Review: Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

Have you ever read one of those books that strikes you so deeply, so powerfully, that it is difficult to describe it to its full potential? Wintergirls = one of those books.

Unfortunately, I have not yet had the chance to blah all over my blog about how ver awesome Laurie Halse Anderson is. Another day maybe. But you'll get the idea from my review.

“Dead girl walking,” the boys say in the halls.
“Tell us your secret,” the girls whisper, one toilet to another.
I am that girl.
I am the space between my thighs, daylight shining through.
I am the bones they want, wired on a porcelain frame.

Lia and Cassie are best friends, wintergirls frozen in matchstick bodies, competitors in a deadly contest to see who can be the skinniest. But what comes after size zero and size double-zero? When Cassie succumbs to the demons within, Lia feels she is being haunted by her friend’s restless spirit. (Gracias Goodreads for the Sypnosis)


Sounds depressing right? And amazing right? And just... gah... even the summary is beautiful. Laurie Halse Anderson did things in her typical style. The characters were so harsh, just in your face and real. So much honesty went into the writing of this book. It was very much a wake up call. "Hello! People like this are out there. Stop whining and help to save a life!" Everything in here read that way to me.

I really don't have any major complaints. Although the book was very emotional and sometimes quite graphic or disturbing in scenes of sorrow or self-mutilation, it is worth the read for the writing (incredible), characters (biting, shocking, very real), and the experience. Prepare to open your eyes.

Plus. The cover = amazing *is not obsessed with cover art*


--Leigh

It Goes Hand-In-Hand

Today I was noticing a trend. Is it just me, or since the release of the ever-so-memorable Twilight cover, have there been more and more books in the newly formed tradition of unfocused backgrounds and hands that hold things in the foreground, especially in fantasy. I guess the only way to really make this clear is to give examples. And there are plenty of them.

All the same, I am loving the cover of The Awakening. The colors are beautiful, especially with that blue jewel right in the middle. In other cover news, I was stunned by the sheer creativity and difference between the covers of the latest Gone book (Hunger) by Michael Grant and the previous title in the series. That was sarcasm. Sorry. I think I'll have to work on that.

VS

Deep. All the same, I'm still looking forward to reading Hunger. I really liked the first one, nothing deep, but a solid and fun adventureish read. Has anyone else noticed any trends in cover-dom?

-Leigh