Cover:
Bibliographic Information:
Title: Wintergirls
Title: Wintergirls
Author: Laurie Halse Anderson
ISBN: 978-0670011100
Publisher: Viking Books for
Young Readers
Copyright: 2009
Reader’s Annotation:
As best friends, Lia and Cassie share just about everything, including a dangerous, secret obsession.
As best friends, Lia and Cassie share just about everything, including a dangerous, secret obsession.
Plot Summary:
The story opens with Lia learning that her former best friend, Cassie, has been found dead. Lia frets over the fact the night before, Cassie called her repeatedly. With the knowledge that Cassie is now dead, Lia goes back and listens to the messages Cassie has left. Lia also reflects on her past and current struggle with anorexia, counting calories and falsifying her weekly weigh-ins with her step mother. Cassie’s ghost begins to haunt Lia, first to make Lia feel guilty for not answering her phone, and then later to encourage join her in death. Lia is driven to gain control over her life by restricting her food intake, and self-mutilating. Lia is eventually pushed to the edge in the same exact motel room where Cassie died.
The story opens with Lia learning that her former best friend, Cassie, has been found dead. Lia frets over the fact the night before, Cassie called her repeatedly. With the knowledge that Cassie is now dead, Lia goes back and listens to the messages Cassie has left. Lia also reflects on her past and current struggle with anorexia, counting calories and falsifying her weekly weigh-ins with her step mother. Cassie’s ghost begins to haunt Lia, first to make Lia feel guilty for not answering her phone, and then later to encourage join her in death. Lia is driven to gain control over her life by restricting her food intake, and self-mutilating. Lia is eventually pushed to the edge in the same exact motel room where Cassie died.
Critical Evaluation:
One of the strongest aspects of this novel is the intense character development that was done for Lia and Cassie. In particular, Lia’s character is complex; she seems wounded and helpless, which draws the young reader in, and compels them to relate to Lia. While the strongest character in the story is clearly Lia, Cassie’s character has tremendous impact on the story as well, partly because she has such strong impact on Lia. I felt like Cassie had a very authentic narrative voice. Her dialogue, both internal and with other characters, sounds like what an 18 year old girl would really say and think. We see Lia interacting with her stepsister in a way that seems genuine and warm. We hear Lia’s internal dialogue about why she wants to restrict her food intake, to be thin and perfect, and this is a common line of thinking for teen girls with body image issues.
Anderson has a unique style of writing for Lia’s character. We see Lia giving running calorie counts of her food, and self-censoring in a way that allows us to see what she really thinks versus the sanitized version. Anderson focuses on Lia getting to a state that is halfway between life and death; it is dark and disturbing to hear teen characters speak so frankly about dying. However, I see this as a real strength of Anderson’s writing; the story is not sugar coated.
The subject matter of this book can be difficult for some readers, but that should not be seen as a deterrent. As teen suicide, self-mutilation, and eating disorders continue to be issues teens face, it is important that books, even works of fiction such as this, continue to address these topics. Teens will find solace in characters and stories where the struggles match their own. It is easy to assume that this is just a story about eating disorders, but at its core the deeper theme, as so commonly seen in those who suffer from eating disorders, is control. Lia controls what goes into her body, but by doing so, loses control over what her body is able to do (not being able to stay focused, not having the energy to maintain relationships, etc.).
At times, there were too many things going on in the story. Lia is dealing with her own struggles with anorexia and self-mutilation, the loss of a friend (first through estrangement and then death), divorce and a blended family, and being haunted by Cassie. While the plethora of issues touched upon does help convey Lia’s feeling of being overwhelmed, it also felt like a bit too many subthemes, and could, at times, detract from the story. In short, Laurie Halse Anderson does a brilliant job developing her characters, but dilutes the impact of the story by having too many subplots.
One of the strongest aspects of this novel is the intense character development that was done for Lia and Cassie. In particular, Lia’s character is complex; she seems wounded and helpless, which draws the young reader in, and compels them to relate to Lia. While the strongest character in the story is clearly Lia, Cassie’s character has tremendous impact on the story as well, partly because she has such strong impact on Lia. I felt like Cassie had a very authentic narrative voice. Her dialogue, both internal and with other characters, sounds like what an 18 year old girl would really say and think. We see Lia interacting with her stepsister in a way that seems genuine and warm. We hear Lia’s internal dialogue about why she wants to restrict her food intake, to be thin and perfect, and this is a common line of thinking for teen girls with body image issues.
Anderson has a unique style of writing for Lia’s character. We see Lia giving running calorie counts of her food, and self-censoring in a way that allows us to see what she really thinks versus the sanitized version. Anderson focuses on Lia getting to a state that is halfway between life and death; it is dark and disturbing to hear teen characters speak so frankly about dying. However, I see this as a real strength of Anderson’s writing; the story is not sugar coated.
The subject matter of this book can be difficult for some readers, but that should not be seen as a deterrent. As teen suicide, self-mutilation, and eating disorders continue to be issues teens face, it is important that books, even works of fiction such as this, continue to address these topics. Teens will find solace in characters and stories where the struggles match their own. It is easy to assume that this is just a story about eating disorders, but at its core the deeper theme, as so commonly seen in those who suffer from eating disorders, is control. Lia controls what goes into her body, but by doing so, loses control over what her body is able to do (not being able to stay focused, not having the energy to maintain relationships, etc.).
