Book Review :: Holding Up The Universe, by Jennifer Niven

Holding Up the Universe by Jennifer Niven
Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers
on October 4th 2016
Genres: Fiction, Young Adult
Pages: 391
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Everyone thinks they know Libby Strout, the girl once dubbed “America’s Fattest Teen.” But no one’s taken the time to look past her weight to get to know who she really is. Following her mom’s death, she’s been picking up the pieces in the privacy of her home, dealing with her heartbroken father and her own grief. Now, Libby’s ready: for high school, for new friends, for love, and for every possibility life has to offer.

Everyone thinks they know Jack Masselin, too. Yes, he’s got swagger, but he’s also mastered the impossible art of giving people what they want, of fitting in. What no one knows is that Jack has a newly acquired secret: he can’t recognize faces. Even his own brothers are strangers to him. He’s the guy who can re-engineer and rebuild anything, but he can’t understand what’s going on with the inner workings of his brain. So he tells himself to play it cool: Be charming. Be hilarious. Don’t get too close to anyone.

Until he meets Libby. When the two get tangled up in a cruel high school game—which lands them in group counseling and community service—Libby and Jack are both pissed, and then surprised. Because the more time they spend together, the less alone they feel.

Because sometimes when you meet someone, it changes the world, theirs and yours.

Last updated on 7 June 2022

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What is Holding Up The Universe about?

Holding Up The Universe follows Libby, as she heads back to school for the first time in years. Libby knows it will be difficult. Everyone knows her as America’s Fattest Teen; the girl who had to be cut from her home. But she doesn’t imagine it will be quite this bad.

Jack has a secret. He can’t recognise faces. Jack has to use identifiers to know who even his family members are. High school can be bad at the best of times, but when you have this condition on top of that, it’s a miracle he gets through every day.

When Libby and Jack meet it’s under unfortunate circumstances: a prank, a joke, a cruel high school game. But it’s the beginning of something special, a connection between two people who have it rough and only want to know they’re wanted, necessary, loved.

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My Thoughts: Holding Up The Universe

“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”

You may remember my rave review of Jennifer Niven’s previous book, All the Bright Places. She has this wonderful knack for taking ordinary people and making their stories extraordinary. I loved Holding Up the Universe. So much.

There are a lot of ‘meh’ comments on the internet around this book. Some people find it offensive, unrealistic, and ridiculous. But you know what? The story and the themes and characters are all so important, and while Libby and Jack’s situation may not be all that relatable, they’re teenagers. And we’ve all been teenagers, and we know how it feels. It can be difficult, so when there’s a book that even glances at those dramas and big decisions then it’s a great step in the right direction.

The way that Niven writes Libby and Jack, and even their friends and family, is wonderful. Libby is this strong, funny young woman who, while she struggles with bullying and her weight, she’s this firecracker of a character. Jack’s character was so fascinating. The thought of someone having Prosopagnosia blows my mind. I can’t even imagine what they would be like. But thanks to Niven, I now have some small idea.

The fact that Holding Up the Universe not only addresses issues around bullying, self-consciousness, panic attacks, friends and loyalty, family and all the drama that comes with it but also weight and a crazy-odd condition like Prosopagnosia is incredible. She writes it so well, and basically, I can’t praise this book enough.

Even if you can’t relate fully to these characters, the messages are so beautiful, and they are a stunning reminder to us all.

You are wanted. You are necessary. You are loved.

Have you read Holding up the Universe? What did you think?