Holding Up the Universe
By Jennifer Niven
Libby Strout was ready. Ready for dancing, ready to face the world, and most importantly, ready to be in contact with the very kids who used to bully her. But, what she was never ready for was to meet Jack Masselin, an afro-wearing, tall, and an offstandish popular boy. She wasn't expecting him to join into a cruel game and then apologize profusely with a note in her backpack spilling his most precious secret. She soon figured out that Jack Masselin isn't like the kids leaving hate mail in her locker. He's kind, funny, and has a mental disease called Prosopagnosia- where you can't recognize faces. The two are the most unlikely of friends who seem to fit each other like puzzle pieces.
Holding Up the Universe by Jennifer Niven features many issues girls like Libby go through daily. Libby says, “Dear friend, You are not a freak. You are wanted. You are necessary. You are the only you there is. Don’t be afraid to leave the castle. It’s a great big world out there. Love, a fellow reader.” I find this quote to be beautiful, because Libby tries her hardest to make everyone feel as though they matter- even though she hasn't been treated that way by any of the students in her school. My favorite character was Jack, because he holds kindness and the right thing to do closely- even if you may think his actions are wrong.
Jennifer Niven and her wonderfully diverse group of characters taught me that everyone has something going wrong with them at some point, and the best thing to do is to accept them and try to help.
4/5 stars.
Review by: Ariana P.
