Fighting for Life: Anorexia, the Road to Recovery

by Melinda Hutchings

This compelling story takes us right inside the mind, heart and body of a teen aged girl suffering from Anorexia nervosa, a disorder which is incredibly difficult for both the victim and those close to her to understand, and very complex in its treatment. It tells the story of 15-year-old Tracy and explores the different and shocking ways in which the illness takes over her life. It details her inner struggle and personal torment as she desperately fights the powerful monster that is Anorexia, and the tragic effects this has on her family environment.

The book is a fictionalized account of the author's own experiences and has been written to help people to understand the mind of the Anorexic and to cope with behavioral patterns.

Paperback

Published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Selkie]

Even though the author states that she suffered from anorexia, she was unable to convey any of that suffering into her main character. The style in which it is written is stiff and artificial, and the only way is which she ever expressed any emotion was to have them cry, all the time.
There are many ways to suffer besides just crying. And the ending just seems unfinished, like she got bored with her own story and wanted to wrap it up in a hurry---the main character sees children happy, and that turns her life around because she is at that point afraid that she will never have children? Not very believable...

[Suzy Atkin]

I like how Melinda told this story in a fictional way, yet she herself has experienced this dark and rocky road. A great book to read if you need to get inside the mind of an anorexic, would recommend to any mental health worker or someone suffering from this disease.