Wintergirls

Locations
Call Number: Teen Fiction, Teen Book / Fiction / Social Issues / Anderson, Laurie Halse
On Shelf At: Downtown Library, Pittsfield Branch, Westgate Branch

Location & Checkout Length	Call Number	Checkout Length	Item Status
Downtown Teen, 1st Floor 4-week checkout	Teen Fiction	4-week checkout	On Shelf
Pittsfield Teen Books 4-week checkout	Teen Book / Fiction / Social Issues / Anderson, Laurie Halse	4-week checkout	On Shelf
Westgate Teen Books 4-week checkout	Teen Book / Fiction / Social Issues / Anderson, Laurie Halse	4-week checkout	On Shelf

Eighteen-year-old Lia comes to terms with her best friend's death from anorexia as she struggles with the same disorder.

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COMMUNITY REVIEWS

wintergirls submitted by flora on December 23, 2010, 4:52pm Lia has been haunted by her former best friend, Cassie, since Cassie died in a shady motel after calling Lia 33 times with no answer. They shared an obsessive need to be the thinnest, which earlier landed them both in the hospital and ultimately ended Cassie's life. Lia cannot move on: Cassie and anorexia continue to consume her. She is always thinking about food, calculating the calories in everything she does or could eat, and longing for the numbers on the scale to drop until she disappears. She sees, smells, and hears the ghost of Cassie urging her to continue destroying herself until there is nothing else, so that they can be together again.
Anderson has masterfully put words to the internal dialog, emotions, and mental processes of the eating disordered. Stream-of-consciousness narrative and typographical choices emphasize the tension and obsessiveness and darkness of Lia's reality. Poignant language and good research make this book both authentic and captivating.

wintergirls submitted by harajuku528 on February 8, 2011, 6:06pm This book sounds really interesting!! :) Does anyone have any good book suggestions including ghosts? If you do, THANKS!!! :)

Really good book submitted by ColeenT on July 15, 2011, 1:46pm A great -read

Good Book submitted by Pavit on July 18, 2011, 3:06pm This book is a really good book! A great read!

Wow submitted by alumeng.ajl on July 30, 2012, 7:37am This book is wonderful. It's really great. It just completely terrified me.

Will inspire discussion submitted by klickitat on August 6, 2012, 7:36pm Best friends Cassie and Lia believe being skinny is worth any sacrifice. Daring each other to "be strong," they deprive their bodies of food, allowing their hobbies, their relationships, and their health to be consumed instead. When Cassie dies from complications of Bulimia Nervosa, Lia is stricken with guilt. Alone, she must decide if her status as a "wintergirl" is worth losing her life.

Although Anderson's image laden, experimental prose is an acquired taste, this affecting narrative is very likely to appeal to older teens. Parents and educators should be aware that Lia's experiences are portrayed in tasteful but intense detail and reader discretion, especially among younger children, is advised.

This title might be best introduced in a book club format to allow teens to discuss their reactions to the novel with their peers and a supportive adult.

Amazing book submitted by Serena1118 on July 9, 2017, 3:28pm This is my favorite book on Eating disorders. 100% should read

5 of 5 stars. submitted by cullerth on July 11, 2018, 10:33pm An achingly poignant look at anorexia told from the point of view of someone in the grips of the disease. The sensory detail here is gripping.

Okay submitted by zmclaugh on July 25, 2018, 2:26pm An important topic to explore, but I found some of the elements unrealistic, especially having to do with the main characters relationship (non-relationship?) to ballet. Read it because it's important to explore eating disorders.

Alright submitted by sydcha on August 4, 2019, 8:51pm I think this books topic and themes are good to explore, but the execution isn’t my favorite. I feel that the characters are a little bit shallow, and the whole book was a little rushed.