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Losing It
"I'll go bonkers in here, Issy. It's like prison except at least in prison you have some freedoms."
Fifteen-year-old Johanna Morrison is in hospital, writing letters to her best friend, Issy. As part of her therapy Jo is not allowed to leave her room, use the phone, have visitors or even wash her hair. Not unless she agrees to eat. But Jo doesn't want to eat because to her that would mean giving in and losing what little control she has over her life.
Jo suffers from anorexia and her condition has reached crisis point. For now, contact with Issy is the only thing keeping her sane.
"You are not losing it, Jo. You are going to be fine."
Jo's letters and diary give us a wry and insightful look at a teenage girl in desperate trouble. Her friend Issy, on the other hand, writes cheerfully of family dramas and hassles at school: a life that Jo has left behind...at least for now.
What is it in Johanna's past that has brought her to this point? Why does she fear losing control? And will she be brave enough to look at herself as honestly and forgivingly as her best friend does?
Fifteen-year-old Johanna Morrison is in hospital, writing letters to her best friend, Issy. As part of her therapy Jo is not allowed to leave her room, use the phone, have visitors or even wash her hair. Not unless she agrees to eat. But Jo doesn't want to eat because to her that would mean giving in and losing what little control she has over her life.
Jo suffers from anorexia and her condition has reached crisis point. For now, contact with Issy is the only thing keeping her sane.
"You are not losing it, Jo. You are going to be fine."
Jo's letters and diary give us a wry and insightful look at a teenage girl in desperate trouble. Her friend Issy, on the other hand, writes cheerfully of family dramas and hassles at school: a life that Jo has left behind...at least for now.
What is it in Johanna's past that has brought her to this point? Why does she fear losing control? And will she be brave enough to look at herself as honestly and forgivingly as her best friend does?
192 pages, Paperback
First published April 24, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 28, 2016
Mostly this is your average teen-in-hospital story. I'll forgo discussion of plot and characters and so on, because there are two things that made me tilt my head in confusion.
First: this was written in 2008 and set in 2005, and the protagonist, Johanna, is writing letters from the hospital to (for the most part) her best friend, Issy. For the most part I can go with that; there are some places where the writing is a little unrealistic for letters, but I can give it some leeway. The weirder thing is that as the letters go on, they start looking an awful lot like emails: one-liners, sometimes unsigned, etc. People send letters like that, sure, but...not often. And when you consider how long it takes for post to be delivered...maybe that's why the letters aren't dated.
Second: the pictures. Why is there semi-random clip art in the book? Talk about bringing it back to 2005. There's a little image of a plant, meant to represent the plant in Johanna's room. A jar full of 'stale gingernuts' in the common room (which seems unwise, in a unit of eating-disordered patients). Crumpled paper, a feather, prunes, chocolates, a scale hovering near 0 (repeated several times throughout)... If these were sketches, I could see them as part of the letters (and there are a few sketches, in Issy's letters), but they aren't. So why these things? Why not things of more importance to the book? I'm sure there's some kind of logic that I'm missing, but it mostly just felt odd to me.
Ah well. Quick read.
First: this was written in 2008 and set in 2005, and the protagonist, Johanna, is writing letters from the hospital to (for the most part) her best friend, Issy. For the most part I can go with that; there are some places where the writing is a little unrealistic for letters, but I can give it some leeway. The weirder thing is that as the letters go on, they start looking an awful lot like emails: one-liners, sometimes unsigned, etc. People send letters like that, sure, but...not often. And when you consider how long it takes for post to be delivered...maybe that's why the letters aren't dated.
Second: the pictures. Why is there semi-random clip art in the book? Talk about bringing it back to 2005. There's a little image of a plant, meant to represent the plant in Johanna's room. A jar full of 'stale gingernuts' in the common room (which seems unwise, in a unit of eating-disordered patients). Crumpled paper, a feather, prunes, chocolates, a scale hovering near 0 (repeated several times throughout)... If these were sketches, I could see them as part of the letters (and there are a few sketches, in Issy's letters), but they aren't. So why these things? Why not things of more importance to the book? I'm sure there's some kind of logic that I'm missing, but it mostly just felt odd to me.
Ah well. Quick read.
