Top 10 Tuesday: Body Image and Eating Disorders
Yesterday we talked about The List by Siobhan Vivian. One detail that didn’t come fully to light in our coverage is the story of Bridget, who develops an eating disorder. Her description on the “list” says this: what a difference a summer makes. What they don’t know is how she lost that weight over the summer, and how that statement affects her downward spiral. I felt that Bridget’s story, her story of how she counted calories and avoided food, was a thoughtful depiction of anorexia that rang true. So today, in honor of The List by Siobhan Vivian, and in honor of teens everywhere trying to learn to love their bodies, we have put together this Top 10 List of books on Body Image and Eating Disorders. Click the book cover and it will take you to the books Goodreads summary or TLT review.
“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.
“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.
Juniors
Prettiest:
Bridget Honeycutt –
What a difference a summer can make
“My subject will be shame.”
“She was fat. Worse than that, she was a monster. A five-foot-four-ninety-eight-pound monster.” Chap. 1, p. 10
“There’s this part in the book, the first time he trhows up, where Charlie is just miserable. And I remember while I was writing that, that he just wanted relief, even if it was temporary, of the pain he was dealing with, specifically his ever eating, generally his life, and suddenly I knew how Charlie was going to deal with all of it.” – Jenny Torres Sanchez
“I am the middle sister. The one in between. Not oldest, not youngest, not boldest, not nicest. I am the shade of gray, the glass half empty or full, depending on your view. In my life, there has been little that I have done first or better than the one preceding or following me. Of all of us, though, I am the only one who has been broken.”
“Anorexia . . . is not something to be ashamed of. It’s not something to be proud of. It isn’t anybody’s ‘fault.’ It’s an illness – a life-threatening illness – and it’s treatable.” – afterword
I’M TELLING YOU THIS BECAUSE YOU DIDN’T ASK. I’VE GOT IT ALL HERE, GROWING LIKE A TUMOR IN MY THROAT.
Do you ever get hungry? Too hungry to eat?
For more books on Body Image and Eating Disorders, check out the user created list at GoodReads or the Bare Bones list at Reading Rants! Out of the Ordinary Booklists.
Be sure and leave us a comment telling us what you think about these books, or share a book you think we missed.
Filed under: Eating Disorders, Siobhan Vivian, The List, Top 10s
About Karen Jensen, MLS
Karen Jensen has been a Teen Services Librarian for almost 30 years. She created TLT in 2011 and is the co-editor of The Whole Library Handbook: Teen Services with Heather Booth (ALA Editions, 2014).
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Wow, I really need to add Wintergirls to my reading list – it sounds so poignant. That small summary just sounds amazing and heartwrenching at the same time. I haven't heard of most of these, so I will spend some time checking them out. I like how you also included stories with male protagonists dealing with body image issues or eating disorders.
Another great book is Sweethearts by Sara Zarr that deals with binge eating and body image issues.
What a helpful list. So many teens (and adults) struggle with body image in this way.