this book into the hands of as many upper elementary and middle schoolers as possible. A delightful read!
The story follows Ben, a smart and athletic kid whose biggest speed bump, besides the shifting social landscape of sixth grade, is his eating. There are only ten foods he eats and that fact is getting harder to hide, especially as his social group expands. In fact, he has a condition known as ARFID (Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder), but no way does he want the school faculty or the other kids to know about that. As if simply surviving middle school wasn't hard enough, poor Ben tries his best to hide his problem from everyone on a daily basis but a three day school trip (where outside food isn't allowed) may prove too much to handle.
Ben is such a likable character and the group of kids he hangs out with, from nerdy Olivia to cute Lauren and bully Darren, are so well characterized and three dimensional that it's easy to become swept up in all the social dynamics and drama at play.
Highly recommend getting this book into the hands of as many upper elementary and middle schoolers as possible. A delightful read!
July 25, 2023
A middle school saga of the usual things – hero kid gets socially unacceptable science partner, hero kid fails to pull fit girl with best teeth, hero kid hates the idea of school camp trips – all with the added frisson of him being psychologically uber-picky with his food. Handsomely, it starts to read like a drama novel and not a lesson in said picky-eater disorder, and it's enjoyable, even if it does cover so, so many beats we know and recognise from other stories. But it does get a bit heavy-handed with the parents being split in their attitudes to the circumstance, before diverting into what seems (to a British adult at least) far too much about the school council elections. You just kind of hoped, also, that a kid who knows how hard it is to have his reduced diet and not get picked on, was not so judgemental about table mates and lab partners, etc, however realistic it might actually be. All that said, it's a fine traditional story arc, treated very well and quite intelligently, and the audience for whom this is going to be most relatable, most meaningful and most culturally relevant will find it a humdinger.
August 14, 2023
“When you finally become an expert in being yourself, navigating the world gets a whole lot easier.”
They say reading fiction helps develop empathy, and this middle grade novel is the perfect opportunity for young readers—as well as adults!—to find understanding and compassion for picky eaters. Food Fight is about a boy named Ben who has trouble eating most foods. People don’t understand why he won’t “just try” foods like pizza or ice cream, and kids at school begin to make fun of him. What readers learn through this heartfelt and playful novel is that there is a real condition, a Selective Eating Disorder (ARFID), that restricts Ben from being able to eat everything. Davis does an incredible job of explaining why this condition affects kids, and she keeps it entertaining as she takes readers into Ben’s full life.
Ben reminded me so much of my son’s best friend in grade school and I wish this book had been around back then to make sense of what he was going through. If you have a picky eater or know a picky eater, you’ve got to read this!
They say reading fiction helps develop empathy, and this middle grade novel is the perfect opportunity for young readers—as well as adults!—to find understanding and compassion for picky eaters. Food Fight is about a boy named Ben who has trouble eating most foods. People don’t understand why he won’t “just try” foods like pizza or ice cream, and kids at school begin to make fun of him. What readers learn through this heartfelt and playful novel is that there is a real condition, a Selective Eating Disorder (ARFID), that restricts Ben from being able to eat everything. Davis does an incredible job of explaining why this condition affects kids, and she keeps it entertaining as she takes readers into Ben’s full life.
Ben reminded me so much of my son’s best friend in grade school and I wish this book had been around back then to make sense of what he was going through. If you have a picky eater or know a picky eater, you’ve got to read this!
June 7, 2023
*I received a free arc copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
I could see this book being popular. The protagonist is kind of a little irritating at some parts, especially the misogny, but it's definitely styled after how pre-teens would handle situations, friendships in trouble, drama and stress. It also introduces a problem that doesn't get a lot of recognition, which I very much appreciate. It introduces it in a way that describes how it affects the actual sufferer, and the various people in their lives. I wasn't amazed by the ending, it kind of felt rushed and predictable, but again, it's made for children, so it fits into their world better than a story with a bunch of open-ended questions.
#netgalley #foodfight #foodfightbylindabdavis
I could see this book being popular. The protagonist is kind of a little irritating at some parts, especially the misogny, but it's definitely styled after how pre-teens would handle situations, friendships in trouble, drama and stress. It also introduces a problem that doesn't get a lot of recognition, which I very much appreciate. It introduces it in a way that describes how it affects the actual sufferer, and the various people in their lives. I wasn't amazed by the ending, it kind of felt rushed and predictable, but again, it's made for children, so it fits into their world better than a story with a bunch of open-ended questions.
#netgalley #foodfight #foodfightbylindabdavis
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