Future Perfect

Reviewed by: Kristin Taylor - Biddeford High School, Biddeford, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: March 8, 2016

Review

The author's first hand knowledge of weight-loss makes this an exciting and personable book. Ashley Maria Perkins is fat, of mixed ethnicity, validectorian of her elite private high school and former captain of the volley ball team. Ashley's dream has always been to go to Harvard and become a surgeon like her famous and brilliant grandmother. The only problem is how is she going to pay for it.

Every year since her 13th birthday, her grandmother has given her a coupon in her birthday card for trips to Disneyland, a shopping trip to Paris and a new car and the latest and greatest was a full tuition to Harvard. The only condition was to lose weight and these wonderful gifts would happen. She never accepted these gifts because she didn't feel that she needed to lose the weight, but how could she pass up Harvard -- it was a hard decision -- weight-loss surgery would pave her way and fulfill her greatest dream, but was it worth it.

This is Jen Larsen's first fiction, but her nonfiction "Stranger Here: How Weight-Loss Surgery Transformed My Body and Messed with My Head" was on the bestseller charts. She uses her experiences to create a must read Young Adult novel that makes you think. Well written and could be used for discussions on weight-loss, confidence, friendship, family and much more. Geared for 7-12 grades, but could be easily enjoyed by adults. There is a lot of drama involved with this story, but it is still an enjoyable read.

Overall Book Score: excellent