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emmaholtegaard's review against another edition
4.0
I have to give this book at 4 stars, mainly because this book-series was my ultimate favourite when I was in my early teens. Back then, I felt like they were some of the few books that actually got how being that age was like. It's a good and funny book and the characters are well-written and quite realistic.
m_h_dahl's review against another edition
5.0
2. READ 2022 (Audiobook)
Except that this book gives the impression that you can «decide» to recover from an eating disorder, and then you suddenly get better, I think this is a good attempt to describe the development of eating disorders in teenage girls in middle grade and how the disease affects the whole family.
The protagonist, Ellie, experiences and convinces herself that she is bigger than her friends, she feels uncomfortable, awkward, and those thoughts starts to bother her so much that food becomes her main focus. So far, I think Wilson writes ok about how an eating disorder can begin. The feeling of being too big. The comparison with other girls, although all bodies are different and need different things. The disease that eats up your personality and makes you a stranger who only counts calories, overtrains and does not have room in the mind to do the things that used to make you happy.
The problem with Wilson’s book, is that Wilson focuses way too much on food. It reveals that she does not really know much about what the disease does to the mind. Because it's not really about food at all. This may shows better in the antagonist, Zoë, who obviously struggles with anorexia - and even though she is hospitalized and is fatally underweight, Zoë is so ill that she is still restrictive in her food intake, she refusert to eat, and doesn’t see how sick she is - it is completely absurd, but that is exactly what an eating disorder is; it isn’t logical - It's a mental illness. To suddenly decide to recovery, and then achieve this on your own, when the disease distorts your mindset and deprives you of yourself, is not very realistic. But Wilson has made a good effort!
I find the relationship between Ellie and Zoë quite interesting, actually. Ellie's mind is slowly heading into an eating disorder, while Zoë is already very sick. Even tho, when Ellie meets Zoë, she distances herself from her. Ellie thinks she is not quite there, she still thinks a eating disorder is a choice; that you choose how the disease degenerates and what it will do to you. Ellie thinks she’s in control, when Zoë is a living proof that you absolutely can’t control it; it is the disease that controls you. Still, Ellie's illness comes with delusions that she's a little jealous of Zoë. She wants "a little bit" of what Zoë has - but not everything of course, Zoë has taken it way too far, Ellie thinks, she’s not gonna get that sick (as if an eating disorder is a diet).
But poor Ellie didn’t know that a diet and an eating disorder are certainly not the same thing. Eating disorders are not «a look», it is not a specific body, nor is it beautiful, desirable or a personality. Eating disorders are mental disorders.
The moment when Ellie visits Zoë at the hospital and sees how delusional Zoë really is, and then decides that she absolutely does not want to end up as Zoë, she sees how pointless it all is, is so heartbreaking, and it made me cry, actually … Because in this moment, Ellie gets a glimpse of how dangerous this disease is.
The story is sad, heartbreaking, but also heartfeeling about friendship, self-esteem and self-image. I laughted, I got sad. I got so engaged in the main character, Ellie, and it pained me to read every single sentence about Zoë.
The first time I read this book, I went to middle grade. I vaguely remember that the book made a little impression on me then. But by reading it now, probably gave me more than it did then - simply because I understood more of what forces murmured in the background of the plot, everything that was written between the lines.
«Girls under pressure» is informative in its own way, even though it contains some «gaps» in what an eating disorder actually does to your mind. In my opinion, this book is ok to read if you want to get a little insight, but I do not recommend it for someone in recovery … It can be quite triggering. Even so, «Girls under pressure» will forever be noe of my favorites, though.
Except that this book gives the impression that you can «decide» to recover from an eating disorder, and then you suddenly get better, I think this is a good attempt to describe the development of eating disorders in teenage girls in middle grade and how the disease affects the whole family.
The protagonist, Ellie, experiences and convinces herself that she is bigger than her friends, she feels uncomfortable, awkward, and those thoughts starts to bother her so much that food becomes her main focus. So far, I think Wilson writes ok about how an eating disorder can begin. The feeling of being too big. The comparison with other girls, although all bodies are different and need different things. The disease that eats up your personality and makes you a stranger who only counts calories, overtrains and does not have room in the mind to do the things that used to make you happy.
The problem with Wilson’s book, is that Wilson focuses way too much on food. It reveals that she does not really know much about what the disease does to the mind. Because it's not really about food at all. This may shows better in the antagonist, Zoë, who obviously struggles with anorexia - and even though she is hospitalized and is fatally underweight, Zoë is so ill that she is still restrictive in her food intake, she refusert to eat, and doesn’t see how sick she is - it is completely absurd, but that is exactly what an eating disorder is; it isn’t logical - It's a mental illness. To suddenly decide to recovery, and then achieve this on your own, when the disease distorts your mindset and deprives you of yourself, is not very realistic. But Wilson has made a good effort!
