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A review by bekah_divall
Being Sixteen by Ally Condie
4.0
(The spoilers in this review have a "debrief" for each section that is a spoiler. The debrief does go into the points I make but with fewer/no details that spoil. If you want to read the spoilers before reading this book, I would advise otherwise. The same points are made available without spoilers. Thanks!)
This book was difficult to read but I loved reading it. Eating disorders are encountered which can be really scary for anybody and was indeed so for Juliet (the main character). Carly (Juliet's sister) has a stubborn attitude and is a difficult character. But it is realistic, that is what mainly makes it hard to handle.
This book made me laugh and also made me frustrated in many ways, but that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy it. This book covered a real problem that people face. Each circumstance is different but this book can help raise awareness concerning eating disorders. I would recommend this book to anyone. It may be a hard topic to read about, but keeping eating disorders the dark won't solve the problem. I also feel like the reactions of the people were pretty realistic in the case Juliet's family had (I almost put myself in Juliet's shoes, and felt frustrated at Carly's outbursts). Juliet's sister didn't see what she was doing as wrong and she got really ornery which happens when one goes through that daily struggle.
Juliet also handles a trial of her faith in the gospel. Carly's trial tests Juliet's beliefs. Juliet really struggles to regain her testimony that she feels she lost. I think that this can be a good example that no one is perfect in their beliefs, Juliet starts off with a strong belief and understanding but slowly starts to doubt that belief. This book gives a perspective of someone who struggles with their belief in their religion. Even if the situation is not the same, young people who are struggling with what they believe, are given someone they can somewhat relate with. Even if your religious group is different than the one that Juliet is affiliated with, you can still learn something.
"[Being sixteen] addresses what it means to have a testimony, what it means to be a friend and a sister, and what's involved in dealing with and overcoming an eating disorder" (Condie, back cover).
This book was difficult to read but I loved reading it. Eating disorders are encountered which can be really scary for anybody and was indeed so for Juliet (the main character). Carly (Juliet's sister) has a stubborn attitude and is a difficult character. But it is realistic, that is what mainly makes it hard to handle.
Spoiler
I got really frustrated at Carly's reaction after Juliet got home from therapy. Her parents ask her how it went and she said that she met a guy. Carly blew up in Juliet's face."You met a guy?"Juliet tries to continue her story but Carly doesn't let it go,
"I think it's sick. You're meeting a guy because of me. You're basically getting something out of this whole my-having-problems thing."Her mom tries soothing Carly but she keeps going,
"No, I'm serious. This is disgusting. My own sister is benefitting from what you are all doing to me" (Condie 159).Juliet is benefitting from the therapy. It is helping her, as a teenager, talk through her feelings about her sister's eating disorder. At that point in time, Carly did not see things clearly. She got better once she attended the rehab center. At the center, she met some people who helped her (which was hard for Juliet, she wanted to be there for Carly) and even got to meet with her family a few times while living there.
Juliet also handles a trial of her faith in the gospel. Carly's trial tests Juliet's beliefs. Juliet really struggles to regain her testimony that she feels she lost. I think that this can be a good example that no one is perfect in their beliefs, Juliet starts off with a strong belief and understanding but slowly starts to doubt that belief.
Spoiler
She lost friends, her almost-boyfriend, her coach, her spot on the team, and her sister's trust. These hard things caused her to doubt her faith. Juliet started asking, "Why me?" questions. She felt her family was doing fine, she even had a sister on her mission. But good things don't always happen when you feel like you're on the right track."[Being sixteen] addresses what it means to have a testimony, what it means to be a friend and a sister, and what's involved in dealing with and overcoming an eating disorder" (Condie, back cover).