Wintergirls

Anderson, Laurie Halse. Wintergirls. Chicago: Speak, 2010. Print.

Laurie Halse Anderson demonstrates her skill in creating complex characters dealing with difficult issues, just as she did in Speak, in this novel. Readers follow the poetic and haunting voice of Lia, a high school student whose anorexia dictates every action she takes. She switches through various treatments and deftly goes beneath the radar of her parents as the voices and motives in her head perpetuate her disorder. She also has a competitive history with her ex-best friend that causes guilt and haunting memories. As Lia's weight plunges, readers see every twist and turn that makes her think and act as she does. The book is well written and gives great insight into the mind of teenagers, but it would be difficult to analyze or discuss the issues in the book without getting very personal or heavy. The book would be best for high school students or even parents of teens looking to learn more about eating disorders or get a different perspective on the psyche of adolescents.