This collection of books explores body image, disordered eating and recovery for middle grade and young adult readers.
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Starfish by Lisa Fipps
Ah, this book. Honestly, this book is one of the most compelling, emotional, heart-piercing books I have ever read. Lyrically told in verse, Fipps tells Ellie’s story of heartbreaking bullying for her size, her internal struggle to find her own self-worth and her quest to claim her deserved space in her family and in the world. This book will make you think, make you cry, make you cheer and make you rethink everything you’ve ever known about how the world works. I still need Kleenex and will be sifting through my collection of beautiful quotes from this book from days to come.
All of Me by Chris Baron
Ari has body-image issues. He is also relentlessly bullied because he’s overweight, but he can’t tell his parents–they’re simply not around enough to listen. After an upsetting incident, Ari’s mom suggests he go on a diet, and she gives him a book to help. But the book–and the diet–can’t fix everything. As Ari faces the demise of his parents’ marriage, he also feels himself changing, both emotionally and physically. Here is a much-needed story about accepting the imperfect in oneself and in life.
Good Enough by Jen Petro-Roy
Before she had an eating disorder, twelve-year-old Riley was many things: an aspiring artist, a runner, a sister, and a friend.
But now, from inside the inpatient treatment center where she’s receiving treatment for anorexia, it’s easy to forget all of that. Especially since under the influence of her eating disorder, Riley alienated her friends, abandoned her art, turned running into something harmful, and destroyed her family’s trust.
If Riley wants her life back, she has to recover.
You Are Enough: Your Guide to Body Image and Eating Disorder Recovery by Jen Petro-Roy
This nonfiction self-help book for young readers with disordered eating and body image problems delivers real talk about eating disorders and body image, tools and information for recovery, and suggestions for dealing with the media messages that contribute so much to disordered eating.
Eating disorder survivor Jen Petro-Roy draws from her own experience with anorexia, OCD, and over-exercising, as well as research and interviews with survivors and medical professionals, to deliver a toolkit for recovery, written in a easy-to-understand, conversational way.
