Wintergirls

( 482 )
Pick Up In Store

Pick Up in Store

Reserve and pick up in 60 minutes at your local store

Hardcover
$11.24
BN.com price
$17.99 List Price (Save 38%)
Marketplace (New and Used)
from
$4.95
$17.99 List Price (Save 72%)
Usually ships in 1-2 business days
All (30)  
Used (13)  
New (17)  
Close
Sort by
Page 1 of 3
Showing 1 – 10 of 30 (3 pages)
$4.95
(Save 72%)
R&Rbooks
Seller since 2012

Feedback rating:

(0)

Condition:

New — never opened or used in original packaging.

Like New — packaging may have been opened. A "Like New" item is suitable to give as a gift.

Very Good — may have minor signs of wear on packaging but item works perfectly and has no damage.

Good — item is in good condition but packaging may have signs of shelf wear/aging or torn packaging. All specific defects should be noted in the Comments section associated with each item.

Acceptable — item is in working order but may show signs of wear such as scratches or torn packaging. All specific defects should be noted in the Comments section associated with each item.

Used — An item that has been opened and may show signs of wear. All specific defects should be noted in the Comments section associated with each item.

Refurbished — A used item that has been renewed or updated and verified to be in proper working condition. Not necessarily completed by the original manufacturer.

Very Good
067001110X Very good - Light wear - Bumping to corners - Great reading copy! (7)

Ships from: washington, NC

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Canadian
  • •International
  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
  • •Express, 48 States
  • •Express (AK, HI)
$6.00
(Save 67%)
All Booked Up, Inc. RI
Seller since 2005

Feedback rating:

(289)

Condition: Very Good
Hardcover Very Good

Ships from: Coventry, RI

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Canadian
  • •International
  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
  • •Express, 48 States
  • •Express (AK, HI)
$7.49
(Save 58%)
Extremely_Reliable
Seller since 2007

Feedback rating:

(3234)

Condition: Very Good
Buy with confidence. Excellent Customer Service & Return policy.

Ships from: Richmond, TX

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Canadian
  • •International
  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
$8.99
(Save 50%)
D&B Worldwide LLC
Seller since 2009

Feedback rating:

(27)

Condition: New
067001110X STOCK PHOTOS MAY VARY FROM THE ACTUAL ITEM. ACTUAL PHOTOS AVAIL. UPON REQUEST.

Ships from: Hillsboro, OH

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Canadian
  • •International
  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
  • •Express, 48 States
  • •Express (AK, HI)
$8.99
(Save 50%)
D&B Worldwide LLC
Seller since 2009

Feedback rating:

(27)

Condition: New
067001110X BRAND NEW! MAKE NICE GIFTS! STOCK PHOTOS MAY VARY FROM THE ACTUAL ITEM. ACTUAL PHOTOS AVAIL. UPON REQUEST.

Ships from: Hillsboro, OH

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Canadian
  • •International
  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
  • •Express, 48 States
  • •Express (AK, HI)
$9.00
(Save 50%)
Strand Bookstore
Seller since 2006

Feedback rating:

(4782)

Condition: Very Good

Ships from: New York, NY

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Canadian
  • •International
  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
  • •Express, 48 States
  • •Express (AK, HI)
$10.04
(Save 44%)
Books Any
Seller since 2010

Feedback rating:

(1921)

Condition: New
2009 Hard cover New. Glued binding. Paper over boards. With dust jacket. 278 p. Intended for a juvenile audience. Intended for a young adult/teenage audience.

