Saturday, April 23, 2011

The Best Little Girl in the World/ Steven Levenkron / 256 pp.

When Franscesa/Kessa's ballet instructor encourages her to loose some weight, it sets off Kessa's downwards spiral into severe anorexia until she is hospitalized and close to death. This book examines Kessa's mindset, her family dynamics, and her relationship with her therapist.

Dr. Levenkron is a real psychiatrist who has dealt with anorexics. Because the book gets inside how Kessa thinks of her body and discusses techniques she uses to shed weight, I feel obliged to refer to the numerous Amazon reviews from current or previous anorexics who point out this book's trigger-points and possible dangers for others with anorexia. Some people who have struggled with anorexia also felt the book was too romanticized.

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