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Wintergirls - Laurie Halse Anderson

'...Lia and Cassie were best friends, wintergirls frozen in matchstick bodies. But now Cassie is dead. Lia's mother is busy saving other people's lives. Her father is away on business. Her stepmother is clueless. And the voice inside Lia's head keeps telling her to remain in control, stay strong, lose more, weigh less. If she keeps on going in this way - thin, thinner; thinnest - maybe she'll disappear altogether...'
I found this book harrowing and difficult to read, wanting to reach in and shake sense into Lia, to shout at her to make her stop! It is Lia's internal monolgue that I find most impressive, allowing us to see and experience how she is battling with herself and her body all of the time. She will be strong. She is strong, and her strength pulls her through. Read it, there is hope.

You can find a review for the book, written by Melvin Burgess, here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/jan/30/wintergirls-laurie-halse-anderson-review