The Melting of Maggie Bean

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The Melting of Maggie Bean
Author	Tricia Rayburn
Country	United States
Language	English
Genre(s)	Children's
Publisher	Aladdin
Publication date	April 24, 2007
Media type	Print (Paperback)
Pages	256 pp
ISBN	ISBN 9781416933489
Followed by	Maggie Bean Stays Afloat

The Melting of Maggie Bean is a children's novel by Tricia Rayburn, published in 2007. The book follows the titular Maggie Bean's quest to lose weight and join her school's synchronized swim team.

Contents 1 Plot 2 Development and publication 3 Reception 4 References

[edit] Plot

Maggie Bean is the average 7 grader, having a tough year. Her dad lost his job, and her mom is stressed about money. So Maggie focuses on keeping up her straight A average and eating chocolate lots and lots of chocolate. But it all changes when Maggie gets a chance to try out for the synchronized swim team. Becoming a Water Wing has always been Maggie's dream. She and her friend Aimee work to complete their goal and Maggie might finally stop being a social outcast. She works every day and has taken a bit of her original chunky 189 lb. Who would not want a cute silver bathing suit, an awsome circle of friends, and the boyfriend of her dreams? But it is all up to Maggie, and who she thinks she is.^[1]

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[edit] Development and publication

Rayburn was studying for an MFA in creative writing at Long Island University when she began the novel.^[2][3] One of her elective classes was Reading and Writing Children's Literature, for which the final assignment was to write the first thirty pages of a young adult novel. Using her own childhood for inspiration, Rayburn came up with the image of a girl in a store trying to decide which candy she should buy.^[2]

After she completed the assignment Rayburn continued to work on the novel for her own enjoyment and eventually finished a first draft, which became her MFA thesis.^[2][3] Having not considered it before, Rayburn was struck by a sudden thought during a meeting with her MFA adviser and asked whether she should seek publication. She sent out several query letters to agents, without expecting a result, and received her first reply two days later.^[2][4]

Rayburn signed with the Writers House agency and began to revise the novel with the help of her agent, Rebecca Sherman.^[2][4] Until this time, the character of Maggie Bean had been called Lucy Moon, but Rayburn had to change it because someone else was already using the name in their novel.^[2] Once this and other changes had been made, the novel was sent out to editors; it was accepted by Simon & Schuster and published as one of the six launch titles for their new Aladdin MIX imprint.^[2][5]

[edit] Reception

Entertainment Weekly, Kliatt and Teens Read Too all applauded the novel for its realism.^[6][7][8]

Rayburn's characterisation came in for particular praise, with Kliatt saying of Maggie that "her personality practically jumps off the page", and that the supporting characters are "nuanced" and "just as well-thoughtout".^[7] Entertainment Weekly described the titular character as "a resourceful, likeable kid" but felt that she is "simply drawn".^[6]

School Library Journal called the novel "thoughtful" and "empowering",^[9] while Kliatt thought it "engaging, earnest".^[7] Teens Read Too said it "will inspire readers everywhere", rating the book as "5 Stars" and gaving it a Gold Award.^[8] Entertainment Weekly graded the book as a "B".^[6]

[edit] References