Anorexia, bulimia, constant overeating --- INSATIABLE covers the ABCs of
eating disorders. Through four teens, Eve Eliot shows real teens the trials
and tribulations of these diseases.
First there's Samantha who starves herself to be in control. Her boyfriend
Brian has dumped her, and according to her, it was because she was too fat.
She vacuums her room up to five times daily, getting rid of the piles of dust
that accumulate between cleanings. Is there anything wrong with this?
Apparently Samantha doesn't yet realize there is.
Next comes Hannah. The death of her mother causes her to turn to bingeing and
purging, which she knows is wrong, but she can't help herself. Often confused
about friendships, Hannah decides that it is time to make a change in her
life and chooses to "come out of the closet." She now feels even more alone
in her plight, alienated from family and friends, and must deal with her
teenage troubles alone. How will she fare in the vicious teenage world?
Then there's Jessica. She lives for fashion, always paying attention to the
latest styles. She is a normal teen --- except for her starvation problem.
Diet Coke and coffee are all she allows herself. She doesn't attend English
class after a while, because it's on the second floor, and she isn't strong
enough to walk up the stairs. One of Jessica's biggest fears is becoming
overweight, like her best friend Phoebe, even as she finds comfort in her
friend's obesity.
Phoebe finds comfort in food. She promises herself to diet, but it never
happens. She often sneaks down to the kitchen to "have a little snack," but
that turns into a three course meal. Her father repeatedly tells her to lose
weight, but her fight against food is never ending.
These four teens are engaged in a constant struggle against the one thing
that every human needs to live --- food. Will they win or lose? INSATIABLE
exposes the dangers involved with eating disorders. Within the stories, Eliot
adds important facts that teens need to know about anorexia and bulimia,
making the novel both informative and interesting. Pick up this novel to
learn more about the world of eating disorders, and how four teenagers fared
with their own personal battles.
--- Reviewed by Lisa Marx
