Top Heavy

This heart-stopping debut novel in verse about a talented dancer struggling to give herself grace in the wake of an assault is a gut-wrenching masterpiece.

Fifteen-year-old Esme lives and breathes dance. Alongside her best friend, Mia, she is happiest when in the studio... sweating, stretching, soaring. And after a summer of nonstop practice, Esme and Mia earn coveted spots on the Elite dance team. Now that they've proven themselves to Miss Regina and the senior girls, it should be smooth sailing.

Except that Esme and Mia took the spots of two popular, well-liked dancers.
Except that Esme's dad hasn't been able to work for months, and there's hardly enough money for groceries, never mind dance tuition and recital costumes.
Except that a stranger touches Esme during a night out, touches the breasts that have always felt like giant targets.

After years of being oversexualized for her large chest, this is the violation that pushes Esme over the edge. Was it her fault? Could she have stopped it? Why can't she just be different? Esme stumbles, off kilter and adrift from her loved ones, struggling to find the strong, central cord that will pull her up and allow her to soar again.

This dazzling, tour-de-force debut tackles friendship, first love, and sexual assault, along with the full emotional range of life as a teenage girl. Esme musters strength she didn't know she had--and learns to lean on others to find the right support. An unforgettable read.

Author: Rhonda Dechambeau
Publisher: Holiday House
Published: 06/10/2025
Pages: 352
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.92lbs
Size: 8.35h x 5.51w x 1.42d
ISBN: 9780823458134
Audience: Young Adult


Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 03/17/2025
Kirkus Reviews 05/01/2025
Booklist 05/01/2025 pg. 90
School Library Journal 08/29/2025 pg. 1

About the Author
Rhonda DeChambeau graduated with a degree in Literature from Harvard University and later earned her Masters in Fine Arts from Vermont College of Fine Arts. In 2022, she was awarded the coveted Boston Public Library Writer-in-Residence fellowship. When she's not writing, she works in Human Resources for the Department of Veterans Affairs. Rhonda is a lifelong resident of Massachusetts and lives south of Boston with her family.