A beautifully written and riveting look at anorexia from acclaimed
author Laurie Halse Anderson. Cassie and Lia are best friends,
and united in their quest to be thin. But when Cassie is found dead
in a motel room, Lia must question whether she continues to lose
weight, or choose life instead.
It's rare that I read books that make me truly uncomfortable. I'm not thrown off easily and can usually cut through all the awkwardness and keep reading. Wintergirls, however, stopped me in my tracks a few times. This is not because the book is bad or impossible to read. Instead, it is brilliant. It delves into the world of an 18-year-old girl who suffers from anorexia and other inner demons. Lia finds out in the beginning of the novel that her ex-best friend has been found dead in a motel room. The novel unwraps from there, detailing definitive moments in Lia's past that have shaped who she has become. The pain and truth leaks out of this novel, causing the reader to really contemplate the issues that arise. It is a necessary read for teenage girls because these are topics that are all too common in reality but are generally avoided by the literary world. In general, I believe readers gravitate towards books that can escape into and leave behindwhatever issues they're dealing with in their own life. This isn't wrong. I do it, too. But if you're willing to stray from the general reading formula, read this book. It'll make you uncomfortable. It'll make you want to cry. It'll make you wonder why the hell you haven't read anything like this before.