Ships from: Valley Stream, NY

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Canadian
  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
  • •Express, 48 States
  • •Express (AK, HI)
$10.21
(Save 43%)
Great Book Deals
Seller since 2008

Feedback rating:

(12294)

Condition: New
Absolutely Brand New & In Stock. 100% 30-Day Money Back. Direct from our warehouse. Over 5+ Million Customers served. In business since 1997. Happy Customers is Our #1 Goal. ... Customer Service toll free upport Monday-Friday EST Hrs. 4 to 14 business day Delivery Time by US Post Office. Read more Show Less

Ships from: Oldsmar, FL

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
$10.35
(Save 42%)
PaperbackshopUS
Seller since 2009

Feedback rating:

(4803)

Condition: New
Shipped from US in 4 to 14 business days. Established seller since 2000

Ships from: Aurora, IL

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
$10.35
(Save 42%)
ExpeditedBooksUS
Seller since 2010

Feedback rating:

(892)

Condition: New
Shipped from US. Express shipping in 3 to 6 business days. Standard shipping in 4 to 14 business days. Established seller since 2000

Ships from: Aurora, IL

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
  • •Express, 48 States
  • •Express (AK, HI)
Page 1 of 3
Showing 1 – 10 of 30 (3 pages)
Close
Sort by
NOOK Book (eBook)
$9.99
BN.com price

Available on NOOK devices and apps

  • Nook Devices
  • NOOK
  • NOOK Color
  • NOOK Tablet
  • Tablet/Phone
  • NOOK for iPad
  • NOOK for iPhone
  • NOOK for Android
  • NOOK for Android (Tablet)
  • NOOK Kids for iPad
  • PC/Mac
  • NOOK Study
  • NOOK for PC
  • NOOK for Mac

Want a NOOK? Explore Now

Note: Visit our Teens Store.

More About This Book

Overview

The New York Times bestselling story of a friendship frozen between life and death

Lia and Cassie are best friends, wintergirls frozen in fragile bodies, competitors in a deadly contest to see who can be the thinnest. But then Cassie suffers the ultimate loss-her life-and Lia is left behind, haunted by her friend's memory and racked with guilt for not being able to help save her. In her most powerfully moving novel since Speak, award-winning author Laurie Halse Anderson explores Lia's struggle, her painful path to recovery, and her desperate attempts to hold on to the most important thing of all: hope.

  • Laurie Halse Anderson - Wintergirls
    Laurie Halse Anderson - Wintergirls  

Editorial Reviews

Barbara Feinberg
Anderson, the author of Speak and other award-winning novels for teenagers, has written a fearless, riveting account of a young woman in the grip of a deadly illness.
—The New York Times
Nora Krug
Anderson…isn't a scaremonger or a schoolmarm. "I never set out to send messages," she has said. "I set out to tell a good story." In Wintergirls, she has done just that. Lia's tale is both painful to read and riveting. Unfortunately, many young women will relate to her despair, and if the novel helps them find solace or hope, all the better. Same goes for their parents.
—The Washington Post
More Reviews (7) Fewer Reviews
Publishers Weekly

Acute anorexia, self-mutilation, dysfunctional families and the death of a childhood friend-returning to psychological minefields akin to those explored in Speak, Anderson delivers a harrowing story overlaid with a trace of mysticism. The book begins as Lia learns that her estranged best friend, Cassie, has been found dead in a motel room; Lia tells no one that, after six months of silence, Cassie called her 33 times just two days earlier, and that Lia didn't pick up even once. With Lia as narrator, Anderson shows readers how anorexia comes to dominate the lives of those who suffer from it (here, both Lia and Cassie), even to the point of fueling intense competition between sufferers. The author sets up Lia's history convincingly and with enviable economy-her driven mother is "Mom Dr. Marrigan," while her stepmother's values are summed up with a précis of her stepsister's agenda: "Third grade is not too young for enrichment, you know." This sturdy foundation supports riskier elements: subtle references to the myth of Persephone and a crucial plot line involving Cassie's ghost and its appearances to Lia. As difficult as reading this novel can be, it is more difficult to put down. Ages 12-up. (Mar.)

Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
BCCB
Readers will be absorbed by this gripping tale . . . starred review
Booklist
Anderson illuminates a dark but utterly realistic world . . . this is necessary reading. Starred review
Children's Literature
Eighteen-year-old anorexic Lia is already emotionally fragile when she learns that Cassie, her former best friend, has died. Cassie died alone in a motel room and Lia had let the thirty-three incoming calls from her go unanswered that night. Now Lia feels guilty and starts seeing Cassie everywhere, haunting her, talking to her, encouraging her to push her eating disorder as far as her body will take it. Lia notes every calorie she eats, exercises long hours into the night, and sees herself not as sick but as strong. Already hospitalized twice for her anorexia, Lia knows how to trick her family into thinking she is making progress, all the while fading away right in front of them. At five feet five inches tall, Lia weighs ninety-nine pounds and hopes to get down to eighty-five, knowing it will make her want to be seventy-five. Her illness and her struggle over Cassie's death threaten to push her past the point of return. Anderson has created a haunting and startling narrator in Lia, who drags the reader right into the vortex of her constantly spinning mind, her narration shifting between poetic and manic. Lia's agonizing battle with food, her family issues, old memories, and self-mutilation episodes are often difficult to read but also make the book impossible to put down. Fans of Anderson's previous books may find this her most moving, complex, powerful, and important book yet. Cassie may haunt Lia, but Lia will surely haunt readers long after they finish this book. Reviewer: Amanda MacGregor
School Library Journal
Gr 8 Up—After the death of her former best friend Cassie, 18-year-old Lia slowly spirals toward her own death, drowning in guilt while starving, cutting, and running on a treadmill in the middle of the night in this emotional novel (Viking, 2009) by Laurie Halse Anderson, winner of the 2009 Margaret A. Edwards Award. Her father is in denial and her mother is distant; her stepmother and little sister look on helplessly. Lyrically visual, this starkly truthful and chilling first-person tale is narrated convincingly by Jeannie Stith, who perfectly mimics the sarcasm and angst of a teen girl's struggle with anorexia. An interview with the author concludes the audiobook. Recommended for Anderson's fans and those who enjoy books by Sonya Sones and Ellen Hokins.—Terry Ann Lawler, Phoenix Public Library, AZ
Kirkus Reviews
Neither therapy nor threats nor her ex-best friend's death can turn Lia away from her habits of cutting and self-starvation. In broken, symbolic and gut-wrenching prose, Lia narrates her hopeless story of the destructive behaviors that control her every action and thought. She lives for both the thrill and the crash of not eating, and any progress she may have made toward normal eating is erased when her former best friend Cassie dies alone in a hotel room. The trauma of Cassie's death coupled with Lia's strained relationship with her parents and stepmother makes her tighten her focus on not eating as she slides into a world of starvation-induced hallucinations. Uncontrollable self-accusations ("Stupid/ugly/stupid/bitch/stupid/fat") and compulsive calorie counts punctuate her claustrophobic account, which she edits chillingly to control her world. Anderson perfectly captures the isolation and motivations of the anorexic without ever suggesting that depression and eating disorders are simply things to "get over." Due to the author's and the subject's popularity, this should be a much-discussed book, which rises far above the standard problem novel. (Fiction. YA)
Children's Literature
Cassie and Lia are best friends and have been since elementary school. As they grow up, they both develop serious eating disorders and eventually become competitive over who can get the thinnest. Their diseases spiral out of control, causing their friendship to end badly with Cassie judging Lia harshly. One night, months later, Lia receives thirty-three phone calls from Cassie— but she doesn't answer because of lingering resentment. The next day, Lia learns that Cassie was found dead in a motel room. From there, the story outlines Lia's emotional battle with guilt and how she attempts to deal with it. Anderson's unique use of language gives the reader an insight into Lia's thoughts and feelings; her torment is demonstrated through cross-outs, italics, and blank spaces. The first-person narrative allows the reader to identify personally with Lia, which is appropriate for a young adult audience and helpful in understanding her character. The dangers and severity of eating disorders are portrayed in a dark yet enlightening way. Overall, this book is a moving account of a teenager's life and struggle to find herself after losing a friend. Reviewer: Julia Oltmann

Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780670011100
  • Publisher: Penguin Group (USA) Incorporated
  • Publication date: 3/19/2009
  • Pages: 288
  • Sales rank: 192,170
  • Age range: 13 - 17 Years
  • Lexile: 730L (what's this?)
  • Product dimensions: 5.90 (w) x 8.30 (h) x 1.10 (d)

Meet the Author

Laurie Halse Anderson
Laurie Halse Anderson
Laurie Halse Anderson is the recipient of both the Margaret A. Edwards Award and the ALAN Award, both of which honor her contributions to young adult literature. Best-known for National Book Award Finalist Speak, she is also the author of Catalyst, Prom and Twisted, as well as the Vet Volunteers series for younger readers, Fever, 1793, and Chains (also a National Book Award Finalist and winner of the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction). She lives in Northern New York State with her husband.

Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4.5
( 482 )

Rating Distribution

5 Star

(323)

4 Star

(87)

3 Star

(37)

2 Star

(15)

1 Star

(20)

Your Rating:

Review Guidelines
Add Recommendations
Your Name: Create a Pen Name or Leave Anonymously

Barnes & Noble.com Review Rules

Our reader reviews allow you to share your comments on titles you liked, or didn't, with others. By submitting an online review, you are representing to Barnes & Noble.com that all information contained in your review is original and accurate in all respects, and that the submission of such content by you and the posting of such content by Barnes & Noble.com does not and will not violate the rights of any third party. Please follow the rules below to help ensure that your review can be posted.

Reviews by Our Customers Under the Age of 13

We highly value and respect everyone's opinion concerning the titles we offer. However, we cannot allow persons under the age of 13 to have accounts at BN.com or to post customer reviews. Please see our Terms of Use for more details.

What to exclude from your review:

Please do not write about reviews, commentary, or information posted on the product page. If you see any errors in the information on the product page, please send us an email.

Reviews should not contain any of the following:

  • - HTML tags, profanity, obscenities, vulgarities, or comments that defame anyone
  • - Time-sensitive information such as tour dates, signings, lectures, etc.
  • - Single-word reviews. Other people will read your review to discover why you liked or didn't like the title. Be descriptive.
  • - Comments focusing on the author or that may ruin the ending for others
  • - Phone numbers, addresses, URLs
  • - Pricing and availability information or alternative ordering information
  • - Advertisements or commercial solicitation

Reminder:

  • - By submitting a review, you grant to Barnes & Noble.com and its sublicensees the royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable right and license to use the review in accordance with the Barnes & Noble.com Terms of Use.
  • - Barnes & Noble.com reserves the right not to post any review -- particularly those that do not follow the terms and conditions of these Rules. Barnes & Noble.com also reserves the right to remove any review at any time without notice.
  • - See Terms of Use for other conditions and disclaimers.
Search for Products You'd Like to Recommend

Recommend other products that relate to your review. Just search for them below and share!

Create a Pen Name

Your Pen Name is your unique identiy on BN.com. It will appear on the reviews you write and other website activities. Your Pen Name cannot be edited, changed or deleted once submitted.

Your Pen Name can be any combination of alphanumeric characters (plus - and _), and must be at least two characters long.

Continue Anonymously

We're sorry, but penname is already taken.

Please select one of the following:
Your Pen Name can be any combination of alphanumeric characters (plus - and _), and must be at least two characters long.

Continue Anonymously

penname is available!

By visiting the BN.com website or marking a purchase on BN.com, a User is deemed to have accepted the Terms of Use.

Continue Anonymously

Welcome, penname

You have successfully created your Pen Name. Start enjoying the benefits of the BN.com Community today.

See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 484 Customer Reviews

  • Posted January 3, 2009

    more from this reviewer

    Reviewed by Emily Ann for TeensReadToo.com

    Chilling. Even many days after reading WINTERGIRLS, I still shiver when I think about this book.

    Lia has struggled with an eating disorder before. Her parents think that she is getting better, but she is just fooling everyone. When Cassie, who used to be her best friend, dies, Lia spirals out of control again.

    She eats less and less and begins seeing Cassie's ghost everywhere.

    WINTERGIRLS explores the world of eating disorders with vivid, horrifying detail.

    Even though this book was really creepy, it was also spectacular. I had never understood how or why some people began to have eating disorders, and this book gave a spectacular insight into their state of mind.

    23 out of 24 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted September 5, 2009

    Amazing...utterly amazing.