I find the relationship between Ellie and Zoë quite interesting, actually. Ellie's mind is slowly heading into an eating disorder, while Zoë is already very sick. Even tho, when Ellie meets Zoë, she distances herself from her. Ellie thinks she is not quite there, she still thinks a eating disorder is a choice; that you choose how the disease degenerates and what it will do to you. Ellie thinks she’s in control, when Zoë is a living proof that you absolutely can’t control it; it is the disease that controls you. Still, Ellie's illness comes with delusions that she's a little jealous of Zoë. She wants "a little bit" of what Zoë has - but not everything of course, Zoë has taken it way too far, Ellie thinks, she’s not gonna get that sick (as if an eating disorder is a diet).
But poor Ellie didn’t know that a diet and an eating disorder are certainly not the same thing. Eating disorders are not «a look», it is not a specific body, nor is it beautiful, desirable or a personality. Eating disorders are mental disorders.
The moment when Ellie visits Zoë at the hospital and sees how delusional Zoë really is, and then decides that she absolutely does not want to end up as Zoë, she sees how pointless it all is, is so heartbreaking, and it made me cry, actually … Because in this moment, Ellie gets a glimpse of how dangerous this disease is.
The story is sad, heartbreaking, but also heartfeeling about friendship, self-esteem and self-image. I laughted, I got sad. I got so engaged in the main character, Ellie, and it pained me to read every single sentence about Zoë.
The first time I read this book, I went to middle grade. I vaguely remember that the book made a little impression on me then. But by reading it now, probably gave me more than it did then - simply because I understood more of what forces murmured in the background of the plot, everything that was written between the lines.
«Girls under pressure» is informative in its own way, even though it contains some «gaps» in what an eating disorder actually does to your mind. In my opinion, this book is ok to read if you want to get a little insight, but I do not recommend it for someone in recovery … It can be quite triggering. Even so, «Girls under pressure» will forever be noe of my favorites, though.
leysoular's review against another edition
3.0
Nostalgic, but I don’t remember this book being so triggering lol. The talk of eating disorders is too realistic and I’m not sure it tells young girls exactly how to start them which is really weird
lostingothicmusic's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
madamegeneva's review against another edition
medium-paced
3.0
Another nostalgia read! I remembered so much of this book even after 20-odd years.
chasingholden's review against another edition
3.0
Girls Under Pressure is a book I began checking out of the library when I was ten years old. Nobody really understood why, but it was very significant to me at that point in my life. Girls Under Pressure is a story of Ellie (and her two best friends) who, sick of being "fat" decided to go on a starvation "diet". I also had eating problems when I was nine and have for the rest of my life so that part speaks to me. As far as a book on Anorexia I think there are more informed ones out there, who don't cram an entire eating disorder cycle in to the span of a couple months. I'd say it's a good way to bring awareness to preteens about the importance of health and taking proper care.
As an adult this book felt no where near as good as it did back then but I believe thats just the age speaking. I think this will be a good read for the right audience for years to come
As an adult this book felt no where near as good as it did back then but I believe thats just the age speaking. I think this will be a good read for the right audience for years to come
lilpswitch97's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
adeler's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 ⭐
In questo secondo capitolo della serie "Girls" Wilson affronta il delicato tema dei disturbi alimentari.
Jacqueline Wilson è un'abile cantastorie e i suoi libri riescono sempre a coinvolgermi come pochi e a farmi divertire.
L'unica pecca è che questo libro è invecchiato male: vent'anni fa non c'era la consapevolezza e la delicatezza che c'è oggi riguardo a questi temi. In generale il messaggio è molto bello - accettarsi per quello che si è - ma alcuni dialoghi e riflessioni della protagonista potrebbero fare storcere il naso.
In questo secondo capitolo della serie "Girls" Wilson affronta il delicato tema dei disturbi alimentari.
Jacqueline Wilson è un'abile cantastorie e i suoi libri riescono sempre a coinvolgermi come pochi e a farmi divertire.
L'unica pecca è che questo libro è invecchiato male: vent'anni fa non c'era la consapevolezza e la delicatezza che c'è oggi riguardo a questi temi. In generale il messaggio è molto bello - accettarsi per quello che si è - ma alcuni dialoghi e riflessioni della protagonista potrebbero fare storcere il naso.
angel_bear's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25