Everything I Know About You

Tally is excited to start seventh grade at her new middle school, but sharing a room with three other girls during an overnight field trip presents unexpected challenges. Her roommate Tabitha's rigid rules and strict control over food and exercise raise concerns. As the school year continues, Tally struggles to understand Tabitha's behavior while navigating typical middle school experiences like making friends and joining clubs. Though their personalities clash, Tally begins to recognize signs that her roommate might need help. Through Tally's perspective, the story addresses eating disorders, friendship, and the importance of speaking up when someone needs support. The narrative balances serious topics with authentic middle school experiences and relationships.

Readers appreciate the realistic portrayal of middle school relationships and the book's handling of eating disorders in a way that's accessible for young audiences. Many parents and teachers note it helps open discussions about body image and friendship. Specific praise focuses on the main character Tally's growth and the authentic depiction of classroom dynamics. Multiple reviews highlight how the story avoids stereotypes about eating disorders. Some readers found the pacing slow in the first third of the book. A few reviews mention that certain side characters lack development. Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 4.3/5 (2,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (180+ ratings) Barnes & Noble: 4.6/5 (90+ ratings) Common reader comments: "Perfect for opening conversations with tweens" "Handles serious topics without being heavy-handed" "The friendship dynamics feel true to middle school" "Takes time to get going but worth sticking with"

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🔸 The book tackles themes of eating disorders in middle school students, particularly orthorexia - an obsession with "clean eating" that's less commonly discussed than other eating disorders. 🔸 Author Barbara Dee was inspired to write this story after learning about a friend's daughter who developed an eating disorder while attending a prestigious middle school. 🔸 The main character, Tally, is a STEM-focused student who uses her love of science and data to eventually recognize her roommate's dangerous eating patterns. 🔸 The story takes place during a week-long field trip to Washington, D.C., which mirrors many real middle school traditions across the United States. 🔸 Everything I Know About You was selected as a Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year and was praised for its sensitive handling of eating disorders in younger teens.