Til the Fat Girl Sings: From an Overweight Nobody to a Broadway Somebody---A Memoir

What's a gal to do when she tips the scales at 230 pounds and longs to sing on Broadway? Wheatley worked herself down to a manageable weight through a strict diet and exercise routine-but that's not the end of her story. In this combination memoir and motivational tract, the author chronicles her struggle with weight and how it affected her self-esteem as a child, professional actress and mother, until she reached the point that she was comfortable carrying around a few extra pounds. Wheatley's never-give-up approach to life is inspiring, and her writing is as smooth as it is conversational. Overall, though, this book's best audience might be young readers, who should be inspired by this overcoming-adversity story. The author, who leads seminars for students about self-esteem and body image issues, doesn't go into depth about her pound-dissolving process, except to say that she ate better and exercised. To that end, there's a frustrating vagueness throughout. For instance, when Wheatley lands a role in Cats, her contract stipulates she must lose 10 pounds, but the reader doesn't know her weight before or after. And though the cover resembles a Broadway Playbill, there's minimal behind-the-scenes dish. However, readers looking for a spirited pick-me-up will find it here.