The contrasting story lines in this book, as portrayed by the two main characters, helps the message of the novel reach many people in various points of life. The high school setting heightens the drama as well as the ability to relate to the piece. The plot accurately depicts high school life and, although exaggerated at points, portrays the characters emotions and personalities in such a way that makes us feel we are living in the story. By making the reader experience such intense, juxtaposing feelings toward hunger and loneliness the book grows to have an emotional impact. Although I can see some cliché stereotypes, exaggerated situations, and juvenile conceptions of high school life, I believe it ultimately sends a message to those who may be affected by the same hardships and experiences. ( )

Wow. Every word of this story is as deliberate and careful as Meaghan's observations and Aimee's obsessive routines over food. A background hum of tension forewarns readers not to underestimate these two girls. This is a novel of substance! ( )

I am not sure what made me dislike this book so much.

There were aspects of it that I did like. The descriptions and I felt that the author did a good job making me feel sick to my stomach when something awful happened to one of the characters but in the end I felt more depressed than any other emotion. I don't think I actually got anything from the book but a gloomy headache. Which I guess is good because a book is not supposed to make me feel comfortable with eating disorders I should not be comfortable with people bulling other people and people putting themselves down but I can't really bring myself to recommend the book to anyone (I did recommend it to one person and they had the same reaction I did so...)

Made me think but I didn't like it. ( )

I don't know about this one...it had a lot of promise but it fell short. I found myself getting bored at parts and I don't really think the characters were fully developed by the ending. It wasn't what I fully wanted to read but it wasn't bad. Overall I'd say the language and wording was well done and a teenager might like this one.....it was just not for me. ( )

I couldn't finish this book because I just didn't have it in me to go to the dark places teen novels so often take you these days. The story centers on a two girls: one extremely overweight and one terribly anorexic, who use food in similiar ways to express themselves. They navigate the deadly halls of high school and team up together to get revenge on those who have wronged them. This, as far as I could tell from the 50 or so pages I read, is the basic plot.
I just. couldn't. do . it.
On one hand, I feel like I have read this story so many times already since I took the plunge and started reading lots of teen fiction: disaffected teens, painful interactions with peers, betrayal, misery, etc. On the other hand, however, this author is an exceptionally good writer and I think she may have ultimately taken this tale in a more original direction than its predecessors.
I won't find out, though. Because I'm not going to read it!