by Alyssa B. Sheinmel
Release Date: August 28, 2012
by Random House Children's Books
Amazon
/ Goodreads
She feels like a creature out of a fairy tale; a girl who discovers that her bones are really made out of stone, that her skin is really as thin as glass, that her hair is brittle as straw, that her tears have dried up so that she cries only salt. Maybe that’s why it doesn’t hurt when she presses hard enough to begin bleeding: it doesn’t hurt, because she’s not real anymore.
Sethie Weiss is hungry, a mean, angry kind of hunger that feels like a piece of glass in her belly. She’s managed to get down to 111 pounds and knows that with a little more hard work—a few more meals skipped, a few more snacks vomited away—she can force the number on the scale even lower. She will work on her body the same way she worked to get her perfect grades, to finish her college applications early, to get her first kiss from Shaw, the boy she loves, the boy who isn’t quite her boyfriend.
Sethie will not allow herself one slip, not one bad day, not one break in concentration. Her body is there for her to work on when everything and everyone else—her best friend, her schoolwork, and Shaw—are gone.
Sethie Weiss is hungry, a mean, angry kind of hunger that feels like a piece of glass in her belly. She’s managed to get down to 111 pounds and knows that with a little more hard work—a few more meals skipped, a few more snacks vomited away—she can force the number on the scale even lower. She will work on her body the same way she worked to get her perfect grades, to finish her college applications early, to get her first kiss from Shaw, the boy she loves, the boy who isn’t quite her boyfriend.
Sethie will not allow herself one slip, not one bad day, not one break in concentration. Her body is there for her to work on when everything and everyone else—her best friend, her schoolwork, and Shaw—are gone.
*A copy was provided by Random House Children's Books for review purposes*
I can honestly say that I have never read a book like this. It is definitely different from what I usually read and, in a strange way, it’s extremely disturbing. I can’t even imagine what it would be like to live like that.
I loved how Sheinmel got right into the story from page one. I’ve never read a book that was written from the third person, and I didn’t really like it in the beginning, but once I got used to it I really enjoyed it. The story line was really good too, and I loved how all the events lead up to a -if not exciting- happy ending. This book was so sad, I felt like crying several times. Some people actually have to live through the events featured in this book, and I find it hard to even read about it.
I don’t understand the whole “I think I’m fat so I’m going to starve myself” thing, mostly because I don’t worry about that kind of stuff. I’m not fat, I’m an athlete (I play soccer), and I’m muscular. But some girls do worry about that stuff, and I don’t really have any way of saying my opinion without offending someone. But I’m going to try: I think Sethie was stupid to worry about that kind of stuff. You have to be confident in yourself and not worry about what you look like. But I don’t think she’s stupid just because she starved herself. I think she’s stupid for staying with Shaw, for cutting herself, for doing drugs. I’m glad that she finally saw the light, but I just wanted to scream at her several times.
I don’t really like any characters in this book except two, but I definitely don’t like Shaw. I think he’s a dirtbag. He used Sethie for sex, was mean to her, and treated her like she was nothing. I have no idea why Sethie even stayed with him.
I don’t really like any characters in this book except two, but I definitely don’t like Shaw. I think he’s a dirtbag. He used Sethie for sex, was mean to her, and treated her like she was nothing. I have no idea why Sethie even stayed with him.
I, however, like Ben and Janey. Ben was so nice, totally better than Shaw. He was really sweet and cute and just the perfect guy. And I also really liked Janey. I think she was really cool –minus all the drugs and smoking – but she was pretty cool non-the-less.
This book is definitely older YA, so if you have issues reading about disturbing stuff (drugs, sex, starving, cutting) I would suggest waiting on this book until you’re a bit older.
3 pink flowers
AUTHOR INTERVIEW
1. Why did you decide to become a writer?
I’m going to give the cheesiest possible answer to this question – I didn’t ever really decide to become a writer. I just always loved telling stories. Even when I was little, I kept a notebook with my stories in it. I never knew whether I would publish anything or write professionally, but for as long as I can remember, I think I always knew I would be writing stories.
2. Who were your biggest influences?Both of my parents put a big emphasis on reading from the time I was big enough to hold a book, so I guess I would have to credit them as my biggest influences, since they turned me into a reader – and more than anything, the books I read influence me as a writer.
I still remember the first time I read a chapter book by myself; I was at my grandmother’s house, sitting on the couch with my father, and the book was The One in the Middle is the Green Kangaroo by Judy Blume. The first books I remember loving where The Baby-Sitter’s Club series by Ann M. Martin; they were the books that taught me just how much fun reading could be. I actually wrote my college admissions essay about them! After I graduated from reading the BSC, the floodgates opened. I read anything and everything I could get my hands on – and I still do.
3. Do you have a special place you like to write?
I know it’s pretty boring, but I usually just write at my desk. Sometime the computer ends up on the bed with me, though.
4. Where and how did you get the idea for The Stone Girl?I couldn’t tell you when I came up with the idea for any of my other books, but I know exactly when I came up with The Stone Girl. I was in a car, when my then-fiancé (now my husband) and I were driving from the San Francisco airport to the hotel in Napa
5. What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?I have a very specific answer to this one: an Oreo Blizzard from Dairy Queen.
6. Favorite movie?I can’t narrow it down to just one, but here are a few: Manhattan
7. Favorite season?
Fall. I still feel like I’m going back to school every time September rolls around.
8. Is there another book in the works? If so, what can we expect?
There is another book in the works – I’m actually working on a few projects simultaneously at the moment. But I don’t like to talk about them! I know it’s irrational, but I think that talking about something while I’m working on it jinxes it.
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Isn't she awesome!? And, I have to say, The Princess Bride is an amazing movie. I've watched it so many times that I can recite it word for word :P
CHECK OUT THE REST OF THE STOPS:
August 1—AlyssaSheinmel.com ~ Introduction
August 3—Literary Rambles ~ Guest post & giveaway
August 6—YA Romantics ~ Review
August 7—The Book Addict’s Guide ~ Interview
August 8—Book Club Chic ~ Review
August 9—A Tale of Two Bookies ~ Guest post
August 12—The Teen Book Guru ~ Interview
August 13—The Teen Book Guru ~ Review
August 14—Itching for Books ~ Guest post
August 15—Random Acts of Reading ~ Guest post
August 16—The Children’s Book Review ~ Guest post & giveaway
August 17—Isabel Bandeira ~ Mini-interview & guest post
August 20—YA Romantics ~ Interview
August 21—Taking It One Book at a Time ~ Interview
August 22—Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers ~ Review & giveaway
August 23—Confessions of a Bookaholic ~ Guest post & giveaway
August 24—The Compulsive Reader ~ Guest post & giveaway
August 27—Almost Grown Up ~ Interview
August 27—A Chair, a Fireplace, and a Tea Cozy ~ Interview
August 28— A Chair, a Fireplace, and a Tea Cozy ~ Review
August 29—Letter Blocks ~ Interview
September 1—Distraction No. 99 ~ Guest post
September 2—Literary Escapism ~ Guest post (for School’s In)
September 3—Dear Teen Me ~ Guest post
I completely agree -- The Princess Bride is fantastic!
ReplyDeleteGreat interview -- looking forward to my stop on the tour!