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Maggie Bean #1
The Melting of Maggie Bean
Maggie Bean is a top student, a loyal friend, and has a great sense of humor. But the past year's been kind of rough, what with her dad losing his job and her loads of schoolwork. Maggie's learned to cope by eating chocolate. Lots and lots of chocolate. So much so, that Maggie is dragged by her aunt to weekly Pound Patrollers meetings. No big deal, just utter social devastation. She keeps her mind off PP meetings by "accidentally" running into gorgeous 8th grader Peter Applewood; updating her study spreadsheet--a.k.a, Maggie's Master Multi-Tasker; finding a job for her dad; and secretly practicing for one of the two freshman spots on the synchronized swim team. She's got a long way to go to reach her goals, but when Maggie Bean sets her mind on a goal, nothing--not even a bag of Kit Kats--can stand in her way.
250 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2007
15 people are currently reading
1264 people want to read
About the author
Tricia Rayburn
19 books398 followersTricia Rayburn lives on eastern Long island with her fiancé and crazy shih tzu. She tries to eat vegetables instead of candy but, in her weaker moments, loves Reese's Pieces. The Melting of Maggie Bean is her first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 125 reviews
January 30, 2015
Do you like to read books that tell a person life story? If you do then this is the perfect book for you. The genre of this book is realistic fiction because this could happen to anybody. This book is amazing how a 12 year old reaches her dream of losing weight.
This book is about a 12-year-old girl named Maggie who is really fat but very smart who wants to lose weight some how. Also help her dad find a job but every single day she buys a big bag of candies and also when trying to find her dad a job she tries to force her dad to work. So for losing weight she then gets a try to join the swimming team. Also she looks at newspapers and websites to find her dad a job. Then when joining the swimming team something great happens. The conflict is person vs. self because Maggie is forcing her self to lose weight.
I was satisfied with Maggie trying to find a job for her dad. I thought she was doing a great thing with helping since it was hard living in a small apartment. In the text it stated," My house is tiny that I can turn on the TV on and off from anywhere in the house." I wish that everyone would be like Maggie to find and set a awesome goal. Maggie made it so far after joining the swimming team since she never knew her special talent. In the story it stated," I never knew my special talent after joining the swimming team.
The main character is almost just like my cousin because my cousin used to be fat until one day she set a good goal. Her special talent was being really flexible even if she didn't know it. My cousin lost so much weight that now she even taught me lots of flexible moves. An interesting thing I learned from this book is everyone comes in different sizes but everyone has their own talent. Not everyone is the same everyone is different in their own ways. Like another one of my friends she might be chubby but she can do a perfect split.
I would give this book 4 out of 5 stars because I loved reading how Maggie actually found her inner self. I recommend this book to someone who like reading books about people who struggle at things but then find a special talent. One thing always remember everyone comes in different shapes and sizes.
This book is about a 12-year-old girl named Maggie who is really fat but very smart who wants to lose weight some how. Also help her dad find a job but every single day she buys a big bag of candies and also when trying to find her dad a job she tries to force her dad to work. So for losing weight she then gets a try to join the swimming team. Also she looks at newspapers and websites to find her dad a job. Then when joining the swimming team something great happens. The conflict is person vs. self because Maggie is forcing her self to lose weight.
I was satisfied with Maggie trying to find a job for her dad. I thought she was doing a great thing with helping since it was hard living in a small apartment. In the text it stated," My house is tiny that I can turn on the TV on and off from anywhere in the house." I wish that everyone would be like Maggie to find and set a awesome goal. Maggie made it so far after joining the swimming team since she never knew her special talent. In the story it stated," I never knew my special talent after joining the swimming team.
The main character is almost just like my cousin because my cousin used to be fat until one day she set a good goal. Her special talent was being really flexible even if she didn't know it. My cousin lost so much weight that now she even taught me lots of flexible moves. An interesting thing I learned from this book is everyone comes in different sizes but everyone has their own talent. Not everyone is the same everyone is different in their own ways. Like another one of my friends she might be chubby but she can do a perfect split.
