The novel written by Julia Bell is a great book for teenagers dealing with weight issues and eating disorders. 

The main character Carmen is okay with her weight in the beginning of the story.  It is her mother that has a problem with Carmens weight.

Her mother puts Carmen, her perfectly fine daughter, on diets and restricts what she can and cannot eat.  Why is the important question here.  Does she do it because she just wants what is best for her daughter?  Is it because of her own weight issues?  Read and then decide for yourself.

She decides, out of the blue, to take her daughter to a whole new place to live.  She says it is a fresh new start, and has all of her other reasonings. At first it may seem like a move is a good idea, however in the end it only detriments both of their lives.  Carmen ends up thinking she is overweight and her mother goes off the deep end….and for what?

I have seen things like this happen in families and it is just a shame.

Perhaps it is not always weight issues, but parents problems eventually become the childrens.  For example, showing affection.  As a child, if the parents do not show much affection towards their children, when the child grows up and have children of their own, they will carry the problem with lack of affection. 

So it is best to be cautious with what you teach your children, so they do not grow up with the same problems.

With all that said, I think Julia Bell is a talented author.  She shows truth in her novel, Massive.  It is okay to like the skin you are in, because it is yours.  Why not make the best of it, because after all you only get one life; one body.  Sure you can alter things, but why not just embrace who you are?

For those who have not read Massive, I suggest you get a copy.  It is well worth the read.