Paperweight
By Mary Cosola,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Beautifully written tale of teen with eating disorder.
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this book.
Where to Read
Community Reviews
Based on 1 parent review
Accurate and moving
Report this review
What's the Story?
Stevie has an average life in her small Georgia town. Though she doesn't have many friends, she does have her brother, Joshua, who's less than a year older. They're extremely close. When her mother, the family breadwinner, abandons the family, Stevie, Josh, and their father have to move from their beautiful home to a dingy apartment. Her new and only friend, Eden, introduces Stevie to alcohol. Stevie begins to drink heavily to dull the sadness she feels, and she starts to punish her body through bulimia and starvation. When her brother dies in a car crash, Stevie blames herself, and her eating disorder intensifies. Her plan is to die on the anniversary of her brother's death. When her father puts her into a treatment facility in New Mexico, Stevie struggles with recovery. She doesn't want to open up to her therapist or the other girls in treatment because it hurts too much to face what she's been through. As she forces herself to confront her past, she needs to decide which path to take: slow suicide or living with her sadness and guilt.
Is It Any Good?
PAPERWEIGHT is an engaging and beautifully written tale of a teen girl, Stevie, struggling with guilt and loss after her mother leaves the family and her brother dies. Told in part through flashbacks, the reader puts together the pieces of Stevie's story as she is ready to recall and face them herself. This takes the reader along on Stevie's painful journey. Author Meg Haston provides a fascinating look into the minds of teens dealing with eating disorders. Stevie thinks that not cooperating with staff, not eating, and possessing a red hospital bracelet (worn by the facility's most serious cases) are signs of strength. She views the patients who are making progress as weak. As the other characters in the facility are introduced, we learn that the types of girls in treatment and the reasons for eating disorders vary dramatically.
Stevie's self-pitying attitude is annoying at first, but she grows as a character. Her interaction with other patients pulls her out of her bubble and brings out her compassion and empathy. The depth of emotion Haston describes as Stevie and her fellow patients go through treatment is palpable and at times heartbreaking.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about coping with loss or other sad events. Do you need to be alone to process your emotions? What are your best coping strategies?
Why do you think suicide is a frequent topic in young-adult books?
Do you have any item, place, or ritual in particular that brings you comfort? Why does it help you when you're feeling low?
Book Details
- Author: Meg Haston
- Genre: Literary Fiction
- Topics: Brothers and Sisters, Friendship
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: HarperTeen
- Publication date: July 7, 2015
- Number of pages: 304
- Available on: Paperback, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: April 2, 2021
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Read
Our Editors Recommend
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate