 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Perfect
- By Natasha Friend
- Genre: Coming of Age
Common Sense Media says
Poignant read perfect for mom-teen girl book club.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this book is a powerful read -- the depiction of troubled 13-year-old Isabelle Lee will touch a nerve with adolescent girls. Isabelle's bulimia is caused by her mourning for her father. Besides graphic descriptions of bingeing and purging and some experimentation with laxatives, there are painful scenes of Isabelle's observations of her mother and sister, each also desperately mourning in silence.
What's the story?
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.
Is it any good?
In PERFECT, Natasha Friend has created a character who 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.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about 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 Isabelle's
distorted image of her 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?
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- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
Loved it(:
I liked it. It was very informative of what hundreds of kids go through.
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AGE
OK, I guess...... : I
This book was OK. It just informed you on how to be Bulimic and what to drink so you can Puke better, it gets you thinking about doing that, It was kinda a waist of time.
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AGE
a great reed for all teens
"Perfect" gave a really believable depiction of a girl suffering from bulemia. i found it extremely readable. it made me empathize with isabelle in her recovery.
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AGE
my review
i loved this book! it was recomendet to me by my la/ss teacher. he liked it and saw my style and thought tht i would like it. well i guess he was rite. this book ig better for girls in junior high or middle school all the way throught high school.
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AGE
Great message
this book really helped me through some tough times,
friend portrays the mind of a tween girl perfectly
I could really relate to this book,
I recommend this to all teen girls, from 11 to any age really
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AGE
A step to a new life!
This is a very good book because i did the same thing before i read this book and it made me want to change
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AGE
AWESOME!
I think this book is okay for girls any age above 11. i know eleven seems young, but they should know. as far as the book goes, it was absolutely great! the author really brought out the characters point of veiws and it was just,"perfect!" i definitely recommend this novel! but, probably not for boys!
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AGE
i loved it
I think it is a must read for mature kids 11 and older. Although, it has a few gross scenes, it is very touching. It is about a girl struggling to overcome bulimia.
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AGE
Hot Book
This book is the best that i have read in my 11 years of living!!!!!!!!!! I am serious
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AGE
A Review with Advice
Role models aren't so great in this book. Forcing yourself to throw up is not a good way to deal with depression. It is never explained if Isabelle deals with her bulimia or not. It may send messages to young girls that have bulimia that you should just ignore it.
Although it was not that positive. Perfect was educational about what some girls go through. If you have a problem like Isabelle's don't put yourself what she went through.
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| Author: | Natasha Friend |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Coming of Age |
| Publisher: | Milkweed Editions |
| Publication date: | October 10, 2004 |
| Number of pages: | 172 |
| Hardcover price: | $16.95 |
| Paperback price: | $6.95 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 12 - 12 |
| Read aloud: | 12 |
| Read alone: | 12 |
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