Sad Perfect: A Novel - Hardcover

Elliot, Stephanie

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0374303754 ISBN 13: 9780374303754

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR), 2017

Synopsis

Not all picky eating is harmless. Not all eating disorders look the same.

Sixteen-year-old Pea knows there has always been something wrong with the way she eats--textures, smells, and even the sight of some foods are frightening. When she's finally diagnosed with a little-known eating disorder called Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), her "picky eating" starts to make sense. Pea has always felt alienated, anxious, and depressed, and with her diagnosis, she is hopeful that she'll get the treatment she needs to get better.

Thanks to therapy, her loving yet dysfunctional family, and the support of her sweet and caring new boyfriend, Ben, Pea finally feels like she's in control for the first time in her life. But when she decides to go off her antidepressants, things start to spiral out of control. It will take inner strength and the support from her loved ones to get the help she needs to begin to challenge her eating disorder.

About this title

About the Author

Stephanie Elliot was inspired to write Sad Perfect by her own daughter's journey with ARFID, Avoidant/RestrictiveFood Intake Disorder. She has written for a variety of websites and magazines and is a book reviewer, a parenting columnist, and an editor. She lives in Scottsdale, Arizona, with her husband and their three children.

Reviews

Gr 10 Up—When food is your enemy, life can be complicated. Sixteen-year-old Pea desperately wants to be an average teenager. Her aversion to food, however, makes that impossible. Diagnosed with avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), Pea copes with an invisible monster within her, who she imagines rules every decision she makes. After she meets Ben—attractive, kind, and interested in her—she begins to experience more moments of happiness. As their relationship evolves, Pea's efforts to restrain her threatening internal force are hampered by the conflicting emotions that overwhelm her. Alienated from her parents and brother, she confides in her best friend, Jae, whose loyalty boosts her confidence and helps her navigate her daily struggles. Finally feeling like things are improving, Pea suffers an unexpected setback that drags her away from those close to her. Drawing readers in with a second-person perspective, Elliot delivers prose that is both engaging and appropriately unnerving. Delving into the minute details of Pea's eating disorder, the author does not sugarcoat the world of ARFID, highlighting its unique characteristics and giving teens a thorough look into Pea's challenges. VERDICT A well-written page-turner whose sensitive topic is covered with finesse and grace. This novel would be a worthy addition to a high school library collection.—Karin Greenberg, Queens College, NY

Edition details

• Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
• Publication date: 2017
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0374303754
• ISBN 13: 9780374303754
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 320