Beautiful Monster

by Kate McCaffrey

Written from the perspective of a teenager, this chilling psychological thriller follows Tessa as she copes with the blood-stained event that changed her life forever. Set in Perth, Western Australia, this gripping novel demonstrates how Tessa clings to anorexia and to her sinister, imaginary friend, Ned—her greatest support and her staunchest ally who is privy to her deepest secrets—in an attempt to deal with the loss of her brother and the resulting change in her parents.

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Fiction, Mental Health, Psychology, Mental Illness

288 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2010

About the author

Kate grew up in Perth’s northern suburbs. She has a degree in English and Art and a diploma in Education.

Kate is the author of three award-winning novels for young adults: Destroying Avalon (2006), winner of the WAYBRA Award for older readers and the Western Australian Premier’s Book Award for Young Adults; In Ecstasy (2008), winner of the Australian Family Therapists Children’s Literature Awards; and Beautiful Monster (2010), named a 2011 White Raven, selected from newly published books from around the world as especially noteworthy by the International Youth Library in Munich, Germany. She is currently putting the finishing touches on a fourth novel to be published by Fremantle Press in 2014.
Awards

Winner, Australian Family Therapists’ Award for Children’s Literature, 2008
Highly Commended, Australian Family Therapists’ Award for Children’s Literature, 2007
Winner, Western Australian Premier’s Book Award, 2007
Notable Book, Children’s Book Council of Australia, 2007
Winner, West Australian Young Readers’ Book Award, 2007

Reviews

[kavya (warner’s version) · Rating 1 out of 5]

So the guy is walking around as the reddest fucking flag in the universe (oh, casually attempts to kill her twice) and it’s never even addressed? She just comes back to him like he isn’t so clearly full of shit. Also her brother dies at the start and they skip a year right after which was.. interesting. But then she also gets an eating disorder which the author doesn’t even get into detail abt and just makes it seem like it’s a joke n shit. And then it gets so confusing after that bc the ‘love’ interest is calling her fat and ugly and just about forces her to vomit out her calories (literally) which after her parents find out abt the author skips another year ?

She has two ‘friends’ that r twins and she never even talks to them which is rly frustrating bc maybe they could out some sense into her if she did.
And the worst part abt this are the quote references “whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.” No bc HOW DARE HER put in a withering heights quote honestly 😭 who let her do this. And this was like referenced twice in this book and it’s on the BLURB.
Someone ban this book I beg of u.
I swear to u this is a case of it’s the BOOK, it’s not ME type of thing
SKSJKSKSJSKKS

[Miranda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought this was quite well written and an important topic to raise with teenage readers, but I didn't like the way McCaffrey used 'Ned'. Tess describes him as her best friend and the only person she can rely on, but he seems determined to tear her down and destroy her confidence so that she keeps starving herself. As the book develops it slowly becomes clear that Ned isn't real - that he's just Tess's mind, her desire for control. But this is never stated or made very explicit, and I think it's a subtlety that will confuse some readers. If the reader thinks Ned is a real character, it undermines the point of the book because it all seems like HIS fault - if he just left Tess alone, she'd be fine. The point should be that Tess's obsession with a perfect body and being able to control her weight and her life is dangerous and causing her to harm herself and hurt everyone around her.

I know I often say I don't think authors should talk down to readers or underestimate their intelligence, but I think with a book like this about an important issue, it's necessary to be a bit less subtle for the benefit of a diversity of readers. A couple of the reviewers here on goodreads thought Ned was real and wondered why he was so horrible to Tess.

Although, thinking it over, I'm not exactly an expert on anorexia - maybe the imaginary friend thing is a common manifestation of eating disorders? Or maybe K.M. was trying to make a point about toxic friends or relationships, and purposefully made it ambiguous so that you can read it either way? Hmm, I'm not convinced.

