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4.42 AVERAGE
4.42 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
emotional
sad
medium-paced
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Katie Green's graphic memoir is a painful and moving depiction of food guilt, OCD, and sexual trauma. It was very interesting to see how Green viewed the progression of her eating disorder and how her experiences shaped her relationship with food, her body, and her future.
I was particularly disturbed by Katie's relationship with her alternative "therapist" who essentially grooms her and sexually assaults her during sessions. He even convinces her to cut off her family, encourages her to break up with her boyfriend, and supports her misguided view that she hasn't relapsed when she goes to college. I wanted him to face some kind of justice, especially for statutory rape, but it is unclear whether he was ever held accountable.
Although this is quite a long memoir (over 500 pages), it did feel unfinished to me. I realize that an eating disorder isn't something that you "cure," but I was left wondering how Katie ultimately dealt with her trauma (beyond art) and if she reconnected with her family. I hope so because she painted them as supportive and loving throughout her childhood, even in the face of her illness.
I was particularly disturbed by Katie's relationship with her alternative "therapist" who essentially grooms her and sexually assaults her during sessions. He even convinces her to cut off her family, encourages her to break up with her boyfriend, and supports her misguided view that she hasn't relapsed when she goes to college. I wanted him to face some kind of justice, especially for statutory rape, but it is unclear whether he was ever held accountable.
Although this is quite a long memoir (over 500 pages), it did feel unfinished to me. I realize that an eating disorder isn't something that you "cure," but I was left wondering how Katie ultimately dealt with her trauma (beyond art) and if she reconnected with her family. I hope so because she painted them as supportive and loving throughout her childhood, even in the face of her illness.
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts
Lordy. What an amazing insight not just into eating disorders, but into the harm perfectionism, living with moving goalposts, and being in general unkind to yourself in an effort to be a good person (which of course depends on each person's own definition of what they believe is to be the kind of person they should be).
It's also about having a hard time figuring out who you really are, which can make young people vulnerable to abuses from people with authority, even if their demands are unreasonable (this includes parents, educators, doctors...).
I highly recommend this graphic novel to pretty much anyone, including parents of teenagers, educators, and folks struggling to discover who they are.
It's also about having a hard time figuring out who you really are, which can make young people vulnerable to abuses from people with authority, even if their demands are unreasonable (this includes parents, educators, doctors...).
I highly recommend this graphic novel to pretty much anyone, including parents of teenagers, educators, and folks struggling to discover who they are.
This book was AMAZING. Picked up on a whim, having no idea what it was about, and it was the best decision of my day (year really, so far anyway).
While I never personally struggled with anorexia or binging, I had a close friend in high school who did. I had no idea at the time until it was too late to help in the moments. I'm grateful to God that she got help professionally and while I don't speak to her anymore (graduated, moved away and life went on) I believe she is doing well.
I have, however, dealt (and still do) with anxiety. Most days now are okay but there are others that are really hard. So in many ways, this book resonated with me. There were moments when the drawings rather than the words pictured exact emotions that I felt and have even drawn myself. It's been wonderful knowing that I am not alone in what I feel, but at the same time sad because no one should ever feel this way.
This is a book I want on my shelf, like yesterday.
____________________________________________________________
Language: Mild - I believe "bitch" was used a few times, possibly, but I don't remember.
Explicitness: Medium - In certain ways, I would even say mild because of the context of the story. Without giving it away, you see with images exactly what happens to the author/character and there are a few moments where the drawing of the girl/woman is naked.
While I never personally struggled with anorexia or binging, I had a close friend in high school who did. I had no idea at the time until it was too late to help in the moments. I'm grateful to God that she got help professionally and while I don't speak to her anymore (graduated, moved away and life went on) I believe she is doing well.
I have, however, dealt (and still do) with anxiety. Most days now are okay but there are others that are really hard. So in many ways, this book resonated with me. There were moments when the drawings rather than the words pictured exact emotions that I felt and have even drawn myself. It's been wonderful knowing that I am not alone in what I feel, but at the same time sad because no one should ever feel this way.
This is a book I want on my shelf, like yesterday.
____________________________________________________________
Language: Mild - I believe "bitch" was used a few times, possibly, but I don't remember.
Explicitness: Medium - In certain ways, I would even say mild because of the context of the story. Without giving it away, you see with images exactly what happens to the author/character and there are a few moments where the drawing of the girl/woman is naked.