The Heart Is Not a Size by Beth Kephart: Book Cover

    The Heart Is Not a Size by Beth Kephart

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    (Hardcover)

    • Age Range: Young Adult
    • Pub. Date: March 30, 2010
    • 256pp

    Reader Rating: (1 ratings)

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      Product Details

      • Pub. Date: March 30, 2010
      • Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
      • Format: Hardcover, 256pp
      • Age Range: Young Adult

      VOYA

      Kephart pits external versus internal demons for her tale set in Anapra, Mexico, an arid, one-room tin/cardboard-hut colonia on the outskirts of Juarez that is prone to dust storms and las muertas de Juarez, girls who disappear. Georgia and Riley are two Pennsylvania teens, the former, plain, responsible and subject to debilitating panic attacks and the latter her very artistic best friend whose rich, fashionable mother considers her merely average. Riley will prove her mother wrong by starving herself. When the girls join nine other teens for a two week Goodworks excursion to build a community bathroom in Anapra, the two worlds come together. The hopefulness of a people with nothing, dressing their children in bright colors and treasuring what little they have is contrasted with two girls who have everything yet are in need. As Georgia watches Riley waste away, "seeing her bones through her skin," she can no longer remain the silent friend, regardless of the consequences. Kephart's prose is typically poetic. She pens a faster-paced novel that explores teens' inner selves. Their hearts go out to the Anapra people, their children, and five-year-old Socorro searching for her missing sister's spirit. Georgia and Riley must overcome their inner conflicts in order to survive. The writing is vivid, enabling readers to visualize Anapra's desolation and hope. They will feel the dust storms and will relate to the teens. A side benefit is that this must-read author also introduces lesser-known but eloquent poets. Reviewer: Ed Goldberg

      Biography

      Beth Kephart was nominated for a National Book Award for her memoir A Slant of Sun. Her first novel for teens, Undercover, received four starred reviews and was named a Best Book by Kirkus Reviews, School Library Journal, and Amazon.com. In 2005 Beth was awarded the Speakeasy Poetry Prize. She has also written Into the Tangle of Friendship: A Memoir of the Things That Matter; Still Love in Strange Places: A Memoir; Ghosts in the Garden: Reflections on Endings, Beginnings, and the Unearthing of Self; Flow: The Life and Times of Philadelphia's Schuylkill River; Zenobia: The Curious Book of Business; and House of Dance. She lives in Pennsylvania with her family.

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      Reviewed by Sally Kruger aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.comby TeensReadToo

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      October 21, 2009: Beth Kephart fans are not going to be happy with this review. Don't get me wrong, the book is terrific, but it isn't scheduled for release until the end of March 2010. It is definitely worth waiting for, though, so put it on your wish list.

      It seems that more and more one hears about teens going on work experience trips to underprivileged countries. There always seem to be fund-raisers going on and pledge drives to send someone or other off to help build houses or clean up after a flood or earthquake or hurricane. Beth Kephart uses one such trip as the backdrop for THE HEART IS NOT A SIZE.

      Georgia convinces her parents to let her travel with a group to Juarez, Mexico, to help improve life for those living in a devastatingly poor area of the border town. Despite the poor living conditions and threats to personal safety, Georgia believes she can make a difference. Leaving behind her comfortable life in Pennsylvania, she spends her time under the hot Mexican sun building, of all things, a community toilet for the local natives.

      Going along for the experience is Georgia's best friend, Riley. Giving up the comforts of home are harder on Riley, who enjoys shopping and looking her best at whetever she does. Georgia knows she'll be able to handle the heat and the hard physical labor, but she has her doubts about Riley. There's been something bothering her about her best friend, but she hasn't been able to confront her.

      Georgia knows that Riley is constantly striving to live up to her mother's high expectations. In an effort to please her mother, Riley seems to have stopped eating. Georgia knows what is going on but doesn't know how to deal with the problem. She has hopes that the time together will give her an opportunity to rescue her friend.

      Kephart's writing simply flows as she explores the emotions of friendship, the tragedy of poverty, and the importance of giving. Readers will easily relate to Georgia as she struggles to help a friend and finds it more difficult than she dreamed.