At times, there were too many things going on in the story. Lia is dealing with her own struggles with anorexia and self-mutilation, the loss of a friend (first through estrangement and then death), divorce and a blended family, and being haunted by Cassie. While the plethora of issues touched upon does help convey Lia’s feeling of being overwhelmed, it also felt like a bit too many subthemes, and could, at times, detract from the story. In short, Laurie Halse Anderson does a brilliant job developing her characters, but dilutes the impact of the story by having too many subplots.
Author Biography:
(from Amazon.com author’s page)
Laurie Halse Anderson is the New York Times-bestselling author who writes for kids of all ages. Known for tackling tough subjects with humor and sensitivity, her work has earned numerous American Library Association and state awards. Two of her books, Speak and Chains, were National Book Award finalists. Chains also made the Carnegie Medal Shortlist in the United Kingdom.
Laurie was the proud recipient of the 2009 Margaret A. Edwards Award given by YALSA division of the American Library Association for her “significant and lasting contribution to young adult literature…”. She was also honored with the ALAN Award from the National Council of Teachers of English and the St. Katharine Drexel Award from the Catholic Librarian Association.
Mother of four and wife of one, Laurie lives in Northern New York, where she likes to watch the snow fall as she writes. She and her husband, Scot, plus dogs Kezzie and Thor, and assorted chickens and other critters enjoy country living and time in the woods. When not writing or hanging out with her family, you can find Laurie training for marathons or trying to coax tomatoes out of the rocky soil in her backyard. You can follow her adventures on Twitter, http://twitter.com/halseanderson, and on her blog, http://madwomanintheforest.com/blog/.
(from Amazon.com author’s page)
Laurie Halse Anderson is the New York Times-bestselling author who writes for kids of all ages. Known for tackling tough subjects with humor and sensitivity, her work has earned numerous American Library Association and state awards. Two of her books, Speak and Chains, were National Book Award finalists. Chains also made the Carnegie Medal Shortlist in the United Kingdom.
Laurie was the proud recipient of the 2009 Margaret A. Edwards Award given by YALSA division of the American Library Association for her “significant and lasting contribution to young adult literature…”. She was also honored with the ALAN Award from the National Council of Teachers of English and the St. Katharine Drexel Award from the Catholic Librarian Association.
Mother of four and wife of one, Laurie lives in Northern New York, where she likes to watch the snow fall as she writes. She and her husband, Scot, plus dogs Kezzie and Thor, and assorted chickens and other critters enjoy country living and time in the woods. When not writing or hanging out with her family, you can find Laurie training for marathons or trying to coax tomatoes out of the rocky soil in her backyard. You can follow her adventures on Twitter, http://twitter.com/halseanderson, and on her blog, http://madwomanintheforest.com/blog/.
Genre(s):
Contemporary Realistic Fiction
Contemporary Realistic Fiction
Curriculum Ties:
Pennsylvania State Standard - CC.1.3.11-12.
Read and comprehend literary fiction on grade level, reading independently and proficiently.
Pennsylvania State Standard - CC.1.3.11-12.
Read and comprehend literary fiction on grade level, reading independently and proficiently.
Booktalk Ideas:
Discuss the concept toxic relationships regarding the friendship between Lia and Cassie
Discuss body image, and the pressures teens face regarding their appearance
Discuss the concept toxic relationships regarding the friendship between Lia and Cassie
Discuss body image, and the pressures teens face regarding their appearance
Reading Level:
Lexile Measure 730L
Lexile Measure 730L
Interest Age:
12 and up
12 and up
Challenge Issues:
Portrayals of eating disorders, self-harm, teen substance use, and violent scenes.
If this book were challenged I would:
· Listen to the concerns of the person raising the challenge
· Consult the library’s collection development policy
· Explain how this work meets a library need based on the collection development policy
· Consult YALSA’s Dealing with Challenges to Young Adult Materials
· Consult reviews on VOYA, Amazon, Common Sense Media, and Kirkus
· Discuss any awards or notable commendations the book received
· Explain the library’s commitment to intellectual freedom as discussed in the ALA Library Bill of Rights
· Give the patron the procedure for a formal challenge should they seek to pursue it
Portrayals of eating disorders, self-harm, teen substance use, and violent scenes.
If this book were challenged I would:
· Listen to the concerns of the person raising the challenge
· Consult the library’s collection development policy
· Explain how this work meets a library need based on the collection development policy
· Consult YALSA’s Dealing with Challenges to Young Adult Materials
· Consult reviews on VOYA, Amazon, Common Sense Media, and Kirkus
· Discuss any awards or notable commendations the book received
· Explain the library’s commitment to intellectual freedom as discussed in the ALA Library Bill of Rights
· Give the patron the procedure for a formal challenge should they seek to pursue it
Why was this book selected:
I chose this book because Laurie Halse Anderson does a phenomenal job of tackling difficult topics in a way that really connects for teens. Eating disorders, self-harm, and body issues are very common in teens; they are also issues on which they may not feel comfortable seeking information. Teens can relate to the way this book handles these issues.
I chose this book because Laurie Halse Anderson does a phenomenal job of tackling difficult topics in a way that really connects for teens. Eating disorders, self-harm, and body issues are very common in teens; they are also issues on which they may not feel comfortable seeking information. Teens can relate to the way this book handles these issues.
No comments:
Post a Comment