Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that this book is a powerful read -- Natasha Friend's depiction of troubled 13-year-old Isabelle Lee will touch a nerve with adolescent females. Isabelle's bulimia is caused by her silent mourning of her father's death. Besides graphic descriptions of bingeing and purging and some experimentation with laxatives, there are also painful scenes of Isabelle's observations of her mother and sister, each also desperately mourning in silence.
Families who read this book can discuss the effects of bulimia and laxatives on the body. How does it damage your teeth and digestive system? What are other harmful long-term effects? Parents can also talk about body image and Isabelle's distorted image of her own body. How do you think mourning for her father contributed to Isabelle's eating disorder? How did the rest of the family mourn? What kind of support does this family need to move forward? What should you do if you or someone you know shows signs of an eating disorder?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Pam Gelman
Isabelle Lee lives in a house where feelings can't be expressed openly, even two years after the sudden death of her father. At his funeral she did not cry; she ate and then purged, beginning a habit that starts to control her life. In PERFECT, Natasha Friend has created a character that will make readers cry and cheer as she struggles and then slowly faces her problems.
These problems reflect her mother's inability to accept the father's death, her sister's desperate need to talk about him, a new relationship with the most popular girl at school, and most of all, her own sadness she's repressing in damaging ways. Readers may not have the same problems as Isabelle, but watching her ability to face them and move on will be inspiring.
With its realistic dialogue, difficult moments of self-discovery, and harsh critique of relationships, Perfect is a very quick yet unforgettable read. The graphic nature of this book may make it hard for some young teens to read alone. However, it's an excellent choice for a mother-teen daughter book club.
From The Book
I sat on the floor of my closet while I ate, breathing in that mothbally closet smell. One hand on the Fig Newtons, the other on the chips. When I was finished, I put the empty wrappers back in the box and the box back on the top shelf of the closet, under the flannel shirt.
Before going to the bathroom I stood at the top of the stairs and listened. I could hear Mom and Ape Face laughing together. Who knew "Group of Frogs" was a freaking comedy?
In the bathroom I drank a glass of water as fast as I could. I lifted the toilet seat and stuck my fingers down my throat, so far down my middle knuckle was touching that little wiggle piece in the back. I felt my stomach contract hard and my shoulders hunch up to my ears. Abracadabra, out came the Doritos, the Fig Newtons, the milk, the pasta, the chicken cacciatore.
Just like magic.
Plot Summary:
Ape-Face, otherwise known as April, or Isabelle Lee's 10-year-old sister, catches Isabelle in the midst of making herself throw up. She tells her mother, who then enrolls Isabelle in group therapy for eating disorders. Isabelle's thoughts are always on the death of her father and her frustrations with her mother's insistence on keeping these painful thoughts on the inside. In therapy, Isabelle is surprised to be joined by Ashley, the most popular girl at school -- of course everyone thinks she has it all. They bond over their bingeing/purging and start socializing together outside of group therapy. Ashley invites Isabelle to sit with her at the "popular" table at lunch.
Though silent in group therapy, Isabelle takes to journal writing and begins meeting with Trish, the counselor, individually. Trish helps Isabelle open up and talk about her sadness and the problems at home. From there she looks for ways to connect to her sister and help her mother.
Related Books:
More (Very Different) Coming-of-Age Books:
How to be Popular by Meg Cabot
Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
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Sexual ContentThe main characters talk about body image, specifically about the size of their thighs and their ability to fit a bra. |
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ViolenceGraphic descriptions of throwing up after bingeing. Experience with Ex-Lax. |
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Social BehaviorBoth strong and weak adult role models. Mother figure needs support and is unable to recognize danger signs in teen daughter. An aunt and therapist are able to help the main character and other family members. |
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Drug/Alcohol/TobaccoMention of parents drinking gin-and-tonics. |
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