Perfect

Friend, Natasha. (2004). Minneapolis, MN: Milkweed Editions. 1-57131-652-3

PLOT SUMMARY

Isabelle Lee seems like a typical middle school girl, but when her family finds out she is bulemic, she is forced to go to "group" to learn how to cope and change her ways. In group she meets Ashley, the most popular and prettiest girl in school. They quickly become friends, binging and purging together, sitting at the popular table during lunch, and telling each other the secrets of their lives. Isabelle discovers that her eating disorder has something to do with the way she and the rest of her family have been coping with her father's death. With help and through facing the fears that they all have of dealing with the sadness, they will become closer and hopefully learn to understand themselves.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This is the first novel by this author and I am thoroughly impressed. The characters are very well presented so that we can connect with them. The story flows well without any jarring moments that take the reader out of the action. I believed the underlying sadness that the two girls had that led to their struggles with their eating disorders, and the fact that Isabelle is also confused by her wanting to hang out with the popular kids, shunning her old friends speaks to the complexity of the character and is an idea that most tweens can understand.

READER'S ANNOTATION

Middle school is difficult enough being just a typical girl, but even the popular kids have their problems. Isabelle is a normal girl who meets the popular Ashley in group therapy for kids with eating disorders. Ashley teaches her the secrets of binging and purging, but Isabelle learns that this is not the way she wants to be. She is doing it as a way to cope with her father's death, and she wants to learn to do that another way. She also wants her mother and sister to learn to deal with it, too, but they can only do it if they do it together.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Natasha Friend did not start writing books until her late twenties when she decided that teaching was not for her. She was born in 1972 to academic and creative parents: English professor dad, poet/actress mom. Her first book Perfect won the Milkweed Prize for Children's Lit.

GENRE

Realistic fiction

CURRICULUM TIES

Health/Social Studies

Connect the issues of eating disorders to what society presents us with the pattern of beauty

What are the health issues involved with eating disorders?

BOOKTALKING IDEAS

Is beauty really in the eye of the beholder, or is it what we're told by the media? What would you consider the epitome of beauty? How would you react if you knew one of your best friend's had an eating disorder?

READING LEVEL/INTEREST AGE

13 and up

CHALLENGE ISSUES

Eating disorder

CHALLENGE DEFENSE IDEAS

Know library policies and know the book. Understand the issues involved and be able to articulate their importance in society, that kids need to have access to literature that will broaden their scope of how people think and the different experiences that people have.

WHY INCLUDE THIS BOOK?

Other than the fact that the book is very well written and interesting, it brings up issues that are important and that kids should be acquainted with.