I would give this book 4 out of 5 stars because I loved reading how Maggie actually found her inner self. I recommend this book to someone who like reading books about people who struggle at things but then find a special talent. One thing always remember everyone comes in different shapes and sizes.
May 16, 2017
This book had a lot to do with romance and being overweight, so if your interested in romance and trying to solve the problem of being obese then this is your book. (Not my kind of book though.)
January 24, 2009
This book was awefull, and just plain painful to read.
Maggie was whiny, obnoxious, and unrelatable.
None of the characters had a strong personality, or stuck to teh general discription they were given.
The book was written poorly, they characters had un realistic motives, and it seemed as if Tricia Rayburn just didn't care about writing a well crafted story.
Don't waste your time...
Maggie was whiny, obnoxious, and unrelatable.
None of the characters had a strong personality, or stuck to teh general discription they were given.
The book was written poorly, they characters had un realistic motives, and it seemed as if Tricia Rayburn just didn't care about writing a well crafted story.
Don't waste your time...
July 10, 2012
The library definitely made a mistake in sticking this book in the young adult section, it is much more of a tween book. Even though on the cover it advertises the main character as going into her first year of high school, in actuality she was only in seventh grade. Also the style of writing was less than professional, barely interesting enough to keep me turning the page.
June 11, 2011
Sad at first, but it's good. Not great, good.
June 11, 2017
Not the best book....
Not the worst book.....
Just ok
Not the worst book.....
Just ok
March 28, 2020
I remember really enjoying this book as a kid, but looking back on it I can't help noticing how overexaggerated the focus on Maggie's weight is. I understand this is meant to be fictional, but since my personal experiences with the weight chart treatment at the doctor's office I can't help feeling annoyed just whenever the subject of "weight" is brought up, especially in this book, which portrayes Maggie's weight problems as over-the-top and unrealistic to a point of being distracting.
My biggest problem is the author makes her out to be fatter than she really is. Ten years after reading this I have no trouble recalling the graphic narration of Maggie's post-weight loss appearance; from "her eyes squeezed by large balloony cheeks" to "stretch marks like lightening streaks" to "Maggie making an effort to roll her shirt sleeves over her flesh" to "the plus-sized undergarments she must wear", to simply refusing to wear a bathing suit. These are all quotations re-written in my own words; I don't remember them word-for-word, but you probably get the idea she really is described more as being, say, 80-100 or more pounds overweight than 40 pounds as said in the book. I can't help feeling somewhat offended by how the author describes being 40 pounds overweight as a horror show, when 20 pounds is fairly easy to put on and 40 pounds isn't so far off the mark. It's funny that I found it so problem and even relatable back when I was young.
I also get put off by Maggie's "ideal weight" being implied as at least 145; something that doesn't make sense because my "ideal weight" is the same, and I'm a few inches shorter than Maggie (who is said to be 5'7). I feel like weight-topic books tend to do this; it isn't the first time I read about someone being so tall and their "ideal weight" being so low- I don't know why this is a thing I see in so many books, if it's done intentionally or just from a lack of research.
It's cute how the author uses the term "Pound Patrolers", an obvious alternative name for "Weight Watchers". Looking back on this book I can appreciate the subtle propaganda of weight-loss groups being cult-ish and in-your-face extreme, demonizing junk food and treating celery as the messiah.
You also have the cute boy and mean girls and best friend, which is all just formula. I don't have much more to say about this book.
