Wintergirls in Penguin's Point of View Books

Feb 12, 2010 Andrea Cremer rated it it was amazing

A must read. Chilling (no pun intended) and painfully real.

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Nov 23, 2009 Sarah Holmen rated it it was amazing

Shelves: own, signed

Wintergirls is a story about Lia who is a girl who has been dealing with anorexia for several years now having gone in and out of rehab.Now after her childhood friend Cassie dies she has to deal with that and hiding the fact that she is still seeing and smelling Cassie.
It was really good over all,got me hooked right away and literally couldn't put it down until I finished reading it.It really showed like with what a girl might do with dealing with anorexia from when before she went into high sch ...more

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Apr 14, 2010 Audrey rated it it was amazing

The novel and the writing were absolutely amazing. It takes me insided Lia's head, her thoughts, truths, and the fact that she can't get over her best friend Cassie's (who was bulimic) death. She refuses to let herself eat, calling herself strong when she eats 800 calories and exhausts herself exercising. Anderson has a way of writing in such a unique manner, not unlike her other novel, Speak.

Some quotes gave me shiviers, such as:

"There is grease on the stove, blood in the air, and angry words The novel and the writing were absolutely amazing. It takes me insided Lia's head, her thoughts, truths, and the fact that she can't get over her best friend Cassie's (who was bulimic) death. She refuses to let herself eat, calling herself strong when she eats 800 calories and exhausts herself exercising. Anderson has a way of writing in such a unique manner, not unlike her other novel, Speak.

Some quotes gave me shiviers, such as:

"There is grease on the stove, blood in the air, and angry words piled in the corners. We are trained not to see it, not any of it... Someone just ripped off my eyelids." (4)

"For one moment we are not failed tests and broken condoms and cheating on essays; we are crayons and lunch boxes and swinging so high our sneakers punch holes in the clouds. For one breath everything feels better." (15)

Things like these were so haunting and powerful to me, and it kept me enchanted. The story isn't pretty, it isn't a fairytale, but I think that's what makes it feel so real. Lia's struggles are so 'in your face' that you can't help but become emotionally connected. Her life is far from perfect, and despite how her family and loved ones keep reaching out she doesn't want to get better. That's the problem. Cheating on weigh-ins. Pretending to eat food she hasn't. Detesting her own body, although she is nothing but skin and bones. Lia is so complex, and I felt Anderson really wrote about her condition in a convincing, realistic way.

She meets a boy, but again, that boy is real. He isn't the knight in shining armor, the boy who makes her all better. Lia's step-sister, I feel, is a bit like her anchor. She tries for Emma, genuinely cares about her, which surprised me a bit (usually, these main characters hate their 'perfect, nice' stepsisters). The bond Lia feels with Emma is well written.

Lia also conflicts with her mother, who she feels is trying to strangle her. When a boy tells her her mother is 'reaching out', she responds "That's not reaching out, that's choking," a line which describes Lia's thoughts perfectly. She doesn't want her mom running her life, and refuses allow her mother to help her with her problem.

I need to comment on the prose, because I think this is what makes the novel amazing. Many authors have tackled the issue of anorexia, but somehow, I think Anderson makes it one step more intimate, more real. The inner battles Lia has, like the voice telling her "remain in control, stay strong, lose more, weight less," and the crossouts in the text about thoughts Lia pushes away. There is the constant reminder of Cassie's death, and the fact that she feels somewhat responsible, and sees Cassie beckoning to her to join her in death, to further starve herself.

The dark writing makes everything work. It makes parts heartbreaking, and I'll admit, some parts I teared up. I felt Lia's fight, her emotions, her battles. Everything was just written perfectly, it's Printz worthy, well done Mrs. Anderson.

9.5/10 - because it is brilliant. Anderson's writing was impeccable, the plot was good, and most of all, I felt Lia was unbelievably real. I couldn't put down the novel, despite some really dark and disturbing parts, and the prose kept me hooked. It gives a glimpse of the Lia's problems, but isn't overdone or sugar-coated. I loved Speak, and people who liked that will probably enjoy Wintergirls. If you hated Speak, I would still recommend it, but I'm not sure if you'll like it as much, the writing is similar, which I liked (and which you might not like). Be warned though, the novel isn't happy, bright, hopeful; it's dark, humorless, but worth every moment. ...more

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Nov 17, 2009 Lorena Lopez rated it it was amazing

Wintergirls is probably one of Anderson's most painful novels since Speak. As enchanting as its lyrical prose may be, it can't mask the truth of the words written. Sharing not only Lia's determination to be thin, but her desire for indulgence. Any food consumed is given a calorie count, any stray thought of eating must not eat, is scratched out and replaced with the strong will of a girl who is dying, to be thin.

So who would I recommend this to? Anyone who's been in such a low state that they fe ...more

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Sep 07, 2009 Mariana rated it it was amazing

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Oct 01, 2009 Jenny rated it it was amazing

Shelves: young-adult, contemporary, 2010

The book addresses some sensitive topics including anorexia, bulimia and cutting. I don’t have any experiences with eating disorders but reading about Lia’s problems really pulled me into the story and made it that much more believable for me.

Lia’s not perfect; she’s a flawed character who is so real and raw. She is also very strong in that she forces herself not to eat and suppresses her cravings when in front of some tempting food. To Lia “empty is strong” so by not eating she is strong.

Some ...more

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