Wintergirls

Anderson, L. H. (2009). Wintergirls. New York: Viking.

Plot Description: Lia’s best friend Cassie has just died alone in a hotel room and she can’t help but feel responsible.  The night Cassie died she had tried calling Lia thirty-three times. 

Anorexia has been a struggle Lia has faced for many years and she has been in and out of rehab.  The death of Cassie is her breaking point.  She goes to a place where no one, not even her little sister who she loves dearly, can reach her.  She stops eating and starts cutting.  It isn’t until she realizes that she wants to live and be a person that she is able to finally get help and start feeling better about herself.  This book follows the emotional journey that Lia takes in fighting her eating disorder and depression.

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Age Group: This book is meant for grades 8 and up.

Series Information: Speak and Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson, and If I Stay by Gayle Forman

Reviews: Booklist Starred

Personal Thought: This book is very emotional and meant for a more mature reader.  Parents should be ready to discuss the book with their teen after they are finished.

Subject/Themes: Eating Disorders, Broken Families, Best Friends, Depression,

Character Description: Lia is an eighteen year old girl who is anorexic.

Cassie was Lia’s best friend.  She died alone in a hotel room after her esophagus ruptures.

Chloe is Lia’s overbearing mother.  She is a doctor and Lia feels like she never has time for her.

Emma is Lia’s nine year old step-sister.  She looks up to Lia.

Jennifer is Lia’s step-mother. 

Elijah is the boy who found Cassie.  He works at the hotel.

Annotation: MustNotEat, MustNotEat, MustNotEat, MustNotEat.  Lia is caught in a never-ending cycle and her weight is dropping fast.  Not eating and cutting herself makes her feel powerful and in control of her life.  If only her dead best friend Cassie would stop showing up everywhere and leave her alone.  She desperately wants Lia to cross over so that they can be together again.  Will Lia give in to her demons or choose life?