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was definitely an issues novel – eating disorders and mental health being the issues – and though I haven’t read Kate McCaffrey’s previous novels, it seems as if they were issues-based too.

Tessa’s life changes when her little brother is killed in an awful accident – suddenly her mother isn’t her mother anymore, and Tessa increasingly feels pressured to be perfect, that she should have died instead of her brother. Tess decides that in order to be perfect, she has to lose weight – she starts starving herself, and when she has to eat, throwing it back up. Tess wants to be in control. Her close friend Ned supports her, is always there for her, and thinks she should lose weight too.

One issue I had with this novel was that I never really felt connected to Tess. The book was written in third-person, and I always felt as if I was outside of Tess’s head, unable to fully empathise with her because I didn’t really know her. I thought it was written wonderfully, and the way in which time was structured was brilliant. I think even though I felt a bit disconnected from Tess, the way she feels about herself and the things that she does are things that I think a lot of young women (and other people of course) will be able to understand, sadly.

I’ve found with a lot of novels about eating disorders, the character with the disorder is endlessly frustrating – people keep telling them they’re too thin, they have to get better – and yet they still insist that they’re fat and ugly. This is probably representative of a real person with an eating disorder – it affects them mentally and they have very distorted ideas of their own appearance. Tess and her fights with Ned were so frustrating and so sad – but I think they were necessary in the novel.

This isn’t the type of book you can say you enjoyed, because I didn’t really. I thought it was well-written and insightful, and I recommend it to people who enjoyed Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson and other novels about eating disorders. I think the pull of Beautiful Monster and books like it is not that they’re fun to read, but that they’re like a train wreck – you feel almost hypnotised by them, by the horror.

[Clare Snow]

Haven't started this, but don't know when I will due to my headspace.

[Sally · Rating 2 out of 5]

I remember about 25% of this book, and from what I remember it was not Amazing, but it was decent.

[Liralen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Huh. Okay. In a lot of ways this isn't stepping outside the norm for the genre/topic, but McCaffrey does some interesting things here. Tessa's eating disorder is personified as Ned, and while it's common enough to see characters (...and real-life people...) personifying their eating disorders, I don't usually see them turn up as fully realised characters. In this case Ned is a figment of Tessa's imagination, but he manifests as an abusive boyfriend, somebody Tessa's both drawn to and uncertain about. And yet there's some separation between the personified Ned and Tessa'a anorexia; there's overlap, but it's not total.

Meanwhile, Tessa gets sick and gets better and gets sick again. Her weight fluctuates. Her mental state fluctuates. Her family situation fluctuates. It's not a perfect rendering, but it's more realistic than the books that take things in a straight line.

And, perhaps most interesting: McCaffrey sidelines some of the stuff that would be a big deal in other books. Long stretches of times are skipped over, ones including important events. The big race. Tessa's hospitalisation. It could have worked to have those (or parts of those) more directly on the page, but they weren't really necessary, and making them secondary means that the book doesn't rest so much on Big Dramatic (Unrealistic) Moments. So...kind of an unexpectedly thought-provoking read. (Hurray for interlibrary loan.)

[Bianca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a truly amazing read. The way that McCaffrey gets inside the head of the main character and how mental illness can affect anyone and how one small comment can lead to deeper issues is one of the best books about mental illness that I have read. I work in mental illness and it is a compassionate read as well as informative. I can't wait to read McCaffrey's other books as she seems to tackle modern issues that we are trying to tackle including cyber bullying. Telling these stories from the perspective of the person who is affected by the major issue really allows the reader to understand what they are going through and how to assist if you encounter a similar situation.

[Helen Stower · Rating 3 out of 5]

Deals with anorexia. Good for year 9 & 10 girls.

[Shadows n Secrecy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Haven't read in a while, so it was an easy reading to get back into it.

I picked up Beautiful Monster because a friend told me it was the most realistic portrayal of mental illness in literature - because lord there are some disgustingly romanticised portrayals out there (Twilight, 13 Reasons Why, I'm looking at you).

