Butter

This is such a unique premise. Morbid and shocking, but I couldn't look away. Butter had some major issues, his weight, the bullying, the way they almost seemed to see him as a mascot, as well as his self-esteem, but he is a likable narrator, and it felt seamless being in his head.
At first I couldn't see his appeal to Anna but as the story went on, I could understand that it didn't in fact come from nowhere or from purely physical aspects, even though that is certainly a factor. It broke my heart their different interactions.
I really like how Butter didn't seem to want the readers pity, he wanted their respect and to look past the outside. It really was just telling a story. Yes its about obesity, yes it is about bullying and being bullied, yes it has a message in it, but it is honest, it is gritty and it is thankfully laced with hope even in the darkest moments.
That said, this is a dark book. It deals with bullying, suicidal thoughts, and other mature themes with some gritty, disgusting scenes. But Erin writes it beautifully in a manner that I just could not stop reading until I found out what happened to Butter.
Bottom line: I've never read anything quite like it and I couldn't look away.

Butter was a book that I knew I had to read. As someone who has had eating disorders around her all her life I am always intrigued to see how an author handles the subject. Now, we get to read about anorexia and bulimia all the time, but I have never come across a book that tackles the other end of the eating disorder spectrum. That's right, we finally have a novel about obesity & compulsive/emotional eating and it really hits the nail on the head as to how you can be addicted to food, just as you can be addicted to drugs or alcohol. I walked away from this novel very impressed with how Erin Jade Lange tackled the multitude of emotions connected with a disorder such as this.

Butter was a character that I felt for, he was unhappy in his own skin and he had just given up on trying to get better. He felt that he had passed the point of no return and was wallowing in what could have been. I totally understood his helplessness, once you tip the scales at 423 lbs it's not exactly easy to lose it. While I of course didn't agree with where he decided to go with it, I at least understood his motives, and with a very over the top plot such as this, that's saying something. I've personally had people who suffer from both ends of this spectrum in my life and I thought the little things were handled perfectly; Butter's mothers attempts to appease him through food and the vicious cycle that creates is something that I have seen every day.

A complaint that I do have about the novel though is that at times I found myself being reminded by instances that the students were in high school and not junior high. The coddling the Butter receives at home as well as the reactions of the kids at his school felt quite juvenile to me, then they would hop in their cars, or have a drink, and I would think "Oh yeah, these guys are in high school." While there was some dissent among the students I do feel that it wouldn't have been swept under the rug quite as it was after the first night that the website went up. Especially in this day and age with suicide topping the headlines, but alas, this is a novel, a fiction novel at that.

Overall, I was very happy with the novel and it took me on a rollercoaster of emotions that I wasn't sure the subject matter would allow it too. Lange clearly did her research on the health issues at hand and it really showed in the execution of the plot. If you're looking for a contemporary read that is definitely different from the pack, then I would say Butter is for you.

BUTTER by Erin Jade Lange is a book that resonated with me in a way I had not expected it to. I had actually started this book after finishing one I'd hoped I would love, but unfortunately turned out to be just `eh'. On the contrary, I went into BUTTER on thinking it would be just `eh'. Why? Well, I admit, I initially thought that Butter would literally be eating HIMSELF, and I was somewhat (morbidly) disappointed when I discovered that he would just be eating a lot, eating and eating to the point of death. (Silly me!) But joyfully, I finished the book having fallen completely and utterly in love with Butter (both the book and the character!)

Simply stated, if you or anyone you have known has ever dealt with weight issues, bullying, peer pressure or any type of insecurity whatsoever in high school (which is just about everyone) you HAVE to read this book. The book is told from the point of view of "Butter", a morbidly obese senior in high school who has been dealing with weight issues most of his life. You can blame it on bad genes, terrible self control, or his enabling mother, but when push comes to shove, this guy is FAT. And he's in high school. With that said, I am sure you can only imagine the treatment he receives by his classmates. Go ahead, imagine it, guys. I am willing to bet that how he is actually treated is far worse than anything your mind comes up with. Just wait until you read about how he got his name. *shudder*

Oh, and he's been to fat camp. So we get to join Butter as he is horribly treated in school AND as he stands by growing fatter and fatter, while his fellow camp buddies become thinner and thinner. What a real self-esteem crusher, right? And then there's this girl... Yup. Butter, who is actually incredibly funny, likable and an all-round great guy, happens to like one of the most popular girls in school. Doh! That can only lead to trouble, right? And it does... In a series of events that leads to Butter proclaiming his eventual demise (death by eating) to his classmates over the internet.