My biggest problem is the author makes her out to be fatter than she really is. Ten years after reading this I have no trouble recalling the graphic narration of Maggie's post-weight loss appearance; from "her eyes squeezed by large balloony cheeks" to "stretch marks like lightening streaks" to "Maggie making an effort to roll her shirt sleeves over her flesh" to "the plus-sized undergarments she must wear", to simply refusing to wear a bathing suit. These are all quotations re-written in my own words; I don't remember them word-for-word, but you probably get the idea she really is described more as being, say, 80-100 or more pounds overweight than 40 pounds as said in the book. I can't help feeling somewhat offended by how the author describes being 40 pounds overweight as a horror show, when 20 pounds is fairly easy to put on and 40 pounds isn't so far off the mark. It's funny that I found it so problem and even relatable back when I was young.
I also get put off by Maggie's "ideal weight" being implied as at least 145; something that doesn't make sense because my "ideal weight" is the same, and I'm a few inches shorter than Maggie (who is said to be 5'7). I feel like weight-topic books tend to do this; it isn't the first time I read about someone being so tall and their "ideal weight" being so low- I don't know why this is a thing I see in so many books, if it's done intentionally or just from a lack of research.
It's cute how the author uses the term "Pound Patrolers", an obvious alternative name for "Weight Watchers". Looking back on this book I can appreciate the subtle propaganda of weight-loss groups being cult-ish and in-your-face extreme, demonizing junk food and treating celery as the messiah.
You also have the cute boy and mean girls and best friend, which is all just formula. I don't have much more to say about this book.
July 10, 2014
Maggie is slightly overweight, mildly depressed, and a raging academic overachiever. Her best friend, Aimee, is trim and fit, exuberant, and close to failing. Somehow the two compliment each other, and have ever since kindergarten. Maggie's family life is heading towards disaster as her dad just lost his job and he is not motivated to change that situation. Her mother is at her wits end to stop the family's downwardly spiraling financial woes. Her mom cries constantly and is stressed out. But, the one thing her parents are in agreement on...is Maggie's weight! They sign her up for very expensive (money the family doesn't have) classes with the Pound Patrollers with her Aunt Violetta. Maggie finds comfort in chocolate, and plenty of it...but then her friend Aimee lures her into the swimming pool. Maggie has forgotten how soothing the strokes and movement are to her soul. She vows to lose weight, get in shape, and try out for the Water Wings, a synchronized swim team...the same team her mom was a founding member of during junior high. Will Maggie's dream come true, or will petty jealousy of teenage girls dash her hopes?
Every person who has ever been through the pre-teen/teenage years can identify with this story of self-doubt, low self-esteem, friendship, and adults in their lives who both encourage and disappoint.
Every person who has ever been through the pre-teen/teenage years can identify with this story of self-doubt, low self-esteem, friendship, and adults in their lives who both encourage and disappoint.
January 23, 2012
The Melting of Maggie Bean is a amazing story. This book is full of self control and determination. I chose this book because I like the author Tricia Rayburn. When Maggie's dad lost his job and does nothing during the day. Her mother always thinking about money, Maggie just focuses on her straight A's and chocolate. Aimee her friend encourages Maggie to try out for the swim team. Her and Aimee want to succeed with this goal, beacuse it was always Maggie's dream to become a Water Wing. Peter Applewood is a cute baseball player and also Maggie's crush. Maggie dislikes two girls of the Water Wing's team Anabel and Julia, they are very mean to her and her weight. My favorite quote in the book was "When the bell rang, Maggie threw the rest of her books inside the locker and hurried to class, cutting through the girl's bathroom to get there faster, and covering her face with her red French textbook as she passed in front of the mirrors". The authors style was appealing because she didn't use as many quotations as I thought. I would recommend this book to nonfiction lovers.
April 6, 2012
The Melting of Maggie Bean, is a book of hope and struggles of an overweight girl. Maggie Bean, is addicted to chocolate and eats chocolate everyday. She has a secret stash of chocolate bars hidden in her closet, and she buys chocolate everytime she gets her allowance.
When her father loses his job, things start to alter in the house. When the school's swimming team has two spots available, Maggie and her best friend Aimee, wants to try out for their schools swimming team, the Water Wings. However, Maggie is self concious about her weight and how she will not be able to wear a swimsuit without making a fool of herself.
