Paperweight
By Meg Haston
By Meg Haston
Published: July 7, HarperTeen
Her dad has signed her up for sixty days of treatment. But what no one knows is that Stevie doesn't plan to stay that long. There are only twenty-seven days until the anniversary of her brother Josh’s death—the death she caused. And if Stevie gets her way, there are only twenty-seven days until she too will end her life.
Thank you Epic Reads for choosing me to be a part of the Early Readers Group!
My Thoughts:
There have been a lot of great issue books in the market recently, and Paperweight definitely makes the list. What I liked most about this book is how it handles such a serious topic like eating disorders and doesn't shy away from the parts that may be dark and scary.
While a lot of the eating disorder books I've read have focused on the character spiraling in their disease and struggling to seek help, Paperweight shows the recovery process. It was sad and a little fascinating to see the therapy these girls went through and the different struggles they faced both physically and mentally in their recoveries. I also loved that while the challenges they faced were dark (abuse, trauma, pain, death), there were plenty of good moments too, such as the scene where they break into the pool for a midnight dip.
The pacing was tight. The characters were really engaging and felt well-rounded and nuanced. I especially liked Stevie's roommate Ashley and the flashbacks of her brother. However, the only thing that didn't sit quite right with me was the cover design--which is no fault of the author. At first glance, I thought this would be a lighter contemporary along the lines of Sarah Dessen's early books. Once I started reading and was pulled into the story, it went to a much darker place than I had first been expecting.
Recommended for those who enjoy darker issue books such as Wintergirls, Stolen, and Live Through This, and fans of the show Red Band Society.
There have been a lot of great issue books in the market recently, and Paperweight definitely makes the list. What I liked most about this book is how it handles such a serious topic like eating disorders and doesn't shy away from the parts that may be dark and scary.
While a lot of the eating disorder books I've read have focused on the character spiraling in their disease and struggling to seek help, Paperweight shows the recovery process. It was sad and a little fascinating to see the therapy these girls went through and the different struggles they faced both physically and mentally in their recoveries. I also loved that while the challenges they faced were dark (abuse, trauma, pain, death), there were plenty of good moments too, such as the scene where they break into the pool for a midnight dip.
The pacing was tight. The characters were really engaging and felt well-rounded and nuanced. I especially liked Stevie's roommate Ashley and the flashbacks of her brother. However, the only thing that didn't sit quite right with me was the cover design--which is no fault of the author. At first glance, I thought this would be a lighter contemporary along the lines of Sarah Dessen's early books. Once I started reading and was pulled into the story, it went to a much darker place than I had first been expecting.
Recommended for those who enjoy darker issue books such as Wintergirls, Stolen, and Live Through This, and fans of the show Red Band Society.
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