Bianca
Written on Oct 9, 2016
Gorgeously written and oh-so-deeply felt - Nicola Yoon, author of Everything Everything and The Sun is Also a Star
From the author of the New York Times bestseller All the Bright Places comes a heart-wrenching story about what it means to see (and love) someone for who they truly are.
Everyone thinks they know Libby Strout.
I know the part I want to play here at MVB High. I want to be the girl who can do anything.
Once dubed 'America's Fattest Teen', she is only seen for her weight. Not the girl underneath.
Since her mum's death she's been picking up the pieces in private, alone with her heartbroken father.
But now, Libby is ready. She's ready for high school, for new friends, for love and for every possibility life has to offer.
Everyone thinks they know Jack Masselin too.
Be charming. Be hilarious. Don't get too close to anyone.
Yes, he's got swagger, but he's also mastered the art of fitting in.
What no one knows is that Jack has a secret: he can't recognize faces. Even his own brothers are strangers to him.
He's the guy who can re-engineer and rebuild anything, but he can't understand what's going on with the inner workings of his own brain.
When Jack and Libby meet, they discover that the more time they spend together, the less alone they feel.
- ISBN10 0141357053
- ISBN13 9780141357058
- Publish Date 6 October 2016 (first published 4 October 2016)
- Publish Status Active
- Publish Country GB
- Imprint Penguin Books Ltd
- Format Paperback (B-Format (198x129 mm))
- Pages 432
- Language English
Reviews
Sam@WLABB
Written on Oct 1, 2016
This story is told in alternating POVs from Libby, formerly America's fattest teen, and Jack, who secretly struggles with a neurological disorder. These characters are both very well developed, and have so many wonderful layers. It was a privilege to get to know both of them, and to be part of their world for the short time it took me to read this book.
For me, Libby was the standout character. She had suffered personal losses, verbal and written attacks, but she made a decision to still get out there in the world, and experience everything. She did not wallow in self pity (only a little), and she reluctantly accepted her "job" as the one to teach people kindness and empathy. And Jack, he can see her, like really see down through her flesh to the depths of her beautiful heart and soul. I really got a full picture of this wonderful character by reading her thoughts and actions, but also by the way she is described by other characters, especially Jack.
Jack was so complicated. He wanted to be a better person. He was a better person, but he often made poor choices to cover for his disorder. This caused many complications in his life. I have heard of prosopagnosia (face blindness), but never knew anyone who had it. I thought Niven did a good job educating the reader, and I always appreciate walking away from a book having learned a little something. One thing I really loved about Jack was his relationship with his little brother. He took his role as the big brother quite seriously, and you could see that in his interactions with Dusty. He wanted to be better, to be a role model, but he also admitted when he failed or was wrong, and that was important too.
I really appreciated a lot of the not-in-your-face social commentary, because I agree with many of the observations. The way people felt they had a right to send rude and cruel missives to Libby after she had to be removed from her home or how they had the right to condemn her father as a poor parent. The way people often see bullying and either stand by and watch or join in. But there are also some people out there like Libby, who will assert their right to say that they matter, they are wanted, they are loved. There is a line in there from one of the most unlikely characters about how we all are a little messed up in some way, but that's ok.
I am happy a book like this exists. It joins a list of books I think are wonderful, and I wish existed when I was younger. I am disappointed that people passed judgement on this book without reading it, because I know Niven's words with resonate with many readers, and may be important to many readers. Thank you Jennifer Niven for another very special and heartfelt book (and for no soul crushing deaths.)
Jo
Written on Sep 20, 2016
Please note: I have a lot of thoughts about this book, so this is a very long review.
I cannot tell you how deeply I fell for Jennifer Niven's YA debut All the Bright Places last year. I was so moved by that book, it's stayed with me, and though I haven't yet re-read it, I can still see scenes from it; I can see and hear Finch, I remember quotes... it's just one of the most incredible books I've ever read. So I was absolutely over the moon to hear about Niven's second YA novel, Holding Up the Universe. This story is just perfection.
When Libby Strout's mother died when she was 11, Libby was so overcome with grief, the only way she could deal with it was to eat. And eat. Until she was so big she couldn't fit through her front door. Now, after medical help and couselling, Libby isn't as big as she was and is ready to return to high school. She is feeling confident and brave, and ready to show the world who Libby Strout really is. But her high school peers aren't as welcoming as they could be.