From then on, she starts to change everything. She throws away her secret stash of chocolates that are in her room, and starts to excercise more. With high hopes to lose weight, Maggie never gives up at all even if she has to give up her "prized possessions".
From this book, I learned that if you ever want to achieve your goal, you must try your hardest, even if that means you have to to give up everything you love.
When her father loses his job, things start to alter in the house. When the school's swimming team has two spots available, Maggie and her best friend Aimee, wants to try out for their schools swimming team, the Water Wings. However, Maggie is self concious about her weight and how she will not be able to wear a swimsuit without making a fool of herself.
From then on, she starts to change everything. She throws away her secret stash of chocolates that are in her room, and starts to excercise more. With high hopes to lose weight, Maggie never gives up at all even if she has to give up her "prized possessions".
From this book, I learned that if you ever want to achieve your goal, you must try your hardest, even if that means you have to to give up everything you love.
October 7, 2011
A overweight girl named Maggie Bean has a problem of eating too much. With her biggest crush Peter Apple now single and tryouts for the schools synchronizing now open, throwing her candy out in the trash, and exercising like mad why hasn’t she lost any weight? And It can’t be easy when her dad lost his job and money is tight around the house. Plus having her embarrassing Aunt drive her to her ‘Pound Patrollers’ meetings where over-weight kids and adults come together to talk about how many Snickers they have eaten this week. With all the mean girls laughing at her in P.E Maggie has no confidence to try out for the Synchronizing swim team or talk to Peter. This book is perfect for Girls 10-13 and will have you chuckling in your sleep but also has a good message to it. Will Maggie try out for swimming team? Or lose weight? Read to find out!
March 25, 2020
This book is about a girl who is overweight. She is shy and gets embarrassed easily. Maggie is also not at all athletic. She decides she wants to join water wings, a competitive swim team. She practices really hard.
I did not like this book. Nothing went Maggie's way! Her parents are fighting, her dad lost his job, she's overweight, and her best friend makes water wings, along with two other girls, when Maggie was obviously meant for the team. Maggie is always being put down by others or herself.
I did not like this book. Nothing went Maggie's way! Her parents are fighting, her dad lost his job, she's overweight, and her best friend makes water wings, along with two other girls, when Maggie was obviously meant for the team. Maggie is always being put down by others or herself.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 4, 2008
I am currently in the middle of The Melting Of Maggie Bean i think its a great book about someone who's slightly overweight and is ashamed of it. She overcomes the fear of trying out for the swim team by losing weight. Instead of stashing loads of candy in her room she simply throws it out. She sets a plan for her weight loss and by the end of the week she has lost about 4 pounds. She also plans for her family, especially for finding a job for her dad. This book deserves 5 stars- AJ
August 3, 2021
There’s a lot about this book I’m fine with, but rereading it now as a mostly stable adult, I’m horrified that I read this as a 14 year old. I grew up obsessed with my body, and for years thought that Maggie’s journey was actually healthy. This would be more like 2/3 stars if the author showed Maggie understanding that what she did to her body was dangerous aside from her just passing out. Ugh.
July 13, 2012
This was a good book. I would reccomend the series to anyone from the ages of 9-12 years old its about a girl who is overweight and trys to lose weight. Its really promotes self esteem
November 5, 2019
I've read a book called The Melting of Maggie Bean by Tricia Rayburn. This book is about a girl named Maggie she is a average student in her class a loyal friend also who's having a rough time like her dad lost his job and her mother stressed out about money. When I liked reading this book I liked how the character named Maggie had a positive thoughts who likes to focus on her studdies to reach her goals. Also can her parents give her advice to become healthy since she always likes eating chocolate in her free time so let's see what happens to her. Well if I was in her case I would like enjoy being healthy like eating fruits and slightly exercise like yoga and walking. However I would like to recommend this book to an a seven year old children to read these type of books those who like to hear about interesting books.
