May

May was an exceptionally busy month with end-of-the-school-year activities. Plus I had to finish my school year as well. Lots of grading involved there. Trying to find a day where no one had an activity and Dakota wasn't working just didn't happen. We also had to find time to plant the garden. We barely got that done in May as well. The only goal I got completed for the month was reading a book. I read it on May 31.

I chose a Young Adult book. The book was Artichoke's Heart by Suzanne Supplee. It was a very popular book a couple of years ago at the middle school where I teach. My daughter also had it and liked the book. I knew I could finish it in a day and that was all I had so those are the reasons why I picked this book.

As a person who has always struggled with weight, I could relate to Rosemary's struggles with being overweight. Rosemary's mother was 17 years old and single when she had Rosemary. She now owns a beauty salon and is well-loved by the community. Rosemary's Aunt Mary is continually on her about losing weight.

When Rosemary's "fat" pants no longer fit and when she has hit her all time high weight, she decides to   quietly lose weight. She starts with diet drinks and then works on exercising. Along the way she picks up a former popular girl, Kay-Kay as a best friend.

She also ends up getting the boy of her dreams for her boyfriend. I know this is a YA book, but I have never met a person who got their "Jake Ryan" so the fact that Rosemary ends up with her dream guy is a stretch. Real life doesn't work that way. The weight loss and the struggle are real. 

I did like that the book did not have the perfect ending. Not everything is wrapped up neatly.