i am Elephant, i am Butterfly

4.5 stars

Although this story is told from one piont-of-view only, Simone's, the author managed to bring an entire cast of characters to life.

Was the story perfect? No. Were there things that bothered me? Yes. Could I put the book down? NO! And that's what made it a winner for me.

My biggest critique is the story infers obesity is caused by emotional and/or physical abuse. While I'm sure that's true in some circumstances, it's not always the case.

In fairness, the Q&A section states the author made a conscious choice to use emotional eating.

Really loved the message in this book. It was very true to the way event effect teenagers. The words of encouragement truly provide hope to all girls struggling with eating too much or to little. The burden becomes less when shared with a friend you can trust.

Recommended for all middle school and high school girls!

When sixteen-year-old Simone Wheeler is accepted into the elite Camp Kamama—a place of self-discovery for the morbidly obese—she instantly despises the food rations, obstacle course, and powwows, where each girl must stand in front of her peers to expose her darkest secrets. But the Appalachian Mountains are shrouded in mystery, and Camp Kamama’s rules will soon be the least of Simone’s worries.

While meditating beneath an old tree in the woods, Simone unearths a secret diary belonging to a beautiful skinny girl from the despised Camp Felina across the lake. But Phoebe the Felina has done more than scribble words in a journal: she has carved a cryptic path that Simone will be compelled to follow—no matter what the consequences.

A great teen read that had an uplifting and inspiring book about being a teenager. I loved reading through the eyes of Simone as she reads through a journal she finds.
"The heart and the soul are tarnished now, but only you know why or how. First it hurts, then it numbs, after a while, you’re in love with crumbs…"

Thanks to #NetGalley for the ARC of #IamElephantIamButterfly
Pub Date: 01 Dec 2018

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of i am Elephant, i am Butterfly. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Wow. Here is a novel that reminds us that we are all human and that everyone has issues with which to contend and that although the results may vary, the issues may be quite similar. I loved the realness of the characters and their hesitation to open-up as well as the description of daily camp events making it all see so tangible. The struggles of these characters are very real and plague girls/boys in our country every day. It is my hope that this book will reach many adolescents, allowing them to break free of their own minds/self punishments long enough to accept help as well. I will certainly recommend it to any of my students who I believe may find a guiding light within its pages.

Thank you to NetGalley and Leslie Tall Manning for the ARC!

An insight into the heart and mind of a young woman who struggles with her past and can’t figure out her future. I learned many things reading this and a lot hit home. This is an important book that should be read, not only by teens who have weight issues, but everyone- you think you know why a person is overweight? It’s not about the food... Well written, lots of great messages that aren’t preachy.

This book was an eye opener for me . The way people internalize issue can have completely different outcomes. The girls in this book have had a traumatic experience that have have offected them. On one side of the lake you have the ones that turn to food for comfort and across the lake you have the turn away from and count every calorie. It takes two girls one from each side to help heal themselves. The butterfly and the elephant both have something in common.

At the beginning of the book Simone Wheeler’s voice is sad and resigned. She is about to be sent to Kamama camp for girls with morbid obesity. Her brother Bucky informs her that Kamama is the Cherokee for ‘an elephant’. She is about to embark on a life full of meagre food, obstacle courses and most dreaded powwow/group sharing sessions. But it is not all that simple and straightforward. Kamama in Cherokee can mean either Elephant or Butterfly because both are beautiful and special creatures. Just as Simone and her new friends.
I loved the slow reflective pace of this book. Whenever there is a lot of hard work to do (and personal development is always hard), things do not happen overnight. I also loved the emphasis on communication and friendship to combat loneliness and self-isolation and, above all, active acceptance.
Beautiful setting, vivid, memorable characters. I would definitely recommend this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Leslie Tall Manning for the ARC provided in exchange for an honest opinion.

This was fun to read.

Sometimes it's difficult to find a story which tackles tough, emotional issues and at the same time be fun and lighthearted. I really liked it, especially the celebration of female friendships and understanding that despite physical appearance someone may still be struggling with issues of their own.

This book also reminds me so much of a webtoon which has similar themes (Big Jo).

Really enjoyed this one! It didn’t shy away from trauma and allowed the readers to understand and feel for these girls and their struggles

This is a book about figuring out why we do what we do, and realizing that everyone is struggling with something. It is a book about realistic teenage friendships, and how they ebb and flow. The message of needing to heal yourself is not the same as being an island, we all need supports to help us work on ourselves.

I would say this book could be a trigger for a variety of eating disorders, as well as rape. However all issues we dealt with in a sensitive way and I truly think in a way that is fairly tactful. I will say that there are no “adult” voices specifically telling the girls that things weren’t their fault, but it is implied and in my opinion is done so in a way that is much closer to reality.

I would recommend this book to teens and their parents alike.

Thank you NetGalley for an early copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. There is a raw, real aspect to it that I enjoyed. It wasn't what I expected, in a good way. Leslie Tall Manning did a great portrayal of the main characters and their stories. I enjoyed the fact that this book high lights that you absolutely cannot judge a book by its cover. You have no idea what circumstances have led someone to the state they are currently in. Sometimes trying to make friends with someone unlike you can turn into the best of friendships.

I'm not a teen but I still really enjoyed this book and I think it could be enjoyed by all ages. I liked the characters & the storyline - it definitely made me think. I'll be recommending this to my 13 yr old sister.

Read September 2020

I wasn't sure what to make of this book at first, especially as a fat person, since it is literally set at a fat camp. There is a lot of weight talk in the first few chapters and mentions of calories though not how many calories a specific meal has.

I'm not sure how sustainable the camp is compared to real life in terms of the exercise regime. An obstacle course often ran twice - that concerned me slightly - and aqua aerobics. There isn't a lot of variety and only the pool work is theoretically transferrable to outside life - providing a person's town has a pool since not all do. That could be a big reason for campers needing to return. Although it seems the friends they make are also a big draw for returning.

I did quite like the food side and the emphasis on the camp growing everything they eat and they seemed to have specific classes on nutrition which is so helpful.

The book was a nice change of pace from a lot of novels in that everything moved quite slowly to reflect the fact the real change often is a slow process and I really appreciated that. I do wish some of the chapters had happened a little earlier though in regards to everyone sharing their stories. It was also never particularly clear why Charlene hate neighbouring camp Felina so much either.

I liked the polarity of Simone and Phoebe coming together and how similar problems can affect people in such different ways. Overall a good book, just a little awkward in some of its plotting and pacing.