    Not only was this book an excellent portrayal of a teenager with anorexia but it also was a an extensive view into the mind of a cutter and someone who deals with hallucinations. This book may be hard to read for some people. If you are thinking about reading it, make sure that you are...i guess mentally prepared for it. It can be extremely heart wrenching. But if you do decide to read it...you won't be disappointed. I loved reading every minute of it. Lia's character is sarcastic and can be quite funny at times. I would recommend this book to anyone.

    18 out of 18 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted June 4, 2009

    more from this reviewer

    Wintergirls

    Laurie Halse Anderson is not one to shy away from difficult topics. Her debut novel Speak deals with the issue of teen rape was lets just say it was incredible. In her latest, Wintergirls, Anderson deftly addresses the devastating effects of eating disorders.

    Wintergirls is the story of Lia who daily fights a battle between herself and food. She's already been hospitalized twice for her eating disorder where she played the 'recovery game' until doctors and parents were satisfied and gave her enough breathing room to go back to her old habits. It's the one thing Lia constantly concentrates on in the midst of divorced parents who are too busy to notice her and school that doesn't really matter. How many calories (or lack there of) each day. How much she exercises. But then Lia begins to face the realities of her choices when she finds out that her (ex)best friend, Cassie, who also had an eating disorder, has died. As she stumbles deeper into grief, Lia tries to determine not the reason why Cassie killed herself, but why not?

    What amazes me is how accurately Anderson is able to portray a teenager who feels constantly at odds with her family, herself and especially food. She is so isolated, so alone with the pain and destructive feelings in her head it seems to the reader she'll never be able to pull herself out. Lia's isolation is underscored by her nightly visits to supersecret and honestly so competely depressing online chat groups for anorexic/bulimic girls who discuss their struggle to lose that last 10, 15, even 25 pounds. Nameless girls who like Lia try to control the chaos of their lives by controlling their body.

    Wintergirls was not an easy read nor was it easy to put down. I alternated between pity, depression and down right horror at the things Lia put herself and consequently, her family through. Though this is a teen novel, I would hesitate to give it to just any teen girl - it's something that needs to be digested with a little bit of maturity and sensitivity. But was it a heartbreaking beautiful novel that will stick with me a long time? Absolutely.

    seemichelleread.blogspot.com

    6 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted June 28, 2009

    I Also Recommend:

    9780142414736 9781416914631

    Wow. This book was amazing.

    I couldn't set this book down. I read it in a few short hours and it spoke to me. I suffered from anorexia and it portrayed an everyday struggle. It was a beautiful book and i will surely be sharing it with my friends. Warning: If you have ever suffered from an ED the begining may cause triggering thoughts.

    3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted June 29, 2009

    more from this reviewer

    I Also Recommend:

    9780316031844 9781416974475 9781416950059 9781416953586 9781416934004

    Crazy Good

    This Story is amazing! I was really busy when i started reading it so it took me forever to get through, but i finally had a free day. I read the rest of the book in that day!! It is an amazing book. It's real life, heart-wrenching. You will fall in love with the characters in this book. You will feel what they felt in the situations they as they go through them. You will probably be able to relate to this book or know someone who does. Lia & Cassie were best friends until a couple years before Cassie died. Cassie hasn't found the light yet, and it still with Lia. Cassie called Lia in the motel before she took her life, but Lia didn't answer. She remembers this everyday and Cassie doesn't let her forget it. This is a truly amzaing book. A must read!!! Filled with real life situations teens go through everyday. Eating disorders, Cutting, Sucide (SP?) and everything in between!

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted April 7, 2012

    Amazing

    This is now my offical favorite book! Its amazing! You will love it! I read this book 4 times already!

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted February 6, 2012

    Moving

    A little gross and really sad this is an amazing book that you will never forget. You will never want to put it down. Heart wrenching and tear jerking this is a captivationg novel. You did it again Laurie...

