Wintergirls by Laurie Anderson

Anderson, Laurie. Wintergirls. Penguin Group, March 2009. ISBN: 0141557X

Plot Summary

  Cassie and Lia were best friends, who were both bonded by the intense struggle to stay thin, no matter what cost. Now, Cassie is dead, and even though their friendship had ended months prior, Lia feels guilty for not answering Cassies's 35 phone calls on the night she died. After being released from a treatment center, Lia must now live her past and present with her family who has fallen apart over her anorexia. Lia falters on destruction as she tries to break though the ice to free herself.

Critical Evaluation

  Wintergirls is written for those who struggle with eating disorders, cutting and dysfunctional relationships. Personally, I don't like Anderson's broken sentence and crossed out words writing style, but she takes readers to the heart of a troubled teen in this book. When Cassie appears to Lia throughout the book, readers are finally able to realize what began their path of destruction by the pact that they made. Wintergirls is full of heartache and it takes readers though the healing process towards self acceptance. The imagery is haunting and the reality of this book will haunt readers.

Reader's Annotation

  Cassie and Lia were best friends dying to be thin, one got their wish and the other is left alone struggling to break through the ice and save herself.

Author Information

  Laurie Halse Anderson was born on October 23, 1961 in Potsdam, New York. Laurie has loved writing since the second grade and has written in all formats. She began writing as a freelance reporter for various magazines and newspapers. During this time, she endured many rejections from publishers after submitting her book submissions By joining the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, she gained the support she needed to succeed.

  Laurie's first book Ndito Runs, was published in 1996 and her career took off as she began writing for young adults. Speak, which was published in 1999, is possibly her most notable novel and was turned into a movie that starred Kristen Stewart. Laurie loves to write Historical Fiction and in the future she wants to continue alternating between Young Adult and Children's literature.

  Laurie Halse Anderson has received numerous awards such as, the ALAN award in 2008 and was chosen to be AASL's School Library Month's spokesperson in 2010.

Genre

  Realistic Fiction

Curriculum Ties

  Health Education

Booktalking Ideas

  - Why do you think Lia wants to be thin? How does this differ from Casie? Is one more destructive than the other?

  - Would it had made a difference if Lia had answered Cassie's phone calls the night that she died?

  - Does Cassie's ghost help or hinder Lia's recovery? Why or why not?

  - In your opinion why does Lia live and Cassie doesn't?

Reading Level/Interest Age

  9-12th grade/ Young Adult

Challenge Issues

  Alcohol use, drug use, self mutilation, eating disorders, language

  I would offer my library's Collection Development Policy which highlights how challenges and reconsideration's are handled. I would ask the challenger and the professional reviewing it to familiarize themselves with the book. 

Reason for Selection

  I am a fan of Anderson's novel Speak and I tend to read most of the books written by an author that I like.