Eating Disorders Awareness Booklist

Girls Under Pressure

These books all touch on the subject of eating disorders, and will help older children and teenagers to gain an understanding of eating issues.

  • Pumpkin Pie

    Author: Jean Ure
    Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books
    Interest age: 9+
    Reading age: 9+

    Some unpleasant comments from girls at school and an embarrassing incident relating to her weight lead a girl to start worrying about her self-image.

  • Wintergirls

    Author: Laurie Halse Anderson
    Publisher: Marion Lloyd Books
    Interest age: 14+
    Reading age: 12+

    Wintergirls tells the story of Lia, a recovering anorexic whose recovery is sent spiralling out of control when her former best friend (and bulimic), Cassie, is found dead in a motel room.

  • Summer's Dream

    Author: Cathy Cassidy
    Publisher: Puffin Books
    Interest age: 11+
    Reading age: 11+

    Thirteen year-old Summer has always been passionate about dancing, but when the chance to audition for a place at a prestigious ballet school comes her way, she feels sure her dreams are about to come true.

  • Girls Under Pressure

    Author: Jacqueline Wilson Illustrator: Nick Sharratt
    Publisher: Random House
    Interest age: 11+
    Reading age: 9+

    Ellie feels like the ugly duckling beside her slim, gorgeous friends Magda and Nadine. She decides to go on a diet, but she soon gets carried away with her plan to lose weight.

  • Paper Weight

    Author: Meg Haston
    Publisher: Hot Key Books
    Interest age: 12+
    Reading age: 9+

    Based on experience, Meg Haston tells the story of 17-year-old Stevie and her journey into an eating disorder.