Overall I have a feeling this book would be frustrating and disturbing for those who know nothing of disordered eating; and for those with disordered eating, I think it would be very triggering. This book gets five stars and not four from me, despite a couple of flaws, because Lia seemed so real and the writing style was wonderful and the language was lovely. The two main characters, the "wintergirls" of the title, both have emotional problems that lead to and exacerbate their disorders. It lingers in your mind and keeps you thinking. Lia and Cassie were always the best of friends. We turned us into wintergirls, and when she tried to leave, I pulled her back into the snow because I was afraid to be alone. The plot develops based on her feelings, strategically switching up the pace of progression every once in a while. Although the stage of Lia’s illness barely changes until the very end, I did not find the story monotonous at all. Some great displays of these techniques include the following quotes from the book: “We held hands when we walked down the gingerbread path into the forest… We danced with witches and kissed monsters. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. But Lia had not spoken to Cassie in months after her trip into the hospital when her weight hit the danger zone. Reading this book felt like swimming in a sea of mixed emotions, tasting the subtle changes in the water. She has a way of explaining inner thoughts in beautiful and heart-breaking words and phrases, and while the language is poetic it doesn't drown the actual story. Our ratings are based on child development best practices. Highly recommended. It lingers in your mind and keeps you thinking. What to Watch, Read, and Play While Your Kids Are Stuck Indoors, Common Sense Selections for family entertainment, Stoke kids' love of reading with great summer stories, Teachers: Find the best edtech tools for your classroom with in-depth expert reviews, “Pachamama” y más películas, programas y libros inspirados en leyendas latinas, Wide Open School: recursos para el aprendizaje a distancia. I'm surprised there is so little criticism of this book! Word of warning: if you have an eating disorder, I'd urge you to stay away from this book. We’d love your help. brought me inside the head of this anorexic girl, Lia. This is the first one that actually inspired me to recover instead of driving me further into my disorder. CCPA: Protect your family's data privacy under new California law. The star rating reflects overall quality. This is difficult but important material for teens and parents to discuss -- and ultimately, there is hope. I love Laurie Halse Anderson. I'm Yoyo, an eighth-grader at Rectory. Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners. Her parents try to help but are easily fooled into believing she is better, even after Cassie dies from bulimia. Just like any other literary masterpiece, the story of, does not end after you are done reading. I did not finish this book, not because I did not like it, but because I could not stand how Lia hurted herself and lied to every single person she encountered. That's the. Four stars simply for the format and linguistic feat, not to mention the incredibly realistic portrayal of anorexia - it's clear Laurie Halse Anderson h tw: anorexia, bulimia, self-harm The painfully vivid scenes brought the fiction to life, making me feel like I merged into Lia’s body, went through all the hunger, numbness, and devastation. Lia's choice was starvation. What are wintergirls?? Families can talk about body image, healthy self-image, and cultural expectations for women's bodies. I finally get it.” (220), “I am spinning the silk threads of my story, weaving the fabric of my world. This book was absolutely mesmerizing! I didn't care for the writing style, all the crossed out words just felt like an unneccessary affectation that slowed down the pace of the book. Some would argue that this book glorifies eating disorders, but I would say that it could be the exact opposite if interpreted so. Okay, so it would be a little exreme to say a book gave me an eating disorder, but it certainly didn’t help. What do you think of this marketing effort? If you enjoy raw, lyrical writing and want something worth crying for, then. It's been recommended to me a million times over and I'm so glad I finally picked it up.