Wintergirls: Summary and book reviews of Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson, plus links to an excerpt from Wintergirls and a biography of Laurie Halse Anderson.

“Dead girl walking,” the boys say in the halls. “Tell us your secret,” the girls whisper, one toilet to another. I am that girl. I am the space between my thighs, daylight shining through. I am the bones they want, wired on a porcelain frame. Lia and Cassie are best friends, wintergirls frozen in matchstick bodies, competitors in a deadly contest to see who can be the skinniest. But what comes after size zero and size double-zero? When Cassie succumbs to the demons within, Lia feels she is being haunted by her friend’s restless spirit. In her most emotionally wrenching, lyrically written book since the multiple-award-winning Speak, Laurie Halse Anderson explores Lia’s descent into the powerful vortex of anorexia, and her painful path toward recovery.

BookBrowse

The "place" author Laurie Halse Anderson takes us is not an exotic setting in a distant world, but instead deep into the mind of young Lia, who suffers from an eating disorder. Lia's first-person narration is so authentic it is hard to believe it's fiction and not an actual memoir... Lia and Cassie's story opens the door to discussions of issues all teens struggle with: finding their identity, belonging and making wise choices.  (Reviewed by Vy Armour).

Full Review (1171 words).

Media Reviews

Sun Sentinel - Margaret Cardillo [A] beautiful, heart-wrenching and important novel.   The New York Times a fearless, riveting account of a young woman in the grip of a deadly illness.   Publishers Weekly As difficult as reading this novel can be, it is more difficult to put down. Ages 12-up.   BCCB Starred Review. Readers will be absorbed by this gripping tale   Booklist Starred Review. Anderson illuminates a dark but utterly realistic world...this is necessary reading.   Kirkus Reviews Starred Review. Due to the author's and the subject's popularity, this should be a much-discussed book, which rises far above the standard problem novel.   School Library Journal Starred Review. The intensity of emotion and vivid language here are more reminiscent of Anderson's Speak than any of her other works ... an almost poetic stream of consciousness in [a] startlingly crisp and pitch-perfect first-person narrative.

Recent Reader Reviews

Rated of 5 by McKenna
AMAZING!
I fell in love with this book from the beginning. Its relatable, plus if you love edgy stories with a bit of mystery, its the book for you that you will want to read over and over.

Rated of 5 by SeanLeah
5 doesn't describe how great this book is!
My cousin recommended this book to me because she thought of me when she read it because I actually relate to the main character in this story, perhaps that's why I liked it so much but I would for sure recommend it to anyone! Super easy to...   Read More

Rated of 5 by Faatatau.Vaitai
a unconditional love
What I know about the story is that Lia and Cassie are best friends and Wintergirls are frozen in fragile bodies, in a deadly contest to see if anyone can be the skinniest or the thinnest. But Cassie suffers her life and Lia is feeling guilty for...   Read More

Rated of 5 by Vikkeh
love it!
I picked it up and finished it in one two hour sitting I LOVED it! It saved my life! I was on the road to anorexia...

Rated of 5 by Danielle
wintergirlss..
I read half of this book in one night. I could not put it down, but I was very disturbed. The description in this book was outrageous like all of her books. I felt like I was in the mind of an anorexic and it freaked me out. If your not easily...   Read More

Rated of 5 by Dreamer
This is a great book! :D
This is a great book, it shows the struggle a teen can go through and how there is hope through every dark hour. Though this book can get a little confusing it is all and all a good read. Recommended ages 12 and up.

...4 More Reader Reviews

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