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Holding Up the Universe cover art

Holding Up the Universe

Written by: Jennifer Niven
Narrated by: Jorjeana Marie, Robbie Daymond
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Publisher's Summary

From the author of the New York Times best-seller All the Bright Places comes a heart-wrenching story about what it means to see someone - and love someone - for who they truly are.

Everyone thinks they know Libby Strout, the girl once dubbed "America's Fattest Teen". But no one's taken the time to look past her weight to get to know who she really is. Following her mom's death, she's been picking up the pieces in the privacy of her home, dealing with her heartbroken father and her own grief. Now Libby's ready: for high school, for new friends, for love, and for every possibility life has to offer. In that moment I know the part I want to play here at MVB High. I want to be the girl who can do anything.

Everyone thinks they know Jack Masselin, too. Yes, he's got swagger, but he's also mastered the impossible art of giving people what they want, of fitting in. What no one knows is that Jack has a newly acquired secret: He can't recognize faces. Even his own brothers are strangers to him. He's the guy who can reengineer and rebuild anything in new and badass ways, but he can't understand what's going on with the inner workings of his brain. So he tells himself to play it cool: Be charming. Be hilarious. Don't get too close to anyone.

Until he meets Libby. When the two get tangled up in a cruel high school game - which lands them in group counseling and community service - Libby and Jack are both pissed, and then surprised. Because the more time they spend together, the less alone they feel. Because sometimes when you meet someone, it changes the world, theirs and yours.

Jennifer Niven delivers another poignant, exhilarating love story about finding that person who sees you for who you are - and seeing them right back.

©2016 Jennifer Niven (P)2016 Listening Library

What the critics say

"[Niven] creates two indelible characters and a heart-stopping romance." ( Publishers Weekly)
"Written in short chapters of alternating perspectives, this is a thoughtful exploration of identity and self-acceptance, with commentary on overcoming adversities that will hit close to home." ( School Library Journal)

What listeners say about Holding Up the Universe

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too good :D

i really liked this book. if you like this kind of reading, i suggest "i'll give you the sun" by Jandy Nelson! have a good read 😘

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Just wasn't into it

Overall, I felt like the plot of the story felt a bit shallow.
Perhaps that's me, projecting my own insecurities on this book but it felt like the entire book was just about how shocking and unbelievable it is for a guy to love a bigger girl and the only reason he did was because he had a secret of his own and they helped each other out.

The bullying and struggle of being bigger felt exaggerated (maybe I'm just naïve in thinking that you wouldn't need a crane to take a young fat girl out of a house and that people aren't as awful as they were portrayed).

Maybe if I was younger I would have liked this book a bit better but I was hoping for a bit more.

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Holding up the universe

It was so good I loved it it told a very powerful story about this

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