Erin's writing and her story and her characters are as unforgiving as they are hopeful. Her characters are at once likable and highly realistic. They are forced to make difficult decisions, many of which lead them (or should I say Butter, in particular) into big trouble. Erin is an adept author, mastering the difficult task as a female author to write as a male lead. Butter is endearing, if not a bit, well... stupid... at times because of the things he says and does (but that comes with the territory of being a teenager, right?) And the kids at Butter's school? They are downright awful. But then again, they are your typical teenagers, too, right?

So how does it all go down? How far will Butter take his antics? And will he get the girl? Well, what unfolds may surprise you, perhaps disturb you, or maybe even make you think. I know that's what it made me do.

Highly re-readable and unforgettable, I recommend BUTTER by Erin Jade Lange to anyone who wants a different and insightful contribution to contemporary YA fiction.

This book was fantastic. It's not my normal genre, it was a recommendation, and I couldn't put it down. It's about fitting in and acceptance and depression and love and just how crappy teenage years can be. Quite frankly, I want this book taught in school - it matters, and it's incredibly entertaining, too.

I have to be honest and say that the whole concept for this book was so dark that I really put off reading it for the longest time. The idea of a kid eating himself to death in front of all of his classmates is incredibly disturbing. That's why I was surprised by how quickly I was drawn into the story and how much this book really affected me. Butter made me every type of imaginable emotion. It is funny, infuriating, and deeply sad. Butter is 100% worth your time.

LIKES:

Butter's Character Development: Lange's writing is so easy to get sucked into. It is really hard to believe that this book wasn't written by a morbidly obese teenage boy. Butter's voice is so well-crafted that the reader really cares about him. He isn't just the fat kid who gets teased and is sad about it. He is an incredibly complex character who is desperately trying to find a way to matter to his peers. His internal struggles with self-esteem, depression, love and suicide are expertly written so that the reader understands exactly what he must be going through. There is real love put into this character.

The issue at hand: This book deals with suicide, among other things, and this can be a difficult subject to tackle. Lange does a wonderful job. It would have been easy enough to write a book about a loner teen, who decides to kill himself, but Lange adds much more depth to the story. Butter gains acceptance from his peers after announcing his plans and still struggles with his demons. This book is about more than a suicidal teenager. It is about all of the turmoil that someone who has made this decision goes through, it is about the finality of that decision and it is about finding a reason to live.

Not an easy, feel-good read: Butter is not a book to pick up when you want to smile. In fact, there were parts of this story that I didn't think I could get through. However, I think that the emotional challenges this book presents are what make it an important story.

DISLIKES:

The kids at Butter's school: I hated these kids. Don't get me wrong, they were well-written and the development was great, but they were awful. I couldn't imagine that an entire school would want to show up for a viewing party to watch a classmate kill himself. The extent of the nastiness of these kids made them somewhat unbelievable. I would have liked it if there were some that were a bit more level-headed or just showed some common human decency.

When all is said and done, I am really glad I decided to read Butter. I think it is one of those books that changes the way you think about and look at other people and those are the most important kinds of stories. I would recommend this if you are looking for a thought-provoking (and sometimes anger-provoking) read.

Loving it

View the full review here:
http://www.iswimforoceans.com/2012/08/butter-by-erin-jade-lange-review.html

Butter isn't your average teenage boy. He's not good-looking, he certainly doesn't get the girls and acne is the least of his teenage woes. Instead, Butter tops the scale at over 400 pounds - being a morbidly obese teen in high school, where only the most perfect rule. His weight clouds everything. He's lonely, he's depressed and he can longer see that he has anything going for him when, in fact, he's funny and extremely musically gifted. Butter sees no way out though. He thinks that the only thing to do is end it all, and why not go out the way he got to this place? He'll eat himself to death. What happens when the world rallies around him in encouragement though? Will pseudo-popularity save him?

