Eliza Bing is (Not) a Big Fat Quitter

Reviewed by: Patricia Temple - Long Island Community Library, Long Island, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: February 10, 2015

Review

Eliza Bing's story is one 10-12 yr olds will relate to whether they have ADHD, as Eliza does, or not. The Bing family is struggling financially with one parent working long hours and the other going to school in hopes of a new career. Eliza desperately wants to take a baking class given by a celebrity chef, but the expense and her track record of quitting things causes her parents to say no. Eliza makes a deal with them to take over a spot in Taekwondo class from her Brother, prove she can stick with something and be enrolled in the next baking class. Eliza rises to so many challenges. She learns a new sport, learns to control her impulses, navigates new and old friendships and most of all gains confidence. Written entirely from Eliza'a point of view, readers get a glimpse int the day to day struggles of someone coping with ADHD. The author has written a main character that is easy to identify with, in a fast paced story with warmth, humor and a believable, satisfying ending. I would recommend this to a broad range of readers, for example, sports fans, reluctant readers or anyone who has ADHD or knows someone living with it.

Overall Book Score: very good