We so often encounter stories depicting the harsh realities of body image issues and eating disorders, but few of those stories cast a male as the main character. With "The New David Espinoza," author Fred Aceves offers readers a glimpse into the world of male body building, body dysmorphia, and steroid use. David Espinoza is not only bullied for his slender frame at school, but a video of him changing in the locker room while being slapped by a fellow student goes viral in the most negative way imaginable. This devastating experience inspires David to dedicate his summer months to putting on as much muscle as possible, but slow progress and a desperation to leave his "previous self" behind eventually leads David towards some tempting shortcuts with extremely high costs. Books from unique perspectives touching upon underexplored struggles are always appreciated, and readers of this novel might also enjoy "It's Kind of a Funny Story" by Ned Vizzini, "Heroine" by Mindy McGinnis, and "Skin and Bones" by Sherry Shahan - Christina B.

The New David Espinoza by Fred Aceves narrates the story of a high school senior's transformation from zero to hero, which ends up being not as glamorous as anticipated. Motivated by a viral video of him getting slapped by a bully, David decides to begin a workout journey to create a better version of himself in order to stop the bullying and earn respect. This quickly turns south as he wrestles with the query- how far am I willing to go to get what I want? David toes the line with his new obsession every day, not looking back. This didactic YA novel deals with heavy themes of mental health and drug abuse and illustrates how seemingly instantaneous a life can shift when dealing with these issues. Overall, this book was an enjoyable read. - Adelina G., SPL Teen Volunteer