Lord, I'm not disappointed. It was oh-so-raw.

As I got older, I only got to know more oh-so-amazing people out there, capable of amazing things... Only to be held back by struggles of the mind, circumstance, horrible/toxic people. It hurts seeing people become shadows of what they could be - those who survive carrying constantly-reopened wounds, those still fighting.

It's not any less painful watching a girl, around my age, go through the same thing through the words of a book.

I'm happy. I'm happy Tess survived the fight, and it seems she would go on to lead a normal life - even if her demons are expected to haunt her at times.

But I don't want to know about Bobby, the next social outcast whose life is about to be turned upside down by Ned

[Michelle Xxan · Rating 2 out of 5]

i remember reading this back when i was 13 and it was my first introduction to eating disorders. reading it again now, i just.... 2 stars because the writing style was good and it was easy to read but im sick of all these eating disorder portrayals where the eating disorder is personified. its obvious that the author never had or suffered from an eating disorder but this was just so unrealistic and ridiculous that i just can't..... ned just seems to me as some weird hallucinated 'ana coach' and this just gave me starving in suburbia vibes (yikes). also didn't really feel like this book really dug deep into the mentality of eating disorders but i guess its a good thing since the author never actually experienced one. also the fact that she never binges? i know some people who can low restrict for long periods without binging but they are quite rare and the fact that she is surviving on an apple a day without any reactive eating? give me a break and let me give tess the medal for the true stereotypical but highly unrealistic anorexic.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel was so emotional. It showed how easily grief can change a persons life and how effortlessly dangerous thoughts permeate one's head and develop harmful habits.

Tess had an amazing life before her brother died in a car accident. The events of her life made her mother incredibly sad and her father incredibly busy taking care of his depressed and grieving mother.

It was never clarified whether Ned was a person or a mere fiction of Tess' mind, but whatever he was, he was extremely poisonous to her life. She became too obsessed with her looks and her weight, and consequently became anorexic. She developed a mental and eating disorder.

Even though it was hard to read through all the struggles she went through for the duration of the 4 years depicted in the novel, it was necessary. I t made me realise the difference between being cautious and being obsessed with something. There is a very fine line between them.

It was an incredible book, spectacularly capturing the emotions of Tess and her struggles. I absolutely loved it.

[Elizabeth Chang · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked this book up....completely on a whim. I was in those rare situations at the library when I didn't have anything to read, so I perused the shelves for books that looked "cool".

I came across this tiny book. A paperback, too!

I saw the minimal cover with the strange skeleton....an intriguing title and blurb, and decided, SURE! WHY NOT?!

So, first....let me be perfectly clear! 2 stars is not what I would consider a BAD book. According to Goodreads, "it was ok". And I think that matches my opinion of this book the best.

So, I wasn't sure WHAT exactly to expect, when I first started reading this chapter....but suffice to say, it was a quick, decent read.

It also got me in a bad mood. Not because the book was bad! Or the writing!

But just the characters...grrrr!

I wish I could say that I understand why they would have...difficult personalities, but I can't. I just read...and read....and got increasingly frustrated with their choices in life.

The ending was okay, too.

*shrugs*

[Em · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I felt for Tess, I felt more for her parents -- her mum's struggles to cope with Brodie's car accident, her dad trying to keep everyone afloat. Since the book was written in third person, I would have liked more of them. The portrayal of Tess's eating disorder didn't ring true. Sure, the perfectionism, the desire to please others, and so on, seemed right, but Tess's thought patterns often seemed flawed (flawed in terms of portraying an eating disorder accurately - obviously the "disorder" part of an eating disorder means the person's thought patterns are flawed). However, I still enjoyed the book. Ned was pretty spot on as an abusive boyfriend.