Cool and funny, Jack Masselin is liked by everyone. But what no-one knows is that Jack has Prosopagnosia; he can't recognise people's faces - when he looks away, or they turn around, he completely forgets their facial features. He doesn't recognise his family or himself. He goes through life putting on a front to try and keep his condition under wraps, but each and every day at school is a struggle when he can't be sure who is who.
When Jack's friends start playing a cruel game on their fellow students, Jack is uneasy. It's humiliating, it's hurtful, it's bullying. He doesn't know how far his friends will go, but if he takes part, he can make sure things don't go to far. The game leads to Jack and Libby having to take part in group counselling, and though Libby can't stand him at first, as the two get to know each other, for the first time, they both felt seen - Libby sees the person behind the front, Jack sees the person beyond the weight - and everything changes.
I need to start off by saying that Holding Up the Universe is not All the Bright Places. Expecting it to be so, even though I adore that book so much, is unfair to this story, and I think puts too much pressure on Niven to write a book that matches or surpasses All the Bright Places. These are two completely different stories. The only thing they have in common is that they deal with grief, but the way they do that is completely different. Do not go reading Holding Up the Universe expecting All the Bright Places. But do read it expecting an incredible, amazing story, because that is exactly what you'll get.
This book is really interesting, because at the heart, it's a romance, but Jack and Libby have their own individual stories and struggles, too. Libby has anxiety and is recovering from an eating disorder, she's still grieving for her mother, and she's bullied because of her weight. As well as his Prosopagnosia, Jack is dealing with some family issues. And yes, they help each other to some extent, but mainly, and most importantly, they do the work themselves. Libby may give Jack a nudge in the right direction with her support, but it's Jack who takes the initiative to finally get himself tested, to understand more about his brain, and to, eventually, come to terms with it. Jack may have a thing for Libby, but Libby's sense of self-worth doesn't come from Jack being attracted to her, that comes all from herself. And though I absolutely adored the romance between Libby and Jack, and how they affect each other, I was equally invested in their individual stories.
I felt kind of uncomfortable at the beginning of the book. Libby is bullied for her size throughout the novel, and it's bloody disgusting. But when a main character, a narrator you're starting to like, becomes the bully... I really, really struggled with that. There is absolutely no excuse, and I can't forgive Jack for what he did, but at the same time, I understand, and that is what I really struggle with. Jack didn't want to bully Libby, he felt sick at the very thought, but he was genuinely worried about what his friends would do to her, how far they would go, if he wasn't the one who "played the game" (I'm not going to talk about it, you can read it, it's just too awful to give words to.). So why didn't he just tell his friends they were out of order and they shouldn't be doing this? Because they were his friends, and without them, with his Prosopagnosia, who would he have?
There's a moment where Jack wonders if he's friends with Seth and Kam because he likes them, or because they have unique identifiers - certain features that he can identify as definitely their's and not someone else's, like Kam's white-blonde hair and Seth being the only black guy at school with a mohawk and his very destinct laugh. Jack is pretty certain that he's looking at Kam or looking at Seth when he sees them, because no-one has hair, or a laugh, like them. But other people are too similar. With these guys, he's safe; he doesn't have to worry about if this person is who he thinks they are, he knows. It's difficult to be friends with other people when, to him, they all look the same. So if he tells them to back off and leave Libby alone? He'll end up alone. But if he bullies Libby himself, he can make sure things don't go from disgusting to far, far worse. I can't let him off for what he did and I don't like it, but I can understand why he did it. And as the story went on, I really felt for him. There is a truly heartbreaking moment when Jack has to pick up his little brother from a party, and, oh my god, it is one of the most upsetting things I've ever read.
Libby is a force to be reckoned with. She has spent far too long in her house or in hospital to let bullies stop her now. How she's treated does affect her, and she does doubt whether going to high school rather than continuing with home schooling was wise, but she strengthens her resolve, and keeps going. And Libby challenges stereotypes; she's a big girl, but she's an incredibly fast runner, and thi girl can dance. The dance is in her, as she says, and she dreams of joining the high school's dance troupe and applies to audition. Despite her size, despite how people treat her. She loves to dance, so why shouldn't she? And why should her weight be a problem when she's got the moves? Libby is still a big girl, but she's happy in her skin now - it's everyone else who has the problem.
