Review Detail

Everything seems to be happening at a younger and younger age today. Girls wearing real makeup at the age I was only playing with the fake stuff&and having their first period, their first boyfriend, their first diet&way before I had any concept of the stuff. Its inevitable, I suppose, but some of it is downright scary.

Natasha Friends first novel follows Isabelles journey through bulimia and back. Shes only thirteen, but dealing with issues that even adults have trouble with. Her situation isnt unusual though, and thats where the scariness factor comes in. Girls of her age and even younger are dabbling with life-threatening eating disorders more and more every day.

But let me step back a minute. This isnt a preachy novel, or even a tear-jerking cautionary tale like any Beatrice Sparks book. Told in Isabelles voice, you see where shes coming from and shes not judged for where shes at or where shes going. The author lets the readers make up their own minds about the situation. That makes for a much stronger case, in my mind, against eating disorders.

Isabelles father is newly deceased and her mother is still reeling from the shock. Her little sister, April, is the one who discovers Isabelle in the bathroom forcing herself to throw up and that lands Isabelle in an Eating Disorder and Body Image Therapy Group. Nothing shocks Isabelle more than to find Ashley Barnum, the reigning cool girl at school, in the group as well.

Isabelle and Ashley become friends and co-conspirators. At first, Isabelle is completely taken in by Ashley and the thought of being with the in crowd but soon little chinks in Ashleys armor start to appear. At the same time, Isabelle begins to see some value in the group therapy, and even in her little sister.

This is a very strong first novel and one that every girl should read. Every single one of us (Ive yet to meet an exception) has worried about our weight at one time or another and all of us have had secret thoughts about how great it would be if we were just a little thinner and what if& Mothers, read this book with your daughters.