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Author: Leslie Lipton

ISBN: 0-595-85926-7

This is Ms. Lipton’s debut novel – I can barely wait for her next. It is well written about a subject I have only read about in medical books (most of which are without feeling and utterly scientific).  Lipton brings the emotions associated with this disease to your doorstep and crosses the threshold with a realistic inside look as this devastating illness – the world of Anorexia Nervosa.

Anorexia Nervosa is an eating disorder affecting scores of human beings. The ailment has been classified by the NIMH as a “brain disease,” affecting “2.5 million Americans and has the highest mortality rate of any mental illness.” It’s an obsession to lose weight – at any cost.

Stephanie Webber is a fictional teenager with an eating disorder that spirals out of control. As most teens, she suffers loneliness and “social disconnection.” Her eating disorder somehow provides her with a false sense of power and control. Every calorie lost by shunning food is a badge of victory. This disease grips tightly and even the gaunt bodies the victims see in the mirror does not hinder their missions – acceptance and happiness. The regular cycle of purges, obsessive calorie counting, sleep loss, exhausting exercising on a starved body is no deterrent.  It’s an illness that changes the brain chemistry and compels the victim to life-threatening measures.

The “calorie army” includes physicians, nurses, therapists and others who care for the person. The “game” reminds me of chess – health screening scheduled, the move is “water-leading” to thwart the opponent’s discovery of the weight loss. 

Stephanie’s grades are failing, her relationships with her family and friends are in trouble, and she’s only sixteen. The media says we should all be model-thin. It’s the good life – very little about health, the frustrations of being an adolescent, or the potential harm of dieting that may lead to Anorexia Nervosa. Stephanie jumps from doctor to doctor for help. But, she just can’t stop the purging and calorie counting. Her bones stick out, but not enough, so it seems. The only help Stephanie’s parents see is to have their daughter locked down at the Barrett Institute – a top psychiatric unit in New York City.

Stephanie meets other ‘inmates” at Barrett – Lizzie, Lily, Sarah, Naomi, and Abigail. Emotions run a gauntlet and love may be the only thing that saves Stephanie. The feeling of loneliness can be overwhelming. The idea that no one cares or there’s not enough attention being showed can be disheartening. The thoughts of coffins and death can be depressing. Some victims even believe they deserve nothing less than an end to their suffering – at any cost. If they eat, others will stop caring and the attention will diminish. If they take a bite of pizza, it will go straight for the hips and make them disgusting. Little do they know that the way back to good health is food – their enemy.

This is a gut-wrenching story of a child who is caught in a net who is struggling with the unhappiness and insecurities of being a teenager. In the end, Sarah and Abigail don’t make it – their suffering and anguish is over. What will happen with Stephanie? I learned that it’s one day and bite of food at a time. It reminds me of a recovering alcoholic – they will always be an alcoholic and will only stay in recovery mode with courage, determination, and hope. I hope that Stephanie, and others with eating disorders find the necessary tools to end their affliction. This book would be a first step in understanding that they are not alone.

Having never been prone to dieting, I cannot imagine the effort. Having had a fairly normal childhood, I can’t imagine the conflicts. Having learned to be alone and happy, I can’t imagine the discontent.  Reading this book has brought a better understanding of what 2.5 millions deal with on a daily basis. It has allowed me an inside look at what it means to suffer from an eating disorder and an appreciation for the dark side of youth I never had to endure.

The above review was contributed by: Sue Vogan: Sue is a Writer & Author of NCO-No Compassion Observed: To read more of Sue's reviews Click Here 

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