'It is my job in life, apparently, to teach gawking, laughing girls lessons about kindness. [...]
I know what you're thinking--if you hate it so much and it's such a burden, just lose the weight, and then that job will go away. But I'm comfortable where I am. I may lose more weight. I may not. But why should what I weigh impact other people? I mean, unless I'm sitting on them, who cares?' (p310)*
Libby is just absolutely amazing. She takes a stand against the bullying and fat-shaming in such an incredible way, I am in complete awe of her. Seriously, it's epic. And the way she stands up to how she's treated, challenges the views of others and impossible beauty standards, it's like her own feminist campaign. Feminism is not mentioned at any point in this book, but I feel certain that Libby is a feminist in the making. She's wonderful!
I also want to touch on Libby's anxiety. It's not a major element of the book, but it's present and something Libby struggles with occassionally. And as someone who was diagnosed with anxiety a few months back, it was so wonderful to read about a character who has anxiety, where it wasn't ruling their life. It's just a part of it. It made me hopeful that I'll get to the point where my anxiety is just a part of my life, and not so prominent. The panic attacks she does have felt realistic, and it was great to read in the acknowledgements that Niven herself struggled with anxiety - as well as weight issues and bullying - when she was Libby's age, so it's great to know Holding Up the Universe is an #OwnVoices novel.
Libby's anxiety was born from the death of her mother, who died out of the blue because of an aneurysm. Years have gone by, but the pain and sorrow are still with her. It's thoughts of her mother, the things she taught her, the sayings she had, that informed Libby's actions and keep her going, as well as what she thinks her mother would say to her about certain situations if she was still alive. She tries to be the daughter her mum would be proud of.
Together, Libby and Jack are adorable. Neither of them are perfect, neither are as honest as they could be, and things aren't always wonderful. But they each give each other something they have never had before, and oh my god, their moments together and how they think of each other, it's just so, so beautiful.
Finally, this book is brilliant when it comes to diversity. As stated, Libby has anxiety and had an eating disorder, Jack is biracial, with an African-American mum and a white dad, and has Prosopagnosia, which, by some who have the condition, consider to be a disability (though others don't. Clarified by Disability in Kidlit on Twitter.) There are also a wide range of secondary characters from various ethnic backgrounds.
This isn't All the Bright Places, but Holding Up the Universe has a similar feel. While reading this book, your heart will break and your heart will mend. When I went to bed after finishing it, I couldn't stop thinking about Libby and Jack and their story. I was so moved by the beauty of Holding Up the Universe, it brought tears to my eyes. Niven has written another unbelievable novel that has deeply affected me, another I won't forget. With these two books, Niven has firmly secured a place as one of my favourite authors.
*Please note my copy of Holding Up the Universe is a proof, so this quote may be different in the final, finished copy, and may be on a different page.
Thank you to Penguin for the proof.
abigailjohnson
Written on Sep 13, 2016
Kelly
Written on Aug 7, 2016
Holding Up The Universe was a candid and often confronting storyline of those who have been labelled and ostracised from their peers. It was beautifully written with compassion and conviction for those who aren't what society accepts as perfect, rather than to celebrate our differences.
Libby isn't an overweight girl, she's larger than life. A girl whose health had declined after the death of her mother at the tender age of eleven. She lived a meagre existence by being restricted to the confines of her bedroom, home schooled due to her weight gain and relying on imaginary friendships with the neighbourhood children. Until a health scare sees Libby labelled as America's Fattest Teen and made into a spectacle. Now three years later, Libby has taken control of her health and is determined to enjoy the adolescent experience. Attending school. Meeting new friends. Even falling in love.
Libby Strout is a force to be reckoned with. She's still considered overweight by her peers but she's healthy, she's happy and taken control of her life again. Most importantly, Libby won't allow others to diminish her self confidence, especially not Jack.
Jack is living the ultimate adolescent experience. Although popular and attractive, Jack's life is a facade. Behind the charismatic personality lies a condition in which Jack has self diagnosed a cognitive disorder, where he lacks the ability to recognise familiar faces. Prosopagnosia is a debilitating condition, where sufferers use Identifiers to recognise family and friends such as sounds, physical cues and body shape. So naturally he identifies Libby as the large girl.
