Reviewed by Sally Kruger aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com
Janie believed it was under control. What began as just a little something to relieve that "full" feeling after a big meal at a Chinese restaurant became the focus of her life. Janie can admit now that she is bulimic. What she can't understand and admit is why she has let this disorder consume her.
Perhaps her family is to blame. Her father dotes on her "perfect" older sister. That older sister only pays attention to her own "perfect" wedding plans. Janie's mother not only has a career to attend to, but also that "perfect" wedding to orchestrate.
The boy of her dreams finally asks her out, but after only a few short dates expects her to sacrifice her virginity. Afterward, she doesn't feel loved, she just feels like a slut. Embarrassment keeps her from confiding in her real friends, which causes hard feelings and separation.
Now after total humiliation at her sister's wedding, Janie finds herself at Golden Slopes, a treatment facility for eating disorders. She is now one of the Barfers waiting in frustration for the Starvers to straggle in for every scheduled meal. In between therapy sessions, she shares her thoughts in a journal. More than anything she wants to go home, but first she must confront her situation and come to terms with the root cause of her constant desire to purge.
Author Sarah Darer Littman brings a fresh voice to this growing problem among teens today. Her story proves how wide-spread the problem of eating disorders has become. Among her cast of characters, readers will hear from males as well as females, the well-to-do as well as the disadvantaged, and even someone well beyond her teen years who has fallen victim to the disease.
Littman highlights the seriousness and the life-threatening effects of eating disorders, but at the same time, through humor and the results of positive treatment, provides hope and encouragement. PURGE is one you won't want to miss.
Janie believed it was under control. What began as just a little something to relieve that "full" feeling after a big meal at a Chinese restaurant became the focus of her life. Janie can admit now that she is bulimic. What she can't understand and admit is why she has let this disorder consume her.
Perhaps her family is to blame. Her father dotes on her "perfect" older sister. That older sister only pays attention to her own "perfect" wedding plans. Janie's mother not only has a career to attend to, but also that "perfect" wedding to orchestrate.
The boy of her dreams finally asks her out, but after only a few short dates expects her to sacrifice her virginity. Afterward, she doesn't feel loved, she just feels like a slut. Embarrassment keeps her from confiding in her real friends, which causes hard feelings and separation.
Now after total humiliation at her sister's wedding, Janie finds herself at Golden Slopes, a treatment facility for eating disorders. She is now one of the Barfers waiting in frustration for the Starvers to straggle in for every scheduled meal. In between therapy sessions, she shares her thoughts in a journal. More than anything she wants to go home, but first she must confront her situation and come to terms with the root cause of her constant desire to purge.
Author Sarah Darer Littman brings a fresh voice to this growing problem among teens today. Her story proves how wide-spread the problem of eating disorders has become. Among her cast of characters, readers will hear from males as well as females, the well-to-do as well as the disadvantaged, and even someone well beyond her teen years who has fallen victim to the disease.
Littman highlights the seriousness and the life-threatening effects of eating disorders, but at the same time, through humor and the results of positive treatment, provides hope and encouragement. PURGE is one you won't want to miss.
This was a well done book about eating disorders. The story was engaging and easy to read. It was heartwarming and thought-provoking.
Janie's issues climax after Janie Ryman ruins her half sister's wedding with a big barfing scene in the men's bathroom. After this (and publically admitting that she has been binging and purging for a while) Janie is placed into Golden Slopes a facility that deals with teens with eating disorders. Here Janie must navigate the politics of the Barfers and Starvers and deal with the psychiatrist who wants to fish out all of her deep dark secrets. Janie is desperate to get out of the ward, but will she escape it before divulging the dark secret that led to her ultimate meltdown?
I liked that this dealt with multiple types of eating disorders and also dealt with eating disorders in both men and women. It was interesting to see which issues in the characters pasts led to their eating disorders.
The book alternates between Janie's journal entries and her everyday activities. Janie was a very engaging heroine; she is smart, hard-working, and likable...she just obsesses over food.
The other characters who surround her are just as interesting. This book goes beyond just classic bulimia and anorexia. There is also a guy that gets brought to Golden Slopes for alternatively starving and binging himself for his Wrestling career.
There is some humor in there and the dialogue between characters is witty and engaging. This was a quick read that was a bit heart-wrenching but still hopeful. As a parent and a woman it made me think a lot about how my actions affect my child and how the actions of society affect the young women who live in it. People's relationship with food is a complicated one whether they are struggling with obesity or self inflicted starvation.
The only other fictional book I've read about eating disorders was Wintergirls and I actually liked that book a bit more than this one, it was just more intense and impossible to put down.
Overall a well done book about growing up and eating disorders. The story was well written and engaging and I enjoyed all of the characters. I would definitely recommend for to anyone looking for a fictional books about eating disorders. I would also recommend reading Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson.
Janie's issues climax after Janie Ryman ruins her half sister's wedding with a big barfing scene in the men's bathroom. After this (and publically admitting that she has been binging and purging for a while) Janie is placed into Golden Slopes a facility that deals with teens with eating disorders. Here Janie must navigate the politics of the Barfers and Starvers and deal with the psychiatrist who wants to fish out all of her deep dark secrets. Janie is desperate to get out of the ward, but will she escape it before divulging the dark secret that led to her ultimate meltdown?
I liked that this dealt with multiple types of eating disorders and also dealt with eating disorders in both men and women. It was interesting to see which issues in the characters pasts led to their eating disorders.
The book alternates between Janie's journal entries and her everyday activities. Janie was a very engaging heroine; she is smart, hard-working, and likable...she just obsesses over food.
The other characters who surround her are just as interesting. This book goes beyond just classic bulimia and anorexia. There is also a guy that gets brought to Golden Slopes for alternatively starving and binging himself for his Wrestling career.
There is some humor in there and the dialogue between characters is witty and engaging. This was a quick read that was a bit heart-wrenching but still hopeful. As a parent and a woman it made me think a lot about how my actions affect my child and how the actions of society affect the young women who live in it. People's relationship with food is a complicated one whether they are struggling with obesity or self inflicted starvation.
The only other fictional book I've read about eating disorders was Wintergirls and I actually liked that book a bit more than this one, it was just more intense and impossible to put down.
Overall a well done book about growing up and eating disorders. The story was well written and engaging and I enjoyed all of the characters. I would definitely recommend for to anyone looking for a fictional books about eating disorders. I would also recommend reading Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson.
