Wintergirls

This book. I truly don't know that there is an author other than Laurie Halse Anderson that could have written this kind of book and on this subject. This book!

This is the story of Lia, an adolescent girl who has a history of battling anorexia. She and her friend Cassie were having a competition to see who could become the smallest. Cassie was found dead, along in a motel room. Lia missed 33 calls from her begore she died.

This is told from Lia's point of view, allowing the reader to understand the constant struggle she is having at trying to keep her weight high enough that her family doesn't make a big deal and leaves her alone. She isn't skinny enough, is never skinny enough. She judges people by their BMI and what she is going to eat by the caloric content.

To say this is a powerful book is not enough to give it justice. I have heard people say they didn't want to give it to daughters because it may give them ideas about becoming anorexic or if it was a struggle, they may get more ideas about how to continue. I don't see it being that way. This is a powerful book that I think many, many girls who struggle with anorexia, bulimia or even cutting would read and find that someone finally captured their voice. This is a powerful, powerful book. I just can't say enough about it to give it the recommendation I think it deserves.