Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

Lia is obsessed with being the skinniest person she knows- so obsessed in fact that she has done inpatient treatment for anorexia twice. Lia has learned how to deceive her family while in fact she obsessively counts calories, starves and cuts herself (to let the fat and pain leak out of her body) in order to continue to shed pounds. Up until a few months ago, Lia had her best friend Cassie and they pushed each other to be as skinny as possible but then Cassie decided that Lia was the cause of all the problems in her life and dumped her. That didn’t stop Cassie from calling her thirty-three times the night she died though nor has it stopped her ghost from following Lia around

Laurie Halse Anderson’s newest novel is a heart-wrenching, painfully realistic examination of one girls struggle to find acceptance as she battles intense psychological and physical demons. The first-person narrative is gripping and powerful and paints an unsettling portrait of a girl teetering precariously close to losing everything- including her life. Anderson provides stunning insights into the grip that eating disorders can have, particularly on young women already struggling with dysfunctional families and poor self-esteem. Readers are pulled so deeply into Lia’s psychological torment that the novel can be disturbingly difficult to read at times yet is impossible to put down.

Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson

Isabel’s mistress Miss Mary Finch promised her that she and her younger sister Ruth would be freed in her will. But when Miss Mary dies and no will is available, Isabel and her sister pass into the possession of her nephew who takes them to Newport and sells them to a wealthy Loyalist couple. When Isabel arrives in New York City with her new owners, she is immediately asked to spy on them and provide information to the rebels. Isabel refuses until she realizes that perhaps the rebels can help her achieve freedom for herself and her younger sister. Isabel soon feels the harsh betrayal of broken promises and after her cruel mistress separates the sisters, Isabel becomes determined to do whatever it takes to achieve her freedom- no matter which side she has to fight for.

Laure Halse Anderson has crafted a remarkable novel that captures an often overlooked perspective of the American Revolution. Isabel is a fiery and determined girl who is sure to capture reader’s hearts. Readers will feel each and every indignity and injustice that Isabel suffers as if it were happening to them. They will be so involved in Isabel’s story that they will demand to know more about what happens to Isabel than what is revealed at the end, so this reviewer hopes that Anderson has a sequel planned. The setting and time period are recreated superbly, it is obvious that Anderson has done the research required to create such an authentic historical novel. Laurie Halse Anderson fails to disappoint and her fans will enjoy this as much as her other novels.

Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson

Tyler has always been a geek- until a graffiti prank makes him a legend and the physical labor required during his mandatory community service gives him muscles. His new muscles attract the attention of popular Bethany Milbury, the "goddess" who just happens to be the daughter of Tyler's father's boss and the sister of Tyler's biggest tormentor, Chip. While things are looking up at school for the start of Tyler's senior year, things are home continue to be volatile as Tyler's father's angry and explosive behavior keeps the family on edge. Tyler's positive start to the school year quickly ends following a wild party in which pictures of a drunken, passed out Bethany appear on the internet and Tyler finds himself potentially facing felony charges of lewd behavior, forcible touching, sexual harrassment, sexual misconduct, voyeurism, and kidnapping. As Tyler struggles to prove his innocence in an environment that has already deemed him guilty, he contemplates increasingly darker means of escaping his situation. Tyler is an interesting, complex and very authentic character. His narration is full of vulnerabilty and emotional anguish that conveys the struggles of a young man growing up and trying to find out for himself what it means to be a man. Anderson has another slam dunk with Twisted- its haunting story, chilling scenes, and raw emotion will stay with readers long after the story has completed.