When Anna Came to Stay

When Anna Came to Stay by Maddy Tyers, illustrated by Siobhan Skipworth (IP Kids) HB RRP $26.00 ISBN 9781925231779

Reviewed by Nikki M Heath

May is a healthy, happy girl but she struggles with the transition to a new school. Enter a ‘new friend’, an eating disorder personified as Anna, who quickly takes over with rules about eating and exercise and a barrage of criticism and abuse, until May is a shadow of her former self. Her worried family finally manage to reach through to May, banishing ‘Anna’ and gradually restoring her to a positive path.

Statistics on young people dealing with body image concerns are truly alarming, showing children as young as eight are expressing dissatisfaction with their body shape. An approachable, sharable, and relatable resource for tackling this with that age group is definitely needed - and this book looks to provide just that.

This is a valuable resource dealing with a topic many children and parents find difficult to tackle. That said, caution is warranted in selecting, sharing, and debriefing. Parental (or other trusted adult) guidance is strongly recommended: this is not the sort of book to hand over to a young person to digest alone.

Anna is presented as a real character - so real that confusion is likely particularly in younger readers, again reinforcing the need for guidance. But the author’s own experience of eating disorder clearly informs the choice of a physical embodiment and the harrowingly negative dialogue and creates true empathy in readers who may not have that first-hand experience.

The illustrations are key to communicating Anna’s role in May’s life and the transition May makes from healthy to ill and back again. Colour and proportion are used to great effect. However, Anna looks more adult than child or teen, and while this may be intentional, it does slightly confuse the character’s purported role as May’s friend.

Given the prevalence of body image concerns and eating disorders amongst our children and young people, this book should be recommended for a broad audience from 6 to 12 years old. It will speak to anyone who is susceptible to negative body image as well as friends and family who could benefit from deeper understanding. 

Note: Anyone needing support with eating disorders or body image issues should contact Butterfly Foundation, National Helpline on 1800 33 4673 or support@thebutterflyfoundation.org.au. For urgent support call Lifeline 13 11 14.

A Single Stone

A Single Stone by Meg McKinlay (Walker Books)

PB RRP $16.95

ISBN 9781925081701

Reviewed by Anastasia Gonis

Everyone is obedient to the words of the Mothers that direct their lives. All they know is the world inside the mountains created by Rockfall, a time when the mountains shifted and land was swallowed by water.

Jena leads the line of girls that have been physically ‘adjusted’ so their bodies are pliable enough to wriggle through the crevices of the rocks that form the periphery of their village.  This is a place where females are more important and necessary than males, for these thin and pliable female bodies tunnel for the flakes of life-giving mica which keeps the population alive during the harsh winters.

Jena accidently discovers many truths hidden from them all.  The Mothers have kept their dangerous secrets well. She learns about the ‘ripening’, enforced to manipulate the premature birth of babies. This guarantees the abnormally small stature necessary for the preservation of the line.

She also discovers that there is an Outside, and everyone has been lied to.  Will the people believe her if she tells them the truth? Can she gather the courage to make her way through the mountain one last time?

This highly creative novel covers issues of gender, body image, the abuse of power by persons in positions of authority, and how easy it is to view people as disposable.

Written in scintillating prose filled with rich metaphors, this imaginative and well-crafted story is for the 12+ age group.

Loveability

Loveability by Dannielle Miller and Nina Funnell (Angus & Robertson)

PB RRP $16.99

ISBN 978 07322 96469

Reviewed by Dianne Bates

Subtitled An Empowered Girl’s Guide to Dating and Relationships, this book has been co-authored by two women with an impressive list of credentials in relationships and writing – and more. To read this book is to hear the voices of great-aunts who’ve been there and done that and have lots of valuable advice for someone who hasn’t. It’s a comprehensive book that includes quizzes, questions and answers, compatibility tests and (according to the cover) ‘the ultimate true love checklist.’ To make the book more appealing, there is a variety of typefaces, break-outs and lots of headings and sub-headings.

Chapters deal with situations such as having crushes, body image, friendships, sex and power, how to heal heartbreak and more. There is a substantial list of resources at the back of the book such as useful websites, organisations and books as well as end notes that allow the reader to check out specific sites if needed.

It’s difficult to imagine a more comprehensive book on the subject so dear to a teenage girl’s heart and life. As founder/publisher of Mamamia.com.au Mia Freedman says, ‘an empowering advice book… brilliant and about time. Should be compulsory reading.’

Loveability

Loveability by Dannielle Miller and Nina Funnell (Angus & Robertson)

PB RRP $16.99

ISBN 978 07322 96469

Reviewed by Dianne Bates

Subtitled An Empowered Girl’s Guide to Dating and Relationships, this book has been co-authored by two women with an impressive list of credentials in relationships and writing – and more. To read this book is to hear the voices of great-aunts who’ve been there and done that and have lots of valuable advice for someone who hasn’t. It’s a comprehensive book that includes quizzes, questions and answers, compatibility tests and (according to the cover) ‘the ultimate true love checklist.’ To make the book more appealing, there is a variety of typefaces, break-outs and lots of headings and sub-headings.

Chapters deal with situations such as having crushes, body image, friendships, sex and power, how to heal heartbreak and more. There is a substantial list of resources at the back of the book such as useful websites, organisations and books as well as end notes that allow the reader to check out specific sites if needed.

It’s difficult to imagine a more comprehensive book on the subject so dear to a teenage girl’s heart and life. As founder/publisher of Mamamia.com.au Mia Freedman says, ‘an empowering advice book… brilliant and about time. Should be compulsory reading.’

Does my bum look big in this ad?

Does my bum look big in this ad? by Lisa Cox (Wombat Books)
PB RRP $12.95
ISBN 978-1-921633-05-8
Reviewed by Vicki Stanton
http://www.buzzwordsmagazine.com/

Does my bum look big in this ad? is a pocket size book written in the language of teenagers for teenagers about how the media can influence and manipualte body image. The book is directed at both boys and girls. It does not preach but asks readers important questions about how they view themselves in comparison to those portrayed in the media.

The book discusses the influence of popular culture and who is held up as a role model, sometimes just because of wealth or superficial notions of beauty. It emphasises that advertisements are not based in reality. This not only includes the amount of time put into hair, make-up etc. before a photo shoot but the airbrishing and photoshopping done on the images afterwards.

Readers are encouraged to examine their beliefs about themselves and others through exercises at the end of chapters such as 'List three things you like about yourself' and 'List your biggest role models. Then think about why you look up to them.'

Author Lisa Cox is well qualified to discuss this topic having worked as a fashion model as well as in the media and advertising industry. This is an important book that is not weighed down by studies and academic language. it speaks directly to those most vulnerable to the advertising message and is an important book that puts the power in the hands of young consumers which will hopefully lead to youth feeling good about themselves and growing into thoughtful and well-adjusted adults.