Starred Review Can't deal with the "monster" inside. Not skinny enough. Not good enough. More weight to lose. Sick of being sick. Bulimarexia. Despite her parents' skepticism, 15-year-old Jennifer begs to be admitted to a hospital eating disorders unit and undergoes treatment for 10 weeks. Johnson's novel takes readers on a powerful, semiautobiographical guided tour through the trials of treatment: the pain and tears, the embarrassing searches and accusations by hospital personnel, the unwanted food that must be eaten, the self-realizations, the support craved, and the victories achieved. Initially told in rambling free verse, the narrative mirrors Jennifer's recovery process, becoming increasingly more complex and reflective as it transitions into a mix of journal entries, hospital forms, and workbook exercises. Therapy sessions reveal how existing family dynamics fuel Jennifer's problem, how food and good health work together, and, ultimately, how she must take charge of herself. Compelling and authentic, this story is impossible to put down. Readers who have experienced eating disorders, personally or through others, will be particularly drawn to the book's deep insights into the disease and its honest portrayal of the strength needed to recover. As companion material, the author's own journal written during treatment can be found on the book's website. Perfect for fans of Laurie Halse Anderson's Wintergirls (2009), this is a raw, memorable reading experience.

It's 1988 in this autobiographical novel, and fifteen-year-old Jennifer is in a psychiatric hospital for bulimia and anorexia. The free verse and prose narratives cover her stay in the hospital, therapy sessions, treatment plans, and workbook pages. This affecting look at disordered eating, alcoholism, depression, and recovery ambitiously tries to tackle too much, resulting in a rather uneven and over-long story.

Gr 8-10 Jennifer's eating disorder is so severe that her entire existence is limited to restricting, bingeing, purging, and sometimes getting drunk. She confides in her mother that she needs to be hospitalized. The first chapters in this emotional book use a lighter, softer typeface, and the protagonist's desperation is described through sparse third-person verse. As Jennifer makes progress, the print becomes more substantial and the tense eventually changes to first person. The novel transitions to standard prose as Jennifer's voice gets stronger and she works to reach a healthy weight and to address her personal and family issues. The unique format and detailed portrayal of a teen girl's recovery in an in-patient hospital setting help readers feel as if they are on this journey with her. However, the amount of problems tackled in this book is overly ambitious. While in treatment, Jennifer confronts her eating disorder, alcoholism, and family issues. In a one liner buried amongst other musings, Jennifer questions her own sexualitybut this is never revisited or fleshed out. The complexity of her friends and fellow patients and the machinations of one of her nurses do not contribute to the main theme of recovery and, at times, detract from the overall story line. This work is set in the 1980s, but other than some cultural references and a now-revised diagnostic schema for eating disorders, it could have taken place anytime. Johnson carefully avoids potential triggers for readers suffering from disordered eating and body image by focusing firmly on recovery. VERDICT For general audiences, this title is enjoyable but too far-reaching, though for the many who have been personally affected by eating disorders, it can offer hope. Tara Kehoe, New Jersey State Library Talking Book and Braille Center, Trenton