[Kerran Olson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this is one of McCaffreys darkest novels, as Tessa's eating disorder/mental illness is personified as Ned in a really manipulative, sinister way. It wasn't until a few chapters in that I was sure he wasn't real, at first I thought he was just a horrible person. I think using Ned to illustrate the way eating disorders can impact people and their thoughts and behaviours is an interesting way to approach such a big issue.

[Azira Ziara · Rating 1 out of 5]

I feel like this could have been written so much better. It seems like the author knows very little about the serious topic she's chosen to write about - this seems like the stereotypical anorexia story where she wants to lose weight. The why is there but I feel like it could have been made more in depth. Also, the fact that the story is not in first person really makes it feel like she's telling us the facts and that's it. I can neither empathise nor sympathise with her.

[Amber Crotty · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel was okay. Wasn't better then the other books by Kate McCaffrey,but there were only one problem about the novel; the story or plot. It just didn't interest me at all, but the characters are fine and the point of view is well done impressive. Some pages have some mistakes or grammar and spelling. But overall, I read the whole thing in two weeks and I felt very proud of that. :)

[Demi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book and how researched the information was however I wish there was more of Tess' problem rather than afterwards when she had recovered.
I love the author, especially as she came to visit my school and I was able to see her comedic side too.

[tiora gunatilake · Rating 4 out of 5]

it was a emotional rollarcoaster for the characters and the readers ourselves, and honestly broke me towards about ned, i always knew he was an ass. but the stress and emotions that tess and her family go through and so beautiful and a short read!!

[maegan · Rating 3 out of 5]

okay, this book was great. it was. but it felt stretched. the plot was amazing it talked about important issues but i didn't like how it jumped dates. also check the trigger warnings before reading the book.

[Sarah Thornton · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's not solid, but it was pretty triggering. Even this many years later.
The Ned character let it down a little. I can see what she was going for, but to me specifically it didn't work particularly well.

[Ange G · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS WAS SUCH A GOOD BOOK!!

[J.B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not My Favorite...

It was just okay. It wasn't the best. In fact, it was a little confusing. I'm on the fence. Read at your own disposal, and make your own conclusions.

[Kania Purnomo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dark teen flick.

[Cayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely intense. I just couldn’t put this down! Between the grief and struggles of an anorexic teenager, along with toxic relationships, these cover some very intense things that aren’t talked about enough. Great read.

[Raylene · Rating 3 out of 5]

raises awareness rlly effectively, but the writing style isn't my taste. don't rlly think it's made to please, rather just to inform of eds. its not bad but the ML is.

[iielxsha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this is the first time I’ve read a book with someone who has anorexia. It’s very interesting to see what goes through their minds. This book was sorta mid cuz throughout the book I lowkey just felt so sorry for her. Like the book starts of with her brother literally DYING like what. First chapter in. BOOM. Not even a hello, not even a how are you? Then her parents are all wonky and don’t love eachother anymore like bruh one after the other. But anyway, the way the book described how different her family was after her brothers passing was so detailed and descriptive. I never knew you could explain feelings by using the house. Describing the brothers bedroom, the kitchen, lounge and stuff. Memories that were lost and faded and gone. It was so beautifully described. But also so sad at the same time.

The fact that she kept everything in and all her pain and emotions to herself instead of talking to it with her Dad was such a bad decision. Like she kept acting she was alright and pretending that she was good and life was fine. Like thats not how you grieve lol. Soon enough you’re bound to explode. And she did! She literally started vomiting and STARVING herself like what brooo. At first I was like is she stupid??? But the way the book described her point of view of being anorexic was like damnnnn. Like its sort of insane the way she thought about food, I’ve never thought of it that way. It was brutally described like food was an enemy crawling into the body that has to be cleansed. Like that sounds crazy right? That’s what Tessa felt.

I lowkey hate the Mom for being so weak and taking the death of the brother so badly to the point she neglected her job as a mother for Tessa and a wife for the Dad (forgot his name) like the Mom should be even more stronger by the death of his son and take even more care and be strong for her family thats still alive instead of dwelling on the dead son like what??

