Review: I Can Hardly Wait

According to recent studies and surveys conducted in the USA, children who are overweight have reached epidemic levels. It appears that the number of overweight children between the ages of 6 and 17 has doubled in the last two to three decades and one in five is now overweight.

With this in mind, how do you engage and tactfully inform young readers about the health and social ramifications of being overweight? Moreover, how do you present information that increases awareness and understanding of the challenges of being overweight without sounding preachy or overwhelming with too much emphasis on technical detail and conjecture? No doubt, not an easy feat.

Judith K. Olsen's debut novel, I Can Hardly Wait seems to have found just the right formula and balance with her sensitive story that focuses on a fictional character, Samuel Ellis, who always thought of himself as “large." Sammy, as he is known to his family and friends, describes himself to his best friend, Chubs, as “one of those gingerbread cookie guys that Grandma Ruthie bakes at Christmas time. All kind of round and doughy."

From the moment Sammy begins his day he is reminded by his “health-nut" mother that he must watch what he eats. However, Sammy can't control the temptation to devour junk food and manages to hide all kinds of goodies under his bed. He even persuades his friend Chubs, who calls himself an “enabler," to pack extra food in his lunch box to satisfy Sammy's voracious appetite.

Olsen capably plots her story as she transports readers through conflict, challenge, suspense and satisfactory resolution. In addition, she subtly touches on such themes as self-esteem, motivation, choices, understanding the consequences of one's actions, and accepting defeat. Sammy’s emotions and experiences are nicely captured and it's impossible not to cheer for someone who is intelligent and sensitive struggling to come to terms with his weight problem and his frustrations.

In addition, in fashioning the friendship between two schoolmates, Olsen throws in much humor where Chubs hilariously misuses proverbs and expressions. For example, “you can't teach a new dog old tricks" or the President of the USA spends time in the “Awful Office."

This is a novel that deals intelligently with a serious and timely topic and it can be enjoyed as much by adults as by young readers. Moreover, teachers will find its themes helpful for curriculum support. Olsen even provides at the end of her book, “After Reading Questions For Parents & Teachers and After Reading Activities."

Olsen, as she mentions on the back cover of her book, has throughout her own life struggled with weight and as an adult she discovered she is a diabetic.She has also taught middle grades and gifted kids for 40 years. Consequently, it is little wonder that the themes she deals with reflect her affinity with and respect for children and as she states, “being overweight doesn't have to be a lifetime sentence."

The above review was contributed by: NORM GOLDMAN: Editor & Publisher of Bookpleasures. Here are more of Norm Goldman's Reviews

To read Norm's Interview with Judith K. Olsen CLICK HERE