Questions About Wintergirls

by Laurie Halse Anderson (Goodreads Author)

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Answered Questions (27)

What do the chapter numbers mean? Do they have any purpose?

Savannah Grace When Lia is weighed, she always formats her weight as 000.00 (example: 101.20). The chapters are also formatted this way (example: 039.00). That's the…moreWhen Lia is weighed, she always formats her weight as 000.00 (example: 101.20). The chapters are also formatted this way (example: 039.00). That's the only reason I can think of.(less)

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Question: Are both girls dead? Also, what does it mean when it says, "wintergirls frozen in matchstick bodies?" What are wintergirls?? But the book sounds really good!!+)

Alyssia Cooke Perhaps I'm a little too literal here judging by the other answer, but I took it as Wintergirls is almost a code for the anorexia; when you get that t…morePerhaps I'm a little too literal here judging by the other answer, but I took it as Wintergirls is almost a code for the anorexia; when you get that thin, you are forever cold, your circulation doesn't work as well, you need three jumpers instead of one. It seemed fitting to me.

And so 'wintergirls frozen in matchstick bodies' is essentially saying the same thing twice, only the matchstick bodies is a more overt description of their malnutrition.(less)

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Does anybody else feel like this book glorifies anorexia?

Dancinginthedark the story itself isn't glorifying it, but as someone who has anorexia, I can say that the writing itself definitely does glorify it until the last 30 …morethe story itself isn't glorifying it, but as someone who has anorexia, I can say that the writing itself definitely does glorify it until the last 30 pages. (less)

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How do you feel about lia?

Doug Rhoda I love Lia so much. She's one of those characters I just want to reach into the pages of the book and give are a hug and tell her that everything's go…moreI love Lia so much. She's one of those characters I just want to reach into the pages of the book and give are a hug and tell her that everything's going to be alright. She has some issues, but don't we all? She has a dark, yet entrancing soul.(less)

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I was not impressed by this book. I'm a fan of dreary topics and Laurie Halse Anderson, however I thought this one was boring and unclimactic. I felt like the whole story was Lia sulking throughout her daily routine. I wish it had shown us more of Cassie and Lia's past friendship I really enjoyed the overlapping plots, like Lia's illness, her family drama, and her friendship with Elijah. Does anyone agree with me?

Clementine I completely agree. I found Cassie 10x more interesting than Lia. Lia was just boring. Even the way she struggled was boring. I wanted to root for her…moreI completely agree. I found Cassie 10x more interesting than Lia. Lia was just boring. Even the way she struggled was boring. I wanted to root for her, I did, but I just pictured this entitled white girl with all of this support and money at her disposal CHOOSING to be miserable. She was the type of kid that could have easily invested in healthy eating from a young age. Her parents would have bought her all the food, equipment, etc. Eating clean isn't cheap and I just feel like she had no real reason to be so miserable. I didn't even learn of a defining moment that made her decide she wanted to be like that. It was just her and Cassie chatting one day.(less)

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