By: Shalini Gogineni
By: Shalini Gogineni
Read
June 19, 2024"This is too depressing", maybe that's just because you haven't gone through anything like this? It's supposed to be depressing. The happy ending wasn't even necessary, but it was nice. I've had this book for years and flip through it pretty frequently, the writing isn't phenomenal by any means, but it's cute, and it's definitely real. The recurring theme of mirrors and how Maggie talks about them hit close to my heart, maybe that's why I'm getting all defensive seeing people hate on this book.
December 24, 2017
Maggie is an overweight teenager who wants to become a member of the school synchronized swim team. She began gaining weight when her father lost is job and things at home began to be tense. She tries hard to loose weight and practice the routines with help from a friend; things of course, don't go as planned. A cute middle grade realistic fiction; a quick and easy read.
November 12, 2021
This book was definitely one i'll remember. A modern paced book with a modern setting, this book i wpuld recommend to 11-12 year olds. This book was amazing when I read it and till this day this book pops into my mind. Definitely something i'd recommend.
August 17, 2017
I liked this book. It was really funny. I recommend it.
October 4, 2017
This book is better then the sequel.
May 7, 2020
I thought this was a pretty good book but I didn't really LOVE it.
June 23, 2020
Relateable and a good read for young girls especially!
November 26, 2024
I really couldn't explain why i made grace download this book for me to reread but i did and she did and now i've reread it
February 18, 2026
3.5 stars
It was not mind- blowing good... but, it was amazing for a first book.
It was not mind- blowing good... but, it was amazing for a first book.
April 6, 2018
"In-hailing deeply, she peeked over her stomach, 182. She'd thrown out her candy stash five days before and she'd already lost four pounds!" The melting of Maggie Bean is about a girl named Maggie who wanted to lose some weight. She was over the weight limit compared to all the other girls and she felt very uncomfortable. Her from the text for example,"She wrapped the Terry cloth as best as she could, successfully covering herself from chest to mid thigh." Maggie did not want to show much of her body in a bathing suit. She struggles with the fact of having to give up her weekly candy stash just to lose some weight. I learned that based on your weight, most people won't judge you. I learned that since I read, Maggie wanted to try out for her schools water wings team and you would actually be surprised about the results even she was surprised, and that is what I liked about it. This book is pretty good because now I feel I have gotten a little insight on how overweight people feel. I would recommend this book to young teens who feel they are in a tight situation with weight because they need to know what this book says about weight and that people should be themselves. Maggie Bean will lead the way through her story in which she went through a lot but everything turned out okay.
May 6, 2008
Reviewed by Jennifer Rummel for TeensReadToo.com
Maggie Bean is addicted to candy. She needs a few bags to get her through the pressures of the week. At her house, the tension adds up because her dad's been out of work for months and they're barely scraping by. Maggie's gained weight during this time - so much weight that it's embarrassing her family. And they've decided to take action.
Her parents force her to join a weight center with her aunt. Maggie can't believe the humiliation, but neither can she stop eating candy. Things turn around when two coveted spots on the swim team open up and both Maggie and her best friend decide to try out.
Only Maggie's too embarrassed to be seen in the local pool wearing a swimsuit that grandmothers and pregnant women also wear. So, she decides to train in secret, and no one knows except the other teen in her weight program.
THE MELTING OF MAGGIE BEAN takes a tale of a social outcast and creates a realistic outcome. Maggie has two main goals, but to accomplish them, she'll need to dig down deep and discover her inner strength. Maggie Bean will inspire readers everywhere to strive towards their own goals and make them a reality.
Maggie Bean is addicted to candy. She needs a few bags to get her through the pressures of the week. At her house, the tension adds up because her dad's been out of work for months and they're barely scraping by. Maggie's gained weight during this time - so much weight that it's embarrassing her family. And they've decided to take action.
