Shocking, mesmerising and utterly convincing, Lia tells the story of her disjointed life in the iron grip of an eating disorder. Already happily embracing the demons who drive her not to eat, Lia is now pursued also by the voice of her best friend Cassie who has just committed suicide begging her to keep control and stay thin. At first Lia obeys but gradually she begins to break free; the desire not to eat is tempered by some hope for a future.
...and a Piece of Passion from the Publisher, Marion Lloyd:
I have a longstanding dislike of novels written for young people for the purpose of examining a particular issue – bullying, pregnancy, self-harm, divorce, or whatever. I very often turn them down because, for me, the ‘issue’ is not the story. Stories are not to be confused with therapy or education. So when WINTERGIRLS was submitted to us from America, I expected not to like it. My prejudices were blasted away, powerfully and painfully. It hurt to read it, but it made me want to yell, ‘ If you want to understand this subject, then you must, must, MUST read this story!’
The disease of anorexia is incredibly difficult for most people, even medical experts, to understand. It is deeply irrational, disturbing and complex. But reading the story of WINTERGIRLS allowed me to see how a teenage girl might deliberately starve herself to death, and this knowledge was empowering as well as devastating. It is an exceptionally brave book. Laurie Halse Andersen has found the perfect voice in which to tell a story which feels true in every detail. Painful, horrible, basic, shocking – but absolutely true. If you want to know how it feels to suffer from Asperger’s Syndrome, read the brilliant THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME by Mark Haddon. If you want to know how an anorexic sufferer feels, read WINTERGIRLS. This is a life-changing book, and if it could be a life-saving book for just one reader, then publishing it will be one of the proudest things I’ve ever done.
| Primary Genre | Young Adult Fiction |
| Recommendations: |
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