 staying thin–anorexia and bulimia are the tools to keep weight off. When Cassie is found dead, Lia must come to grips with her complicity in Cassie’s death and how her own choices might be leading her in the same direction. Audio version available from Brilliance Audio.
COONER , Donna. Skinny. Scholastic/Point. 2012. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780545427630; pap. $9.99. ISBN 9780545427647.
Gr 7-10 –Fifteen-year-old Ever has a new stepmom, two thin and popular stepsisters, and grief over her mom’s death–overeating is her solace. Ever’s constant companion is Skinny, the critical and belittling voice in her head. Gastric bypass surgery makes a significant physical difference, but how can she dispel Skinny’s constant presence? Audio version available from Scholastic.
LANGE, Erin Jade. Butter. Bloomsbury. 2012. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9781599907802; pap. $9.99. ISBN 9781619631212.
Gr 7-10 –Butter, weighing in at over 400 pounds, knows his saxophone skills and sharp wit can’t compete with his obesity. When his online (and dishonest) flirtation with the unattainable Anna leads to the promise of a New Year’s Eve meet-up, Butter creates a website where he vows to eat himself to death while classmates watch via webcam.
SHAW, Liane. thinandbeautiful.com. Second Story. 2009. pap. $11.95. ISBN 978 1897187623.
Gr 7-10 –At 17, Maddie finds encouragement to pursue thinness on anorexia-supporting “pro-ana” websites where those determined to achieve extreme weight loss find a worryingly supportive community. Hospitalized, Maddie struggles to accept a true understanding of what beauty and health really look like.
WISHINSKY, Frieda. Blob. (Orca Currents Series). Orca. 2010. RTE $16.95. ISBN 9781554691821; pap. $9.95. ISBN 9781554691814.
Gr 6-10 –Starting high school after putting on weight over the summer makes Eve a target for bullies. An Internet diet looks promising, but failing to follow it leaves Eve increasingly discouraged. Sensible advice from grown-ups and a few understanding friends help her take control of her life. Realistic adult characters and a hopeful message.
ANONYMOUS. Lucy in the Sky. S & S/Pulse. 2012. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9781442451872; pap. $9.99. ISBN 9781442451858; ebk. $9.99. ISBN 9781442451889.
Gr 8 Up –The 16-year-old unnamed journal writer has a supportive family but feels insecure around boys; she’s ripe for the attentions of her tutor, Nathan, and cute surfer boy, Ross. When drawn into their circle, alcohol and marijuana make her feel confident and attractive, and the narrator shrugs off the cost and consequences with devastating results.
KORMAN, Susan J. Bad Deal. (Surviving Southside Series). Lerner. 2011. lib. ed. $27.93. ISBN 9780761361527; pap. $7.95. ISBN 9780761361664.
Gr 6-8–Fish knows his ADHD medication helps him, but he hates the side effects. When he skips his meds and offers some tablets to a friend who wants to concentrate on his studies, word gets out. From a series modeled after “Bluford High,” which examines diverse teens tackling tough life issues.
NELSON, Blake. Recovery Road. Scholastic. 2011. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780545107297.
Gr 8-10–Maddie’s addiction to alcohol has landed her in the dreary world of residential rehab where she meets Stuart, and they begin a brief, confused romance. Nothing is glamorized here, and the difficulty of figuring out how to live while sober truly challenges Maddie and has a tragic outcome for Stuart.
PATTERSON, James & Hal Friedman. Med Head: My Knock-Down, Drag-Out, Drugged-Up Battle with My Brain. Little, Brown. 2010. lib. ed. $19.65. ISBN 9780606145381; pap. $8.99. ISBN 9780316076173.
Gr 7 Up–A bright kid, Friedman’s son Cory was diagnosed with Tourette’s syndrome at age five. Unable to manage Cory’s behavior, his desperate parents consulted a variety of professionals, but incorrect medication and dosage nearly destroyed Cory. Written as a first-person account from Cory’s point of view, the short chapters keep this intriguing and horrifying story moving briskly. Originally published in 2008 as Against Medical Advice.
REED, Amy. Clean. S & S/Pulse. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9781442413443; p