Bell, Julia. Massive.

BELL, Julia. Massive. Simon and Schuster. 261 p. c2002.1-4169-0207-4. $6,99. J

"The bathroom is right next to Mum's room, I run the tap full on so the water squeals and I try not to retch too loudly. I am getting good at this." Meet Carmen, who lives in the shadow of her mom's eating disorder. This is one teen's account of the way that shadows reach out and eventually pull her in, destroying any remnants of a healthy relationship with food. Her morn constantly berates her, calls her "piggy," refuses to stock the refrigerator, and fosters an environment where Carmen finds it impossible to eat without judgment. Carmen's only escape is her mom's estranged sister, Lisa. In the end, morn is hospitalized because her "body is starting to digest her vital organs and the muscles around the heart and lungs." The conclusion cannot be described as hopeful. Carmen and her friend Paisley set her Barbie dolls on fire and watch as they melt into a pool of plastic: a powerful image, but a disturbing one. The reader recognizes that Carmen's journey with an eating disorder has only begun.

I would recommend this book to students who want to understand why someone might experiment with bulimia, but not to a student with an eating disorder. They might see themselves in the pages of this story, but the lack of hope at the end is a concern. Annette Wells, Komachin Middle School, Lacey, WA