Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

Ferries have some advantages and one of them is reading time. When I headed over to Vancouver to help my daughter move last weekend, I brought along Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson. Now I have to tell you right up front that I love Halse Anderson. Her writing is crisp, clean and without extraneous detail. Her characters are as alive as you and I. And, best of all, her books pack an emotion punch that make can take your breathe away. Wintergirls doesn't disappoint. It's a seriously tough read, but in a 'you can't put it down sort of way'. By the time you've finished it, you will have been fed through the anorexic/bolemic/cutting mill and been spewed out the other side. There is nothing generic about Wintergirls though. Through Lia, the author takes you inside the skin and bones mentality of girls who who think they will be beautiful if only they can get thinner. Wintergirls is as raw as the razor blade wounds that 18 year old Lia inflicts on herself when she hates herself for eating. Through Lia, and the death of her best friend and competitor, Cassie, the author takes you inside the skin and bones mentality of girls whose only acceptable weight is zero.

It is a trip you won't soon forget, and fortunately for the feint of heart, there is a small glimmer of light at the end of Lia's tunnel.

For all you Halse Anderson fans out there, the cover is fabulous. Here's a peek. There's also a pretty cool trailer that you can see at Amazon, but I'm not sure how to download it, but do check it out because the author talks about her approach to writing and it's quite interesting.