Title: Dancing with Ana
Author: Nicole Barker
Publisher: The Golden Road Press
First sentence: "Christine McCady's hair is especially shiny today," Jenny told the three girls sitting with her at the lunch table.
My synopsis: From a distance, Beth, Jenny, Rachel and Melanie looked like they didn't have a care in the world. They had been friends forever and knew that they could count on each other no matter what problems they should face. So when Beth decides that she wants to diet, Jenny and Rachel decide to diet with her.
Beth's is no normal diet though - she quickly becomes obsessed with what the scale tells her and drops down to eating just enough to survive, followed by lots of water and Advil for the headaches that have started. The boy next door, Jeremy, whom she has been friends with since they were toddlers, has now began to look different to her - and she to him. As she discovers the joys of a first love, she continues to battle those things that are making her want to lose more and more weight. She soon realizes that she hasn't stopped eating because of her weight, but as a way to control her life that appears to be spiraling out of control - she just doesn't know how to stop.
Will Beth's friends and Jeremy be able to help her before it is too late?
My thoughts: For such a quick read, this was a really heavy subject. If you haven't figured it out, I am guessing that the Ana from the title is anorexia. These girls appeared to have it all, and a strong friendship besides, but they were all battling their own problems. This book isn't just about a young girl battling her weight, but about what a family goes through during a divorce, and the toll that it takes on the children. It is amazing to me, though I am sure more common than I realize, how prevalent anorexia is with today's teen girls. The author deals with the issues that could cause anorexia and how quickly it could consume a young girl's life. Being a mother of teen girls, I am trying to raise them with a good body image, and not focus so much on what the scale says. I will be passing this book on to them, as I think it is an important issue.
Dancing with Ana
Publisher: The Golden Road Press
ISBN: 978-0-615-28852-9
170 pages
