Landwhale

May 1, 2018

Baker, a photographer, activist, and author (Things No One Will Tell Fat Girls), is best known for her leadership role in the body positivity movement. Her latest book, while honest and funny, also hits to the heart of society's negative portrayals of women who aren't a size 0. Baker not only derides the thinness cult but also poses tough questions about existing for the male gaze, discusses her experiences trying popular diets, and candidly weighs the pros and cons of being fat. The essence of her journey toward self-acceptance is that one can and should feel good about one's body. VERDICT A great read for women who are slaving away at diet regimens and trying to meet an ideal feminine form.

Copyright 2018 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 1, 2018
No matter who you are or what your topic is, it takes courage to reveal personal information to a crowd of strangers, and courage Baker (Things No One Will Tell Fat Girls, 2015) has in quantity. As a prominent body acceptance advocate who has appeared on the Today Show and a blogger with an impressive following, she shares some of the more notable moments in her ongoing journey. Baker offers trigger warnings, disclaimers, and other random things to alert sensitive readers about topics that may cause unintended reactions. From her Mormon upbringing in a dysfunctional family to understanding her choice of tattoos to becoming a noted conference speaker, she covers a wide range of relatable experiences. The end result is a funny, frank, and thoughtful exploration of how one woman sets a good example of how to live your best life, one we can all learn from. Readers who enjoy the writings of Jenny Lawson and Whitney Cummings should be first in line for Baker's latest.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)