Artichoke's Heart by Suzanne Supplee

  224 pages

From Goodreads:

Rosemary Goode is smart and funny and loyal and the best eyebrow waxer in Spring Hill, Tennessee. But only one thing seems to matter to anyone, including Rosemary: her weight. And when your mom runs the most successful (and gossipy) beauty shop in town, it can be hard to keep a low profile. Rosemary resolves to lose the weight, but her journey turns out to be about everything but the scale. Her life-changing, waist-shrinking year is captured with brutal honesty and humor, topped with an extralarge helping of Southern charm. A truly uncommon novel about an increasingly common problem.

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Rosemary Goode has always struggled with her weight, she's tired of the constant teasing at school, and the nagging about eating right, and exercising from her mom, and pushy aunt. 

I enjoyed Artichoke's Heart so much.  The characters were excellent especially the main character Rosemary Goode.  I really felt for Rosemary, her frustrations concerning her weight were emotional, and sad.  So much is made in today's world about the perfect body, and the expectations the young girls have are outrageous. The pressure of being thin, and pleasing her family has Rosemary going about the wrong way to lose the pounds.  I could understand the "healthy" aspect of exercising and eating right, so I understand her mom trying to encourage Rosemary to be more active, and watch what she put in her body.  As a parent though it is a fine line you have to walk when discussing weight, and being healthy. The story takes a turn for the real serious when Rosemary's mother is diagnosed with cancer.  

Artichoke's Heart had it's light moments when readers are introduced to Rosemary's crush, Kyle.  I love the character of Kyle.  He's a nice, handsome football player that can see underneath Rosemary's exterior.  I really enjoyed the progression of their romance. 

Artichoke's Heart touched on a subject that many of our young adults are going through right now, and author Suzanne Supplee did it in a pleasing way.  I really enjoyed this book, and would definitely be reading more from Suzanne Supplee. 


Rating: 4