The New David Espinoza
HarperCollins · Paperback · February 23, 2021
This story from the acclaimed author of The Closest I’ve Come unflinchingly examines steroid abuse and male body dysmorphia.
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- Who it’s for
- A tense teen story about chasing muscle, masculinity, and the costs of an ideal body.
- Genres
- Eating Disorders & Body Image for Teens, Addiction & Substance Use for Teens, Bullying for Teens
- Published
- HarperCollins, February 23, 2021
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This story from the acclaimed author of The Closest I’ve Come unflinchingly examines steroid abuse and male body dysmorphia. Perfect for fans of Jason Reynolds and Matt de la Peña. David Espinoza is tired of being messed with. When a video of him getting knocked down by a bully’s slap goes viral at the end of junior year, David vows to use the summer to bulk up— do what it takes to become a man—and wow everyone when school starts again the fall.
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Soon David is spending all his time and money at Iron Life, a nearby gym that’s full of bodybuilders. Frustrated with his slow progress, his life eventually becomes all about his muscle gains. As it says on the Iron Life wall, What does not kill me makes me stronger. As David falls into the dark side of the bodybuilding world, pursuing his ideal body at all costs, he’ll have to grapple with the fact that it could actually cost him everything. A Chicago Public Library Best Teen Fiction Selection A Banks Street Best Children's Book of the Year
Pressure to Become
A tense teen story about chasing muscle, masculinity, and the costs of an ideal body.
Come here for
- A close look at body image, steroid abuse, and the pressure to prove yourself
Expect
- An unflinching take on bullying and body dysmorphia
- A summer fixation that darkens as the stakes rise
Where it sits
| Eating Disorders & Body Image for Teens | 77% |
|---|---|
| Addiction & Substance Use for Teens | 50% |
| Bullying for Teens | 43% |
Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.
Publisher categories
- Coming of Age
- YA Family Stories
- School Stories for Teens
- Bullying for Teens
Show all 8 publisher categories
- Depression for Teens
- Addiction & Substance Use for Teens
- Eating Disorders & Body Image for Teens
- Mental Illness for Teens
- Authors
- Fred Aceves
- Publisher
- HarperCollins
- Published
- February 23, 2021
- Format
- Paperback
- Reading lane
- Coming of Age