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted May 31, 2011

    loved it!!

    i love all of it. the book was slow at some times and i really wanted to see what elijah and lia where like if he didnt leave her in the motel room it was thrilling and wonderful oh and i love cassie how shes a ghost and all i highly highly recommend it.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted December 20, 2010

    Would Not Recommend. Ending Is Highly Impractical.

    Although this book may be fast moving, the ending is utterly pointless. It has that perfect fairy tale ending, where everyone goes away all happy and better. In real life this is not what would happen. Furthermore, the book is not well written and the character's traits and points of view do not remain consistent.

    1 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted November 9, 2010

    Edgy, Emotional

    Edgy, emotional; these are just 2 words to describe Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson. This book was different. Not different in a bad way, but different like it was really good. It was so captivating. I just didn't know what would happen next.
    It is placed in modern times, in the winter. The book talks about how a girl that goes through problems that are occurring a lot now. I can really picture all the settings in my head and they are vivid.
    The girl's name is Lia and she is battling anorexia. Her friend dying doesn't really help, but the story follows Lia through out all of her pain and sadness of loss. Wintergirls made me feel like I was standing right next to whatever character was there at the time.
    I was so scared throughout the book that something would happen to Lia. I was on the edge of my seat, and I kept reading so I could continue finding out what happened. I would definitely recommend Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson to anyone who knows what Lia is going through.

    1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 13, 2010

    great

    i really loved this book. i got it from my school library and plan on buying a copy for myself. it was a very deep and moving had shocking twists and turns

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted October 11, 2010

    Very good book.

    This book cannot be fully descibed in words... all i can say is that this book is truly breathtakingly sad and really puts you into the mind of an anorexic teen. I recommened this book to anyone but i am warning you this book is really sad and you should really mentally prepare yourself for what you are about to read because its not only sad but kind of scary as well.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted July 15, 2010

    more from this reviewer

    I'll Try My Best to Desribe My Love for This One

    Raw, painful, realistic, sad, beautiful, heart wrenching . . . all these words can be used to describe Wintergirls.

    I knew going into this one that it deals with eating disorders. But Wintergirls deals with so much more. It touches on loss, depression, family problems, and cutting. It was a very heavy read. Unbelievably sad. But it was one of the most beautifully written stories I have read so far. My hand stayed over my heart just about the whole time I was reading Wintergirls.

    Cassie and Lia care about nothing but being the thinnest. Their obsession costs Cassie her life. Cassie's death leaves Lia in a terrible, self-destructive state. The emotions get to you so much that you felt them like your own. You are put inside the head of an extreme anorexic. Someone who can barley eat, but has food on the brain constantly. Every time you eat is a punishment. Every little speck of food must be counted. It was exhausting. I couldn't imagine ever having to live like that. But at the same time, you can completely understand where Lia is coming from. We have all gone through times that we mentally kick ourselves for eating too much. Multiply that by 100, and you are getting closer to the misery Lia is in. Now living with the guilt of a lost friend only makes it worse. Lia's struggle wasn't like anything else I have ever read before. The author brings to life her voice in a way that will wrap around your mind and hold you captive until the very last page.

    The writing is unbelievably lyrical and poetic. It did a wonderful job at magnifying the emotions. Many of the jarring and raw descriptions stayed in my head long after I put the book down. I also liked how Anderson crosses out many words in the book to show Lia's struggle.

    Wintergirls is a book that is very hard to digest, but so worth it if you do. It's a book that is read through the cracks of your fingers as you are covering your eyes. It will make you take a good look at your own relationship with food. Because no one would ever want to live life the way Lia does. I am very glad I read Wintergirls. A little piece of Lia and her story will forever be with me now.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted July 7, 2010

    Wintergirls

    The first book that i read by Laurie Halse Anderson was Speak, during my sophomore year of High School. I found the book to be well written and very good. When i found out about Wintergirls, i knew i had to read it! After spending the past 3 days reading it... i am just... really shocked and sort of at lost for words on how to describe just how powerful this book is!

    Two young girls, best friends forever, under cold moonlight, cut and bind blood- making an oath to be the skinniest girl at their school. What seems to be an ordinary bet between friends reveals dangerous consequences as Lia's best friend Cassie is found dead in a motel room. Although the two drifted apart, Lia feels haunted by her best friend's spirit.

