Karen's Reviews > Hungry Ghost

I want to thank S Penkevich for his stunning and compelling review of this book https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... that made such a difference for me.

The story focuses on a young girl with an eating disorder.

Because of him…

This book is now in our local community library. Yes, reviewers, your words do make a difference. I was so entranced by what he said, that I knew this book would be meaningful to young readers. The issues this book addresses are critical, timely, and real.

And…

Sometimes it takes a colorful, beautifully graphic novel such as this book to showcase a message of this importance that can drive a point.

And…

When I read Steve’s review, I knew this would be an important book for our community, so I made the request, and they accepted it and purchased it.

And…

Now, I had the opportunity to read it, too.

Why, did this issue drive me so hard? So importantly?

Because…

My sister and I lived this experience, too.

And…

Even as I enter into a new decade, it doesn’t mean that I still don’t struggle with body image issues. Did you think this was just a teenage thing? Think again.

Yet…

If we can find a way to reach out to our young readers sooner than later, maybe we can help them before they become my age.

So…

That they aren’t having to be looking at themselves in the mirror with guilt while straddling a weight machine and punishing themselves if they gained a 100 grams for eating an apple the day before.

Can we just be happy with ourselves, just as we are?

In this book…

The very first graphic bubble shows the words…

“For as long as I can remember, my mother always watched what I ate.”

That sentence hit me like a train running off the tracks. I could feel the impact as if the character were speaking directly to me.

And…

I knew immediately, this was the right book. The right decision for so many readers.

I know my Mom never knew that her actions, or even her words, about what we eat, or how we look, could have such an impact on us (my sister and I)…

But…

How many really do?

Because…

Val’s thought bar says exactly what is so true for any of us who suffer from an eating disorder…

“My mom acts like I don’t ever think about what I eat…but the truth is, I don’t think about much else.”

The constant weighing in, the counting calories, the denying food intake if weight should exceed the desired number on the weight machine could be a relentless daily ritual. In the case of the character, Val, she purges her meals. Thankfully, this is something, I never did. I had other tricks I will keep to myself. Something I am not proud about – but, no longer do…gratefully.

And…

The constant scrutiny of her mother, and the stress of it, puts her over the edge to the point that she almost loses her friendship because she can’t admit that she has this problem. Not even to her mother. Especially after a devastating family tragedy.

And…

Can this unfortunate tragedy and friendship help Val come to terms with her eating disorder and find the help she needs?

Val places some truly difficult questions before herself as she struggles to face what is happening…

“Am I my body?”

And…

Directly to her mother…

“Why does it matter so much? Who cares if I am fat?” “Why can’t I be enough? Why am I not okay as I am?”

But…

The greatest message of all from her Aunt Nikki…

“Love yourself the way that you want her to love you.”

In the end it always comes down to doing just that. Knowing that “I am enough.”

Does Val find her peace with her mother?

Most importantly, does she find her peace with herself?

And…

Even more so, will young readers find value in reading a story like this…especially if they are struggling?

I’d like to believe that the answer will always be yes.

But…

I don’t give away spoilers. I too, am still a work in progress.