Stick Figure by Lori Gottlieb

This memoir may be a quick read for students. Written in a journal format was a refreshing style since it was easier to follow along with than "Lucky Man". As an eleven year old, Lori gets a lesson early in life about what women feel about eating. Her mother skips desserts, tastes from her husbands plate and mentions how important her appearance repeatedly. Definitely a problem in society during the 70's and perhaps still an issue today in 2010.

I was amazed at how young Lori was when she wrote this journal as well as how quickly she deteriorated. I was very surprised at the awareness of eating habits that an eleven year old girl noticed. The relationships in this memoir between Lori and her friends, her parents, andf her doctor all played a role ub her eating disorder. The one relationship that played an important factor in her getting better was with the terminally ill, Nora. I think this story will appeal to students because they can maker connections to Lori about appearance and how peers relate to them.