SuitabookWintergirls
Laurie Halse Anderson
- Reading
- You could read together, letting your child choose when to discuss the story.
- Themes
- Eating disorder and control: Lia severely restricts food, exercises compulsively and hurts herself while struggling with her illness. The novel explores Lia’s experience of the disorder.
- Grief and guilt: After Cassie dies, Lia is haunted by her friend’s memory and feels guilty about not helping her. The book’s stance on this remains unclear.
- Family support: Lia hides her illness from her separated parents; her parents and stepmother care about her but do not always respond well. Family care is genuine but complicated, and well-meant responses can be flawed.
- Worth knowing
- Consider whether these subjects could be especially difficult for your reader at present.