Reviews
"Honest-feeling prose and thoughtful characterization capably drive themes of self-acceptance and self-discovery in this gently humorous novel."
Stacey Lambert, Parent and co-Founder of ARFID Awareness UK
"To date I have not read an account of ARFID that so closely matches the reality and hardship that my eleven-year-old son deals with on a day-to-day basis. I am so grateful that this book is being published as I know this will help raise awareness and provide a relatable text for pre-teens and young adults who are trying to navigate the world with ARFID. I don't know of any other fiction book out there at the moment that covers this so thoroughly and I would not hesitate to recommend this to anyone who wants to learn more about ARFID or their child. I think every school library should have a copy." (Read the full review here)
Stephanie Elliot, Author of “Sad Perfect” and ARFID Advocate
"I one-hundred percent recommend this book to anyone--parent of an ARFID kid or young child--who has ARFID or thinks they might be diagnosed as having ARFID."
———
Karen Yingling, YA and Kids Books Central
"This was an excellent blend of realistic school concerns and a health problem, and contains the absolute finest writing about bullying I have ever seen."
———
"Themes middle school readers will relate to include peer pressure, friendship issues, bullying, and creating a new mindset for how to deal with a problem. The 54 chapters progress at a perfect pace."
———
"It is an excellent story for young readers, speaking to all who have suffered unfair circumstances because they’re different. But, then again, we’re all different, aren’t we?"
———
"This is an entertaining read with tons of heart and enough humor to keep it light, while bringing across the theme in a meaningful way."
———
"The characters and circumstances were all so realistic and felt so relatable."
———
"There’s a whole lot of growth for our MC as he learns to accept himself while juggling the usual middle school problems of crushes, gaining and losing friends, and dealing with bullies. A fantastic book full of great dialogue."
———
100 Pages a Day...Stephanie's Book Reviews
"Ben was an extremely relatable character and the writing showed an excellent point of view of a sixth grader."
———
"In the end, readers will learn about a medical condition that they probably didn’t know existed and learn a little empathy along the way, all while enjoying a story that captures those feelings of “other” that are so common in middle school."
———
"...would recommend it to people with ARFID or to people who want to learn what it’s like to live with this little-known eating disorder."
———
Diana Renn's Midsummer Newsletter - Middle Grade Reads
"Davis tells Ben's story with humor and heart, and the resolution is emotionally satisfying and realistic."
———
"Ben makes mistakes, lets his emotions win at times, but by the end he is able to make the best choices for himself."
———
Dr. Shanah Salter Book Reviews
“Anyone craving a classic middle school book needs a copy of Food Fight!”
———
Shannon Schuren, author of Where Echoes Lie
"Food Fight is a heartfelt and hilarious look at life through the eyes of a picky eater. Linda B. Davis portrays Ben's hopes and fears as he learns to navigate middle school while keeping his selective eating disorder a secret from the rest of his class, especially the school bully. A must-read for anyone who has ever fought their own battles with both fitting in and being themselves."
———
Joyce Burns Zeiss, author of Out of the Dragon’s Mouth
“Davis gives the reader a realistic and sympathetic portrayal of what it is like to be a picky eater in middle school. With a convincing cast of characters, she creates a lively and timely look into the life of a student with ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder) and the challenges he faces. An important and well-written debut novel."
———
Kimberly Behre Kenna, author of Artemis Sparke and the Sound Seekers Brigade
“Linda Davis has a knack for zingy dialogue and depicting multi-faceted sixth-grade characters, but the story behind her book Food Fight goes much deeper. Protagonist Ben suffers from ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder). Typical middle school fare like pizza and ice cream literally makes him sick, and he uses humor to divert attention away from himself and his eating habits. But keeping his secret strains friendships with his classmates and worse, a hopeful first crush goes haywire. Davis's pacing moves right along and yet never diminishes Ben's emotional journey to self-acceptance, striking a pitch-perfect balance for middle-grade readers.”
———
Naomi Milliner, author of Super Jake and the King of Chaos
"This debut novel pairs a unique subject (selective eating disorder) with a smorgasbord of universal middle grade themes including tolerance, bullying, acceptance, empowerment and self-esteem. Well worth the read!”