Big Bones by Laura Dockrill – Book Review

Big Bones by Laura Dockrill – Book Review

Big Bones by Laura Dockrill

Big Bones

Author – Laura Dockrill
Publisher – Hot Key Books
Pages – 400
Released – 8th March 2018
ISBN-13 – 978-1471406928
Format – ebook, paperback
Reviewer – Stacey
Rating – 4.5 Stars
I received a free copy of this book.
This post contains affiliate links.

 

The heartwarming new novel from the sparkling Laura Dockrill, introducing Bluebelle, and her moving, hilarious take on food, body image and how we look after ourselves and others.

It’s a food diary. I have to tell the truth. That’s the point.

Bluebelle, aka BB, aka Big Bones – is a sixteen-year-old girl encouraged to tackle her weight even though she’s perfectly happy, thank you, and getting on with her life and in love with food.

Then a tragedy in the family forces BB to find a new relationship with her body and herself. . .

Tuck in for best mates, belly laughs, boys and the best Bakewell tart.

Review new 2021

Bluebell or BB as she is better know (or Big Bones) is a sixteen-year-old girl who is overweight. She actually doesn’t mind being overweight and embraces her body. She loves food, decent food, but when she has an asthma attack her mum takes her to the nurse who warns her she must lose weight.

After a heated discussion over wanting to get an apprenticeship as a barista instead of going to sixth form, whilst in the nurse’s office, the nurse and her mum come to a decision. She has to keep a food diary for six weeks and she has to join a gym, then they can talk about the apprenticeship when she returns.

BB is a headstrong young woman who likes a challenge so she sets out to write her food diary, although it becomes more of a normal diary featuring food. This is her diary.

Big Bones is an amusing, laugh-out-loud at times book that deals with teenager BB and her weight and her love for food. It also covers her family issues, her mum and dad are having a break from each other and her dad has moved out of the family home. There is also BB’s little sister, thirteen-year-old Dove who loves Parkour.

As well as keeping a food diary and going to the gym (when she can be bothered), she also gets herself a part-time job at Planet Coffee, a cafe run by Australian Alicia who thinks as her staff as aliens, or earthlings, depending on her mood. It is here that BB is trying to get her apprenticeship.

Each chapter is titled mainly by a different food item and BB tells you why she loves or hates that item, as well as something that happens in her life too. I like BB, she didn’t care that she was overweight, she didn’t want to do the same thing everyone else was doing, she was happy just being herself. Yes at times she could be self-centered but I think that had more to do with her age than her weight.

I loved her take on life and also the way she thought about food. It had to look good and taste good, she was a food connoisseur. Dove loved her food too, the difference between the two is that Dove is this slight, slim young girl who never kept still. She was always out with her friends jumping from one rooftop to another, pushing her limits.

This is a beautifully written book that deals with far more than a young girl being overweight. It deals with a lot of things that teenagers BB’s age are going through. Family issues, problems with siblings, what to do once you have finished school, waiting for GCSE results, friendships, and young love.

By the time I’d reached the end of the book, it felt like I’d been following a real persons life. I was invested and I was sorry to reach the final page and would love to hear more from Bluebell in the future.

Reviewed by Stacey


Purchase online from:

Amazon.co.ukAmazon.comBlackwells


About the Author

Laura Dockrill is a performance poet and novelist whose wonderfully inventive and creative approach to life is reflected in the rich and vividly imagined worlds she creates. Laura lives in London.

big bones

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16 Responses

  1. Megan says:

    This book sounds so unique! Thanks for sharing.

  2. Gemma says:

    Sounds like a fun one, thanks for sharing.
    Gemma @ Gemma’s Book Nook

  3. Emma Mane says:

    This seems fun, I’m buying a copy this weekend as I love your review.

  4. DJ Sakata says:

    This sounds fun – I wants it

  5. Melanie Parker says:

    I might have to pick this one up because I’m always looking for good fat representation and this one seems like a lot of fun. Great, fun cover too.

  6. Janina says:

    This sounds great! Super fun and amusing with lots of different aspects and elements that I love. Thanks for sharing!

  7. Aparna Prabhu says:

    I like the sound of this book. I too had read one where chapters were named after food items, but it had a different premise.

  8. Julia Swoons says:

    This looks good! I couldn’t help but laugh as when I looked at her shirt I immediately saw the word arse ?

  9. It was to me. You are welcome.

  10. It is a lot of fun, I hope you enjoy the book.

  11. You should definitely read it.

  12. It is a great book as it is about empowering yourself no matter your size.

  13. You’re welcome. Glad you liked the review.

  14. Only trouble is it makes you hungry.

  15. I saw that first too.