Omg and when she was found out that she was anorexic and how people started noticing how skinny she was but in her POV she thought they were insane and saying lies and just saying that to be nice and how she felt and saw herself as really fat and chubby even though she ain’t even like she does ROWING you know how hard that is?? The physical strain it takes to your body and the amount of effort your body exerts to do rowing like omg bro. No wonder she passed out one time cuz she literally didn’t eat anything and thought she could still row like bruh.

But anyways I’m glad she got the help she needed and that she finally accepted her problems and came to terms that she was actually suffering fr. Solid book tbh I feel like I read this book so quickly cuz it was pretty straightforward and yeah 3/5 :)

[Lara Quinn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really great book. Will certainly get your emotions running wild. One mintute you will be basically yelling, the next crying.

[Larissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

There was a time when all Tess had to worry about was homework and her annoying little brother. But now with her brother gone Tess worries about everything and homework is just one more thing that causes her anxiety; slowly it feels like everything is slipping out of control.

After her brother Tess's life becomes dark, her home silent and happiness something that no longer exists within her family. Her parents are having trouble dealing with the aftermath of the incident, her mother especially is not coping falling into a great depression and Tess is left to try and deal through things on her own. At least she would be alone if it wasn't for Ned.

Ned is the one person Tess can trust, the one person she can talk to and the only one who understands her. Tess knows that Ned loves her and anything he may say is for her best, he wants her to be the best. If she can just control her study, control her eating, then maybe she will become smart enough and thin enough to be good enough to be loved.

beautiful monster is a compelling story with a lead character you really feel for. This is story about a devastating and traumatic event that cripples a family and leaves one girl forever changed. A sensitive and insightful look at how one girl deals with a number of difficult issues namely grief, depression, and eating disorders. Some events not only change your life but leave you forever changed.

Everyone deals with tragedy in their own ways but no one should have to deal alone.

[Erin Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't like this book as much as I have liked the other books Kate Mccaffrey has written. She stays true to her writing style and delivers a phsycological story that pulls you in and makes you feel for the main character. Although in this story I wasn't as pulled in. Yes it was sad that Tessa developed an eating disorder but the way it went down was what I didn't like. I understand that it is a hard disorder to overcome but the way in which Tessa handled it wasn't the best and it didn't draw me in as much as I would have thought. What I did like about the book was the way that Kate Mccaffrey made her disorder a person, a figment of Tessa's mind, so that we could see what she saw and listen to what her disorder was saying straight from its mouth. Ned was terrible to her and it was sad knowing that it all came from her mind and that he wasn't really there for her at all, she was all alone. I really liked Tessa's dad, he managed to stay headstrong through every ordeal the family went through and he didn't falter. After seeing his wife and his daughter spiral out of control I'm surprised he didn't follow suit. Overall it was a good story describing the painful spiral into bulimia and dealing with grief and loss.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful Monster is a about Perth teenager Tessa Edwards who develops an eating disorder a couple of years after witnessing the death of her brother. Tess feels like the only person who is really there for her is her friend Ned. Ned has the ability to make Tess feel great but also likes to point out her imperfections. This leads Tess on a mission to be the perfect daughter, student and most importantly to be the perfect weight. Kate McCaffrey quickly grabs your attention and keeps it by creating a main character that you just want to shake some sense into. The situation that McCaffrey sets up seems realistic and I can imagine the struggles Tess has with dealing with her anorexia are similar to those of real life people with eating disorders.

My one criticism with the novel is the ending, specifically the character Ned. Ned is an important character throughout the novel and there is a twist involving him which some readers will see coming a mile away. The ending, however, makes you question the twist. I think McCaffrey was trying to point out that eating disorders are not gender specific but I ended up being confused by an otherwise gripping read. I am still now interested in reading McCaffrey's other novels.