You guys know me. I love issue books. I've read a whole bunch regarding eating disorders, though they mainly focus on anorexia or bulimia. Butter is my first encounter with an overeating disorder. Needless to say, with a synopsis like that, I was hooked. Erin Jade Lange has crafted a slightly off-kilter novel that challenges you to feel for both the bully and the bullied, making certain that there is no semblance of black or white in this book. Butter is crafted entirely in shades of grey that force you to make your own opinions and assumptions. With haunting and desperate prose that sometimes stings with a leering lilt, Butter is truly one of a kind.

In a genre where the YA golden boy is king, Butter is pretty much the most unlikely "hero" or MC you might meet. There was a part of me that loved him. He was really funny. He was also really talented. However, there was this dark side of him that made him oddly creepy, as he stalks the people online that he could never approach in person. Butter challenged me to put aside my own personal opinions though and fully immerse myself in the story. Parts of the novel are sickening (absolutely revolting), and made me want to hate every teenage bully out there. However, the beauty is that the novel portrays these moments accurately, and it doesn't mince on the details. Rather, it sheds light on the true, dark nature of bullying. As Butter's final countdown to his deathday approached, I couldn't help but be riveted. It was fast-paced, and the newfound popularity Butter faced was intriguing. I had no idea what was going to happen. In the end, I am glad we got a resolution, but there's a part of me that felt the ending was too neat and too tidy. Not every story needs to be wrapped in ribbons and bows. I do believe Butter could have been better if it had less of a delicate hand in the end.

Overall, a large part of me enjoyed the story and the fantastic writing style, while there's a part of me that's totally on the fence. I give it a 3.5 out of 5, and I definitely recommend it to all fans of YA, especially those who enjoy contemporary fiction and issue books.

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

Butter
by Erin Jade Lange
Bloomsbury Books for Young Readers
2012
294 pages

Poignant and real, Butter will resonate with teen readers who have ever had a weight problem or known someone who battles food demons.

For morbidly obese Marshall, life revolves around food. He can easily eat an entire bag of Doritos, a sack of M&Ms , a tub of ice cream and still have room for more. The saxophone is the only outlet he has from food--that, and chatting online with Anna. Anna thinks she's talking to a boy from another school who plays the saxophone; she has no idea she's talking to the fat kid in her class.

School is misery for Butter (Marshall). No one really talks to him, and he has no friends. He sits alone in the cafeteria, shunned by the pretty, the popular, and the slender. He has a special bench he sits on since he can't fit in any of the regular seats.

Butter gets angry when he sees a news report of how an airline will begin charging overweight people for two seats instead of one. Butter sets up a website and calls it "butterslastmeal." He invites others to comment on his plan to literally eat himself to death on New Year's Eve.

He expects to get insults and rude comments, but instead he finds popularity for the first time. Mean guys who forced him to eat an entire stick of butter, and then nicknamed him Butter are now his BFF's. They move his bench to their table and seemingly care about having an actual conversation with him. Students rally around Butter's plan; they have a morbid fascination to see if Butter will go through with his suicide plan.

Anna is waiting for New Year's Eve when she will finally meet "Saxman," her internet crush. Butter plans to go to the party on New Year's Eve where all the events will unravel. Will Butter go through with it? What if he does? What will happen if he doesn't?

Highly recommended grade 8-up. Some language, some drinking at a party, coke is mentioned but no one actually has it or does it, bullying, and some mature themes. I purchased this book for the library but would warn others that the language issues and underage partying may be offensive.

Visit my blog "Young Adult Books--What We're Reading Now" for all my YA reviews.

I tore through Butter in one day. It is almost impossible to put down and beautifully written. I'd love to see more YA books like this, ones that address real world characters and problems and do so with gravitas but without forgetting to have a sense of humor. I'm all for great fantasy/sci-fi/paranormal YA, but it's great to see this kind of book too. Absolutely wonderful.

Book came in great! Some creasing but I did get a preowned book so maybe that’s why.