Her parents force her to join a weight center with her aunt. Maggie can't believe the humiliation, but neither can she stop eating candy. Things turn around when two coveted spots on the swim team open up and both Maggie and her best friend decide to try out.
Only Maggie's too embarrassed to be seen in the local pool wearing a swimsuit that grandmothers and pregnant women also wear. So, she decides to train in secret, and no one knows except the other teen in her weight program.
THE MELTING OF MAGGIE BEAN takes a tale of a social outcast and creates a realistic outcome. Maggie has two main goals, but to accomplish them, she'll need to dig down deep and discover her inner strength. Maggie Bean will inspire readers everywhere to strive towards their own goals and make them a reality.
March 28, 2016
When I was in the 6th grade, I would read massive quantities of books --usually a book a day. I had the time and the imagination, and therefore was always reading something new.
Because of this, I hardly remember any of the books I read!
However, there was something about this book that resonated with me, and that was the story.
I remember this book because, as a fat sixth grader myself, Maggie and her struggles were relatable and her story of perseverance and determination were amazing!
This book probably would not strike me as acceptable reading material now, and that's okay. This book is not for older people with higher reading levels; it's for young girls who feel discouraged and are being told to do something about it!
Overall, a relatable and important story about a young girl who faced her problems and didn't let anyone tell her she couldn't. For a middle school girl, it's a good read.
Because of this, I hardly remember any of the books I read!
However, there was something about this book that resonated with me, and that was the story.
I remember this book because, as a fat sixth grader myself, Maggie and her struggles were relatable and her story of perseverance and determination were amazing!
This book probably would not strike me as acceptable reading material now, and that's okay. This book is not for older people with higher reading levels; it's for young girls who feel discouraged and are being told to do something about it!
Overall, a relatable and important story about a young girl who faced her problems and didn't let anyone tell her she couldn't. For a middle school girl, it's a good read.
March 14, 2009
The Melting of Maggie Bean was a very good book. It waas about a girl who eats too much chocolate and is overweight. During the story, Maggie decides to try out for a swim team with her friend Aimee. Her dad isn't doing well becuase he doesn't have a job. So, Maggie has been trying to loose weight and practive for the tryouts to get on the Water Wings swim team. While she is working on that, Maggie has to start going to a club called pund patrollers with her aunt every Wednesday. During one pound patroller meeting, she meets a boy named Arnie. They become friends and she starts practicing in the lake behind Arnie's house. When it is time for tryouts, she gets in but decides not to do it. After that she is happy for everything that she accomplished. I would recommend this book to any girl who likes girly books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 3, 2011
More like three and a half stars.
Maggie has gained over thirty pounds in the past year. And with those pounds her confidence has dropped to nearly nothing. She thinks she's not good enough to even talk to her crush, or to do anything other than excel at academics. She finds solice in her secret stash of chocolate she hides under her bed. But when an oppotunity to join the Water Wings, her schools synchronized swim team, comes up, she can't ignore the little spark of hope that develops inside of her. She's always wanted this, and fat or not, she's good at it. So she promises herself she'll give it a shot. But what will happen if she doesn't make it? Will she be worse off than not trying at all?
This was a quick read and a really cute book. I found myself cheering Maggie on. There are two others in the series which I would read. Very sweet book.
Maggie has gained over thirty pounds in the past year. And with those pounds her confidence has dropped to nearly nothing. She thinks she's not good enough to even talk to her crush, or to do anything other than excel at academics. She finds solice in her secret stash of chocolate she hides under her bed. But when an oppotunity to join the Water Wings, her schools synchronized swim team, comes up, she can't ignore the little spark of hope that develops inside of her. She's always wanted this, and fat or not, she's good at it. So she promises herself she'll give it a shot. But what will happen if she doesn't make it? Will she be worse off than not trying at all?
This was a quick read and a really cute book. I found myself cheering Maggie on. There are two others in the series which I would read. Very sweet book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 125 reviews