    95 pounds is not enough for Lia- she still feels hideous and fat, she can feel the excess fat hanging on the sides of her body, she can taste and smell the calories within the food she is forced to eat. Although she was treated in the past, it was not enough to make her see the damage that she has done to herself. With Cassie gone, Lia has won the bet- but just how far can she pass that bet? What comes after a size zero? What happens when no one can understand Lia's torment?

    Laurie Halse Anderson writing is very lyrical and raw in this book- especially of Lia's Character. Anorexia is a very dark and delicate subject to write or talk about- although we all know the physical damage that it does to a person, we don't really get to see or have a clear image of the mental and psychological effects it has. In this book, when we read from Lia's POV we can perfectly see her inner struggles. With every crossed out line of words in the pages, we can see how she fights herself from not eating, how she pushes herself so hard to obtain her weight goal.

    It is both haunting and sad reading about Lia. No girl should have to endure such a torment for body image, no one should hurt themselves the way Lia does. This was a very well written book, for all of those who have read Speak, please take a look at Wintergirls!

    1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted February 20, 2010

    more from this reviewer

    I Also Recommend:

    9780142407325 9781595141712

    Left me wanting more

    This book was amazing! I couldn't put it down at all and it left me wanting a second book, a third book and a fourth! I have the perfect song that goes with this book, I listened to it while I read it most of the time. July Flame by Laura Veirs. Great book! It's very unforgettable.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted January 5, 2010

    Good Fast Read. Worth it.

    Some of you may worry this book will trigger bad behavior or eating disorder but I think if it does there was already prexisting issue for that particular person. For me it made me ask myself how I felt about me and reflect a little, and I looked at food a little differently after just reading it but nothing changed. It was a positive experience in my opinion. Lia's character is very relatable and we can all connect with her on some level. She is funny and sarcastic, she comes alive. Laurie Halse Anderson did an amazing job on this.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted December 10, 2009

    more from this reviewer

    wow. simply wow.

    This book is truly amazing. Having an eating disorder myself, I can relate to the inner thoughts and emotions of the main character, and it is an accurate discription of this particular predicament. This book is extremely edgy and emotional, and beautifully written. Not to mention the cover art was brilliant. Just couldn't put this book down, a great read for teens. However, I don't reccomend it to younger teens or girls at risk for an eating disorder, as it tends to get very triggering. Still one of my favorite books ever. Very well done.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted September 6, 2009

    weeiird.

    i found the book boring. the way the author wrote reminded me of poetry. but there was so much going on in the girl's head that i couldn't really grasp the story. if you want to learn how many calories food items have, then read this book.

    1 out of 8 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted August 30, 2009

    I Also Recommend:

    9781416974475 9780312532758 9780061662768 9781423108764

    Very wierd

    Winter girls was a very unusall and disturbing book. It was also very emotional, when i was reading i could feel her pain, lost, and anger. i would not recomend this book for people who like thriller, fantasy, or horror. But for someone who like emotional, strange, or depresing, this is a good book for you.

    1 out of 8 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted August 20, 2009

    more from this reviewer

    A Hard Read, Without a Doubt

    I read this book knowing that it would be a hard topic to read about. The author's writing style is unique, crisp, & blunt as if the book itself was written out of the mind of a teenager. A realistic depiction of what a battle with anorexia is like, Wintergirls leaves you with both relief and a cold emptiness inside. I wouldn't suggest this book to someone who can't take the tough topic of anorexia, because the emotion and struggle written across every page is real enough to touch. A great work done by the author, but a word of caution should be given to anyone who wants just a 'good book to relax and read'. Wintergirls opens your eyes to what life from inside a block of ice is like, and how, even though everyone around you tells you that you need to stop, when your mind is set on getting you thinner and thinner, you can't stop even if you want to.

    1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 484 Customer Reviews
If you find inappropriate content, please report it to Barnes & Noble
Why is this product inappropriate?
Comments (optional)
500 character limit