Models Don’t Eat Chocolate Cookies

Celeste’s Playlist

Download and listen to two free songs by Theo Christmas! Celeste’s favorite singer/songwriter.

Ruby Red Hair

Dreaming Without You

If you like these tunes, you’ll love Theo’s friend Dann Russo’s music.

Want to hear more? These are some songs that Erin thinks make a great soundtrack for Models:

Fat Bottomed Girls—Queen
Ruby Red Hair—Dann Russo (singing as Theo Christmas)
Dreaming Without You—Dann Russo (singing as Theo Christmas)
I’m Too Sexy—Right Said Fred
Supermodel (You Better Work) —RuPaul
Everybody Hurts—REM
I’m Coming Out—Diana Ross
Finally—CeCe Peniston

Before Celeste
Models Don’t Eat Chocolate Cookies actually began life as a short story-- “On BBQ Day, No One Brings a Lunch.” Before I wrote the story, I was driving home from work one night in 2002 and saw an image in my head of an overweight girl, sitting alone in the cafeteria, eating spinach salad with no dressing. I needed to know more about her--who was she? Why was she by herself and dieting? When I began exploring those questions, the short story was born.: Fast forward to 2005. I attended the Santa Barbara Writer’s Conference, where I read “BBQ Day” in a humor/chick lit class taught by author Wendy French. Wendy encouraged me to expand the story into a novel. When I went home from the conference, I sat down and started work. The first draft of Models poured out of me in six weeks--it felt as though it wrote itself! In 2006, I submitted the opening chapter of Models (called Beauty Binge at the time) to PEN/New England’s Children’s Book Caucus for consideration in its Susan P. Bloom Discovery Night Award contest. It won! This was just the encouragement I needed to keep going. Seven rounds of revision and an agent later, Beauty Binge was sold to Dial Books for Young Readers.

Discussion Questions

Whether you’re a teacher, book club leader, or just an interested reader, here are some questions to get you thinking about the themes and ideas in Models.

At the beginning of the novel, Celeste says she “knows what looks good on her--what’s comfortable.” What does this reveal about how she feels about herself?
How does Celeste react to Lively Carson’s constant teasing? How should she react, in your opinion? What would you do if confronted by a peer in that way?
Do you think Celeste's parents understand her feelings about her weight and size? What about the rest of her family? Aunt Doreen? Kirsten?
How do Sandra’s actions affect Celeste? How do they make her feel? What would you say to Sandra if you were in Celeste's shoes?
Why does Celeste react the way she does to finding out that she’s a contestant in the Miss HuskyPeach contest?
When Celeste doesn't feel well, Coach Anapoli doesn't respond to her request to not run. What should have Celeste done to make her pay more attention?
Why is Celeste so reluctant to tell her mom that she absolutely, positively doesn't want to do Miss HuskyPeach? Do you think her mom is forcing her too much? What would you do?
How does Celeste feel after the first round of the HuskyPeach pageant?
How do Millie and Katy help Celeste between rounds of the pageant? What type of friends are they?
As the rounds of the pageant progress, how does Celeste change? What is different about her?
After the “accident” on the runway, do you think Celeste made the right decision in not wanting to finish the contest?
What do you think is a bigger moment for Celeste, confronting Sandra in the kitchen, or Lively on the soccer field?
Why does Celeste change her mind about going back to the HuskyPeach? Would you have gone back?
What was the biggest change that Celeste made from the beginning to the end of the novel?