May 4, 2017
Good quick read. I expecually liked the references to New Zealand, just the words like 'chilly bin' 'lilo' 'pineapple lumps' etc and then names of places. I know this isnt what the story is about but it was an added bonus.
This is a pretty, light, but accurate read about anorexia and what being an inpatient is like. Would pick this up to read again.
This is a pretty, light, but accurate read about anorexia and what being an inpatient is like. Would pick this up to read again.
June 9, 2020
Did not like this book at all. The letter format means there is a no depth in the writing and poor character building. The overall feel of the books seems like a bunch of bratty ungrateful teens. Couldn’t even get half way through the book because it was more frustrating than anything. Don’t recommend this to anyone.
May 18, 2023
An Engaging and Believable Story
The format of letters, diary entries, and other written things from a hospital ward made this an intimate telling of a teenager's struggle with an eating disorder. I read it all in two sittings.
The format of letters, diary entries, and other written things from a hospital ward made this an intimate telling of a teenager's struggle with an eating disorder. I read it all in two sittings.
May 30, 2022
Short read. It didn't flesh out the minor characters.
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June 23, 2010Losing It is a really amazing read about a girl struggling with anorexia and bulimia. It's quite different to a lot of other books because it is in the format of letters and diary entries with the odd noticeboard notice here and there. Because of this format Losing It is a very fast read.
I really like Jo, her character was quite believable, I never once doubted that this wasn't a real girl. Her struggle with anorexia is really sad and it was sad to see just how much she struggled and didn't want to admit she had a problem at first.
There were a few really sad parts in Losing it too. I found myself feeling bad at some of these parts and wishing there was something I could do. But this is just a book so I couldn't do anything.
The story itself is highly engaging and little bits of information about Jo's past are given out at a time making it a book that is hard to put down.
Losing It is a really unique and really good book that focuses on anorexia and bulimia. If you're interested in the kind of books that deal with issues relating to body image and self perception then Losing It is a good book to read.
I really like Jo, her character was quite believable, I never once doubted that this wasn't a real girl. Her struggle with anorexia is really sad and it was sad to see just how much she struggled and didn't want to admit she had a problem at first.
There were a few really sad parts in Losing it too. I found myself feeling bad at some of these parts and wishing there was something I could do. But this is just a book so I couldn't do anything.
The story itself is highly engaging and little bits of information about Jo's past are given out at a time making it a book that is hard to put down.
Losing It is a really unique and really good book that focuses on anorexia and bulimia. If you're interested in the kind of books that deal with issues relating to body image and self perception then Losing It is a good book to read.
December 22, 2015
So good!
This was a great book. I was really uncertain about it, at first. It's just one that really takes you by surprise. It's not just another e.d. book. It's about real people, with real feelings and emotions. It's very heavy on the family dynamics element. I would urge readers to try this one out, even if it's not your usual cup of tea. The character development was well done, too. My only "complaint", per se, is that I really felt like something devastating happened to Jo, besides her mother leaving. Like maybe it hinted at hidden abuse from her mother before she left. Overall, it was a good book. Definitely recommended.
This was a great book. I was really uncertain about it, at first. It's just one that really takes you by surprise. It's not just another e.d. book. It's about real people, with real feelings and emotions. It's very heavy on the family dynamics element. I would urge readers to try this one out, even if it's not your usual cup of tea. The character development was well done, too. My only "complaint", per se, is that I really felt like something devastating happened to Jo, besides her mother leaving. Like maybe it hinted at hidden abuse from her mother before she left. Overall, it was a good book. Definitely recommended.
August 4, 2013
A combination of letters, journal entries and bulletin board notices tracks the emotional journey of Jo, a teenager battling with anorexia. Letters are between her and her best friend Issy, her little brother Matt and her father. The relationships she forms with these important figures, the other patients are central to her recovery.
Although not my cup of tea, it was quite a good book, and I'd recommend it to teenagers who want to better understand the mindset that some anorexia sufferers live with.
Although not my cup of tea, it was quite a good book, and I'd recommend it to teenagers who want to better understand the mindset that some anorexia sufferers live with.
November 27, 2010
This book made me really down & when I say that, it means this is a good moving book. It's got the right conflicts and an interesting read.
July 2, 2016
A beautifully written book about a young girl suffering from anorexia. Humorous, heart-warming and insightful, a must read for teenage girls.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews