Wintergirls

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The New York Times bestselling story of a friendship frozen between life and death

Lia and Cassie are best friends, wintergirls frozen in fragile bodies, competitors in a deadly contest to see who can be the thinnest. But then Cassie suffers the ultimate loss-her life-and Lia is left behind, haunted by her friend's memory and racked with guilt for not being able to help save her. In her most powerfully moving novel since Speak, award-winning author Laurie Halse Anderson explores Lia's struggle, her painful path to recovery, and her desperate attempts to hold on to the most important thing of all: hope.

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moiraethefates, October 8, 2010 (view all comments by moiraethefates)
Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

Wintergirls review by Moirae (the fates) book reviews.
Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson is the most powerful YA (young adult) book I have ever read. The tag line is I swear to be the skinniest girl in school, skinnier then you. The tag line its self is haunting. The book as all of Anderson’s works is well researched and beautifully written.
Lia the main character struggles with anorexia, a topic that is not talked about in most societies. Lia comes from a dysfunctional family and is dealing with the loss of her best friend. Her friend was also a sufferer of anorexia, but she was also a cutter. (A person who cuts themselves.) The friend was found dead in a hotel room.
This book really opens up the closed secret world of eating disorders, Lia is consumed with counting calories and staying thin. She takes food and puts it on a plate before throwing it out, she then puts the dirty plate out so her family will think she is eating, she has been to rehab before and has to be weighed each day to ensure that she is not loosing weight again, however Lia has taken to sewing quarters into the pockets of her ratty bathrobe to add a little extra weight without her Step-Mother knowing that she has the coins.
This book can be very difficult to read if you or someone you know suffers or has suffered from an eating disorder like anorexia before. Throughout the book, the readers can see into Lia’s head and can see what she is thinking and how anorexia is consuming her life and how counting her calories has become as natural as breathing.
People around Lia know she is ill, but the illness is not one that can be fixed over night.
It’s a beautiful and haunting story that should be required reading for every student in the country as well as their parents. I recommend this book to every girl young and old alike as well as anyone who is curious about the illness.
I would say that if you have struggled with an eating disorder in the past then please be in a safe place before you read this book, as it could be triggering for some. I personally know someone who suffers from anorexia and said she had to put the book down until she was in a safe place.

What parents need to know:
Wintergirls is a very serious book and I would recommend that parents read it before their teen.

The cover art:
I found the cover art very haunting, it fit the title, but it didn’t give off a vibe of being about anorexia.

My overall rating:
My over all rating for Wintergirls is ***** 5 out of 5 stars.

Obtained:
My personal bookshelf.

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anitaballerina, March 24, 2010 (view all comments by anitaballerina)
Wintergirls was recommended to me by a friend. This friend suffered from Anorexia. The main theme of this book is just that anorexia and eating disorders.
The main girl in the book is constantly haunted by the death of her friend who died from an ED.
Lia still suffers from her own battle and talks about rehab.
The book reflects her thoughts on food and her body.
This is a very powerful book and I think that every one should read, parents and teens alike.

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Product Details

ISBN:

9780142415573

Author:

Anderson, Laurie Halse

Publisher:

Speak

Subject:

Social Issues - Adolescence

Subject:

Social Issues - Death & Dying

Subject:

Social Issues - Friendship

Subject:

Situations / Adolescence

Subject:

Children s Young Adult-Social Issue Fiction-Adolescence

Subject:

Children s Young Adult-Social Issue Fiction

Copyright:

2010

Edition Description:

Mass Market

Publication Date:

20100231

Binding:

TRADE PAPER

Grade Level:

from 7 up to AND UP

Language:

English

Pages:

288

Dimensions:

8.38x5.40x.79 in. .59 lbs.

Age Level:

12-17