Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

Summary:

One contest.

Two girls.

A downfall into the messy seas of anorexia.

A fight to be skinny.

Only one makes it to the end of her senior year while the other one looses.

Most girls in eighth grade make resolutions on New Years to be more popular, less shy, or to finally get a boyfriend. Though, this isn't the case for Lia and Cassie. They make a resolution, well more of a contest, to see who can be the skinniest of the two. To count the calories of everything that enters their bodies and determine if they have been good enough to keep it in. This begins Lia and Cassie's struggles with anorexia and bulimia.

Now, it's senior year and one of them has been found dead. Can the other one overcome her demons and not end up the same way?

Review:

Wintergirls is a gritty, raw, and jaw dropping tale of one girl's downfall into the danger zones of anorexia. Laurie Halse Anderson perfectly captures the voice of Lia and her fight to be skinny. As you read the book, you begin to feel like your right there with Lia and root for her to realize that there are people out there that can help her overcome all of this.

When I first requested this I had no idea it was about eating disorders. I was attracted to the pretty cover and I usually love Laurie Halse Anderson's novels. So, how could this be any different, I thought. Though, it was, but not in a bad way. I personally think that this is Laurie's most honest book yet, because of how up close you get to see Lia's problems with eating and cutting. Also, her writing was at it's best. It was well paced and descriptive to the point where you got a feeling that Laurie had gone through an eating disorder herself or had someone she was close to go through one. (Actually, she didn't. I read in the back of the book that she was inspired by emails from teens telling of their problems with bulimia and anorexia.)

One of my favorite parts of Wintergirls was the message. The message that even if you do have the same promblems as Lia, you can get help and be honest to yourself. Also, to the girls who are reading this and have never had an eating disorder, it will most likely scare them away from having one like it did to me.

Overall, Wintergirls was an amazing journey that will pick you up from page one and dosen't drop you once untill the end. I absoulty sugguest this novel to all. But be aware, that it can get a little graphic somtimes.

Grade: A+

Wintergirls will be released on March 19, you can find out more about it here. Also, be sure to check out Laurie's website, blog, and myspace.

* Much thanks to JL who sent me this amazing book! :)