Jack can see Libby. He can see her impeccably long eyelashes, her warm, welcoming smile and soon he begins to see Libby beyond her weight. Although I enjoyed the tentative friendship Jack and Libby shared, I was conflicted when it came to the degrading incident that had brought the two together. Jack appeared to be little more than a coward who gave into the cruel game to protect his own reputation. There is absolutely no excuse for cruelty towards others or degradation and I can't imagine that in a non fictional circumstance, the lovely Libby would have been so forgiving.
Most readers will struggle with Jack's character, which I assume is exactly as intended. Jack represents teen pressure and the need to be accepted by our peers. He isn't a malicious person but may be painted as the villain especially for those who have faced the same torment, projecting their own teen oppressors onto that of Jack. Even as an adult, most women still suffer from insecurities and we carry the scars of our teen years that weren't particularly kind. But Jack's character seeks redemption, not willing to excuse his behaviour on his condition but to seek an understanding and acceptance of our differences. Jack isn't perfect and I applaud Jennifer Niven for creating a flawed character among young adult literature which tends to focus on the pursuit of perfection.
Libby is magnificent. I loved her character fiercely for her tenacity and moxie, for her dancing without abandon and her ability to stand up for the injustice in our world, although she's defiant not to become a poster child for fat girls. Although Libby was vulnerable to ridicule, her confidence was inspiring and may empower teens and promote greater self confidence despite our inhibitions and critical natures.
Jennifer Niven is a wonderfully accomplished author, able to invoke emotional responses in readers through realistically flawed characters. Although subjective, Libby's story is not uncommon sadly. Society places a great emphasis on the female body image and often we ourselves are our greatest critics and tend to equate happiness within ourselves with how we are perceived by others.
Life is too short to judge others. It is not our job to tell someone what they feel or who they are. Why not spend some time on yourself instead?
No truer words have been spoken.
Leah
Written on Jul 29, 2016
Holding Up The Universe is one of those books that has you fist-pumping at least once a chapter, because between them, Libby and Jack are pretty freaking awesome. I genuinely admired Libby, because I’m overweight, and I hate it, but she loves how she looks now, and sure she’s lost some weight, but that was because her health needed it, she needed to lose weight to survive. And now she’s at a weight she’s happy with, and sure she’s still overweight, and sure, there are still awful, horrific, mean people who try to fat-shame her but Libby likes the way she looks and that’s SUCH an important message. Sometimes being fat isn’t about being lazy, unhealthy, unfit, as proven when Libby chases a jerk down, in one of my favourite scenes. She kicks ass – literally, just ask Jack. Jack, on the other hand, can be a bit of a jerk, and he confesses to being a jerk (which doesn’t make it right, but hey, he’s honest) but Jack also has face blindness, which I’ve never even heard of until now, which means that literally every face he sees, he forgets when he looks away. Everyone is a stranger to him, even his own family, and that’s scary. We take for granted the fact we can recognise people or things without a second thought and yet Jack has to pick out identifiers to tell him who people are (and even that doesn’t always go to plan).
I loved everything about this book. Libby and Jack’s voices were so real to me, so honest, so amazing. I laughed, I wanted to cry, I wanted to roar, I wanted to be part of Libby’s group of friends (because, yes, Caroline, Libby has friends, as if fat people can’t have friends) and maybe even join her when she’s dancing (although that’s debatable as I CANNOT DANCE). Holding Up The Universe just spoke to me on all the levels. It was about two people genuinely liking each other for who they were, and that’s mind-blowing. Libby is one of the coolest MCs you’ll ever meet. She’s fearless. She’s like a warrior and I bow down to her greatness and her sass. And apart from the few times he acted like a douche, I did love Jack. His honesty, how he faced his face blindness head on, I just couldn’t imagine not being able to recognise people, that would scare me.
This is an amazing book. Seriously, ignore all the idiots shaming this book, because this book is amazing and special. Libby is one of the strongest MCs I’ve come across in ages, and Jack is relatively sweet when he puts his mind to it, and also his little brother Dusty is ADORABLE. Like for reals. I haven’t read All The Bright Places (yet!) but I know Jennifer is a very special writer, with a long career ahead of her if Holding Up The Universe is anything to go on because I absolutely loved it. I need a real copy of this book for my shelf, I loved it that much.