Pudge and Prejudice

by A.K. Pittman

Overview

It’s 1984 and after moving to Northenfield, Texas, with her family, Elyse Nebbit faces the challenge of finding her place in a new school, one dominated by social status and Friday night football. When Elyse’s effortlessly beautiful older sister Jayne starts dating golden boy Charlie Bingley, Elyse finds herself curious about Charlie’s popular and brooding best friend, Billy Fitz. Elyse’s body insecurities eventually complicate her relationship with Billy, leaving Jayne and Elyse’s exceedingly blunt friend, Lottie, to step in and help Elyse accept herself for who she is, pant size and all.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781496442833
Publisher:	Wander
Publication date:	01/12/2021
Pages:	352
Sales rank:	683,963
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.00(h) x (d)
Age Range:	13 - 18 Years

What People are Saying About This

Julie Cantrell

Pittman crafts a particularly savvy character who learns that beauty really is soul-deep.

Lorie Langdon

This coming-of-age twist on the Jane Austen classic had me laughing out loud, singing ’80s lyrics in my head, and cheering on the brilliant, yet self-deprecating heroine. Pudge and Prejudice is a joy to read from beginning to end!

Bethany Turner

It’s an instant classic I will return to time after time.

Kelli Stuart

The Jane Austen adaptation we’ve all been waiting for!

Editorial Reviews

In this retelling of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, set in 1984, Elyse Nebbit has recently moved with her family to Northfield, Texas, where she must navigate a new school dominated by sports and social status. Her beautiful and skinny sister, Jayne, begins dating a rich football player, Charley Bingley, while Elyse, who struggles with body issues, becomes enamored with Charley’s brooding best friend, Billy Fitz. However, Elyse isn’t quite ready to pursue popularity or Billy, and it’s up to her, with the help of her sister and a few friends, to find the self-confidence and acceptance she needs. Pittman wonderfully reimagines Austen’s classic with a modern twist that features many issues facing adolescents today: body image, social status, romance. Pride and Prejudice fans will find Pittman’s characters, redesigned into 1980s high-school teenagers, easily identifiable (e.g., Billy Fitz equals Mr. Darcy), and the uplifting message around body image makes this a relatable retelling, all while keeping the familiarity of Austen’s inspiring work.

Booklist

12/11/2020

Gr 7 Up—Set in the 1980s, this novel follows pale-skinned Elyse (also known as Pudge) as she comes to terms with her body issues and other high school dramas with the help of her friend Lottie. Elyse is new to Northfield Texas High School in 1984, and of course her beautiful older sister quickly starts dating the football captain. Soon, Elyse starts to become interested in his moody friend, Tom Cruise look-alike Billy Fitz. Thanks to Lottie's quick wit, she doesn't let Elyse's body issues ruin her budding relationship with Billy Fitz. Although this is a retelling of Pride and Prejudice, readers who aren't familiar with the original novel will enjoy the story. It's fresh and inventive enough to transcend age brackets, and young adult Austen fans will appreciate the time period, quirky characters, and new spin on a classic. Filled with the drama and teen angst in classic 1980s teen movies, this book is reminiscent of a John Hughes film. Readers of all ages will be laughing out loud at the offbeat but relatable characters. VERDICT A relatable retelling of Jane Austen's classic.—Maeve Dodds, Charlotte Mecklenburg Lib., NC

School Library Journal

2020-11-12
Jane Austen meets 1980s Texas when a smart sophomore falls for a football star.

In September 1984, Elyse Nebbitt moves with her family from Phoenix, Arizona, to Northenfield, Texas, where the members of Elyse’s large and unusual family—devoutly Christian dad, meddling mom, and five daughters—stick out like sore thumbs. Elyse, who is both plump and loves to read, isn’t exactly in the running for homecoming queen. When Elyse’s beautiful and kind older sister, Jayne, meets handsome jock Charlie Bingley, it’s love at first sight, even if Charlie’s best friend, quarterback Billy Fitz, isn’t as sold on the new relationship as the rest of Northenfield High School. Though Elyse is initially skeptical of the school’s emphasis on couples, she soon connects with Gage Wickam, who’s recently moved back to town and has some not-so-positive history with Billy. As Billy rises in football stardom, Elyse’s wild younger sister Lydia develops a crush on Gage, and Charlie is unexpectedly sent away, to Jayne’s utter heartbreak, Elyse must decide if love fits as well as her Gloria Vanderbilt jeans. While it does not add anything substantially new to the body of Pride and Prejudice retellings, Pittman’s writing is sharp and witty, with fun, if sometimes inaccurate, ’80s references. Though the main character and everyone except her mother are comfortable with Elyse's size, the topic of body positivity—unusual in this genre—could have used deeper coverage. All characters are presumed White.

A well-written romantic comedy. (Romance. 12-18)

Kirkus Reviews