1 Year, 100 Pounds: My Journey to a Better, Happier Life

Gr 8 Up—One hundred pounds overweight at the age of 14, Holcombe made the life-altering decision to slim down. Over the course of a year, through exercise and healthy eating, she dropped 100 pounds and was able to change not only her body shape but also her self-image. Drawing on her own experience, she has crafted a self-help guide for teenage girls desiring to lose weight. Writing in a friendly, informal style, she takes a common-sense approach with a bit of tough love and encouragement thrown in. Exercise routines, nutrition advice, and meal planning are included. Additionally, Holcombe addresses potentially thorny topics such as how to deal with family members whose unhealthy eating habits pose a challenge to weight-loss success, how to work on issues of motivation and self-discipline, and strategies for dealing with challenging situations that might sabotage progress, like eating out and sleepovers with friends. Holcombe is a cheerleader for adopting a healthy lifestyle-there are no quick fixes here. In fact, she is critical of those who opt for bariatric surgery or follow any kind of fad diet. Recommended for teens looking for a get-your-life-in-gear pep talk followed by good solid advice.—Ragan O'Malley, Saint Ann's School, Brooklyn, NY