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Summer 2005 Review:

Perfect

Natasha Friend

Milkweed Editions

2004

“Perfect” deals with a 13-year old girl’s quest to cope with the death of her father and her basically “absentee” mother. The main character, Isabelle Lee, tries to alleviate the pain that she feels by binging and purging. As a result, her mother sends her to therapy called “Group”. While Isabella Lee thinks this going to be the worst thing in her life, in walks the popular girl in her grade, Ashley, and the two form a friendship that Isabella could have only dreamed of. But, by the end, she’s not so sure that Ashley is as perfect as she thought.

I think this is a great book because it tackles the issue of teens doing what they have to just to be “cool”. Also, it gives you a little insight into how much one family can pull together or drift apart in different situations.

This book would be very appealing to middle school-age students because it is a very believable situation, into which anyone could fall. The characters could be anyone that you know. The book could help readers cope with issues and see the positive influences. Also, not only is the book well-written as the mind of a 13-year old, but it also does a good job of telling the story in a way that it’s not so emotional it will make you cry, but to the point where it still speaks to you. 

~ Shantell Ross, grade 8, Linesville High School

 

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