Wednesday, February 27, 2013

The FAT ANGIE Giveaway!

Many of our readers know the award-winning filmmaker and author, e. E. Charlton-Trujillo, from her young adult novels, FEELS LIKE HOME and PRIZEFIGHTER EN MI CASA.

We were delighted to get an advanced ready copy (ARC) of her newest young adult novel, FAT ANGIE which releases March 12, and to share this copy with one our YA Fresh commenters!



Her sister was captured in Iraq, she’s the resident laughingstock at school, and her therapist tells her to count instead of eat. Can a daring new girl in her life really change anything?

“Charlton-Trujillo offers a hard-hitting third novel that swings between incredibly painful low moments and hard-won victories.” Publisher’s Weekly, Starred Review

* * * * *
While we don’t often review books on YA Fresh, I was already a fan of e. E. Charlton-Trujillo’s writing, and became captivated by the publisher’s blurb referring to it as a “darkly comic anti-romantic romance,” so I jumped right in as soon as the book arrived.


Right from the get-go, it’s clear that Angie’s problems far outweigh the average teen’s.  She feels “broken--by her can’t-be-bothered mother, by her high-school tormenters, and by being the only one who thinks she varsity-athlete-turned-war-hero sister is still alive.”  She has attempted suicide inside the crowded school gym.  Her only solace is junk food--until a new girl, KC, arrives at school who “is one hundred and ninety-nine percent wow...and who knows too well that the package doesn’t always match what’s inside.”

FAT ANGIE wasn’t an easy book for me to absorb.  I put it down a few times to get a breather from the high-arcing tension and the characters who could have helped her, yet whose actions exacerbated Angie’s problems and pain.  Keeping the pages turning through the tough scenes for me was Charlton-Trujillo’s spot-on, wry prose, and the strong attachment she’d helped me develop to Angie, making me want to be there for this girl when others weren’t, and to root her on to the happiness I knew she would find, through KC, and her own evolving character.

With an age range of 14 and up, I give a full “five stars” to this tough, yet compelling  read.

And I’d like to share a couple “teaser” photos from the book trailer currently in progress, which I believe to be showing the actresses playing Angie, and some of her high school tormenters.


 
When the trailer is available, I’ll be sure to post it here for full viewing.

So now, for our giveaway.  Please drop down and leave us a comment, simply telling us why you’d like to win a ARC of FAT ANGIE!

 


15 fresh comments:

Cary said...

Wow! "Fat Angie" sounds terrific. Can't wait to read it!

Cary said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Unknown said...

I am excited to read this and being the winner would be grand.

Unknown said...

This book sounds amazing. I am already a fan of e. E. Charlton-Trujillo’s writing, but anything described as a "darkly comic anti-romantic romance" immediately gets moved to the top of the reading list!

Janie Emaus said...

This sounds like a great book. Thanks for sharing it with us.

Llehn said...

Would love to read it because it sounds intriguing!

Unknown said...

We would love to read this book! So many teens are bullied today and it is so wrong and also sad! I hope this book brings attention to this situation and teaches that all people are human and should be treated with kindness and respect.

Kelly (Lynn) Parra said...

Sounds great! Good luck to everyone!

Jenel said...

Ooooh! That sounds so good. I think most of us can relate to feeling like an outsider. I'm really happy to see the growth of the anti-bullying movement. It really does get better after high school.

Janet Halfmann: http://www.janethalfmannauthor.com said...

Sounds like a great read. I'd love to win a copy.

Tricia C. said...

I teach teenagers who are desperately trying to figure out who and what they are. Bullying is a nasty thread that we constantly pick at and try to pull out, but it resurfaces. I don't think we'll every conquer it, and I think it offers us a chance to connect and lead kids. It offers them a chance to figure out who and what they stand for and with. Any book that gives them insight into their own pain and the pain of others is one that I want in my classroom library. Thanks so much for making me aware of this novel!

TinaFerraro said...

Thanks to all who commented! See the next post for the winner's name!

Tammy said...

If your giveaway is still going on I would love to enter. I read your review yesterday-hooked me-then spent the next couple of hours finding out everything I could about the book and the author. I would love to have the opportunity to read and review Fat Angie.
Thanks.
tmdahle@centurytel.net

TinaFerraro said...

Hi, Tammy, since you left your e-mail, I will respond to you personally, but sorry, the giveaway has ended. Tina

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.