By Laurie Halse Anderson (author)
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Shocking, mesmerising and utterly convincing, Lia tells the story of her disjointed life in the iron grip of an eating disorder. Already happily embracing the demons who drive her not to eat, Lia is now pursued also by the voice of her best friend Cassie who has just committed suicide begging her to keep control and stay thin. At first Lia obeys but gradually she begins to break free; the desire not to eat is tempered by some hope for a future. ~ Julia Eccleshare
...and a piece of passion from the publisher, Marion Lloyd:
I have a longstanding dislike of novels written for young people for the purpose of examining a particular issue – bullying, pregnancy, self-harm, divorce, or whatever. I very often turn them down because, for me, the ‘issue’ is not the story. Stories are not to be confused with therapy or education. So when Wintergirls was submitted to us from America, I expected not to like it. My prejudices were blasted away, powerfully and painfully. It hurt to read it, but it made me want to yell, ‘If you want to understand this subject, then you must, must, MUST read this story!’
The disease of anorexia is incredibly difficult for most people, even medical experts, to understand. It is deeply irrational, disturbing and complex. But reading the story of Wintergirls allowed me to see how a teenage girl might deliberately starve herself to death, and this knowledge was empowering as well as devastating.
It is an exceptionally brave book. Laurie Halse Andersen has found the perfect voice in which to tell a story which feels true in every detail. Painful, horrible, basic, shocking – but absolutely true. If you want to know how it feels to suffer from Asperger’s Syndrome, read the brilliant The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon.
If you want to know how an anorexic sufferer feels, read Wintergirls . This is a life-changing book, and if it could be a life-saving book for just one reader, then publishing it will be one of the proudest things I’ve ever done.
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER A poignant story of a friendship frozen between life and death, from the award-winning author of Speak.
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"A fearless, riveting account of a young woman in the grip of a deadly illness." -The New York Times
"Anderson illuminates a dark but utterly realistic world . . .This is necessary reading."- Booklist , starred review Lia and Cassie are best friends, Wintergirls frozen in fragile bodies, competitors in a deadly contest to see who can be the thinnest. But then Cassie suffers the ultimate loss-her life-and Lia is left behind, haunted by her friend's memory and feeling guilty for not being able to help save her.
In Wintergirls , acclaimed author Laurie Halse Anderson explores Lia's struggle, her painful path to recovery, and her desperate attempts to hold on to the most important thing of all-hope.
“It's an exhausting novel to read: brilliant, intoxicating, full of drama, love and, like all the best books of this kind, hope. It would be rare to find a novel in mainstream adult fiction prepared to pull out the dramatic stops this far, and difficult to imagine one in recent years that was prepared to be so bold stylistically. It's a book that will be around for many years. It may not be an original piece, as these tricks have been pulled before in teen fiction. Yet it pulls them off with more skill and effect than anything I have ever read.” Melvin Burgess, The Observer
“A fearless, riveting account of a young woman in the grip of a deadly illness” - New York Times
“A startlingly crisp and pitch-perfect first-person narrative” - School Librarian Journal
“As difficult as reading this novel can be, it is even more difficult to put down” - Publishers Weekly
Laurie Halse Anderson has been published to huge critical acclaim in the United States. Known for tackling tough subjects with humour and sensitivity, her work has earned numerous awards. Two of her books, Speak and Chains, were National Book Award finalists. Chains was also shortlisted for the CILIP Carnegie Medal in the UK. In 2009 Laurie was honoured with the Margaret A. Edwards Awards, given by YALSA division of the American Library Association for her “significant and lasting contribution to young adult literature”. Mother of four and wife of one, Laurie lives in Northern New York where she likes to watch snow fall as she writes.
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NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER A poignant story of a friendship frozen between life and death, from the award-winning author of Speak. But then Cassie suffers the ultimate loss-her life-and Lia is left behind, haunted by her friend's memory and feeling guilty for not being able to help save her.
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed Wintergirls and determined it is suitable for children aged 13-18 years old
Wintergirls features in the following genres: Recommended Children's eBooks, Recommendations, Featured Books for 13+ readers, Featured Books for Young Adults
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Wintergirls was written by Laurie Halse Anderson and published by Viking Books for Young Readers an imprint of Penguin Young Readers Group
Wintergirls has 320 pages
£11.69, reduced from £12.99. In Stock.
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