What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that this book is a powerful read --
Natasha Friend's depiction of troubled 13-year-old Isabelle Lee
will touch a nerve with adolescent females. Isabelle's bulimia
is caused by her silent mourning of her father's death. Besides
graphic descriptions of bingeing and purging and some
experimentation with laxatives, there are also painful scenes
of Isabelle's observations of her mother and sister, each also
desperately mourning in silence.
Families who read this book can discuss the effects of bulimia and laxatives on the body. How does it damage your teeth and digestive system? What are other harmful long-term effects? Parents can also talk about body image and Isabelle's distorted image of her own body. How do you think mourning for her father contributed to Isabelle's eating disorder? How did the rest of the family mourn? What kind of support does this family need to move forward? What should you do if you or someone you know shows signs of an eating disorder?
Common Sense Media Review
Isabelle Lee lives in a house where feelings can't be
expressed openly, even two years after the sudden death of her
father. At his funeral she did not cry; she ate and then
purged, beginning a habit that starts to control her life. In
PERFECT, Natasha Friend has created a character that will make
readers cry and cheer as she struggles and then slowly faces
her problems.
These problems reflect her mother's inability to accept the father's death, her sister's desperate need to talk about him, a new relationship with the most popular girl at school, and most of all, her own sadness she's repressing in damaging ways. Readers may not have the same problems as Isabelle, but watching her ability to face them and move on will be inspiring.
With its realistic dialogue, difficult moments of self-discovery, and harsh critique of relationships, Perfect is a very quick yet unforgettable read. The graphic nature of this book may make it hard for some young teens to read alone. However, it's an excellent choice for a mother-teen daughter book club.
Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing information to help parents make media and entertainment choices for their families.
