Friday, April 24, 2009

Wintergirls

Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: Viking Juvenile (March 19, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 067001110X
ISBN-13: 978-0670011100

"I am the space between my thighs, daylight shining through."

Anderson’s lyrical prose sets the stage for an uncomfortable “teenage” topic – the world of anorexia and eating disorders.

Lia had a very competitive relationship with her best friend, Cassie, until Cassie died from anorexia. But not even Cassie’s death could stop Lia’s downward spiral into the dangerous world of eating disorders.

Full of low self-esteem and shallow self-worth, this may be a hard book for some to read, but I think it is an important book because it shines a light on the destructive world of eating disorders. Written in a "diary" format - with crossed out words and sentences - parents should feel free to read and discuss this book with their teenaged daughters.

2 comments:

Mari said...

I have only read Speak, but have been wanting to get this new book by Anderson.

Anonymous said...

I loved Speak and am getting excited about this one. I think it's important to read unsettling books from time to time.