EDU 330- Book 3

“Perfect” by Natasha Friend is a great book that I could see myself using as an “issue” book or as a starting point to tackle many difficult problems. This book, with the main character being Isabelle Eliza Lee, tackles many of individual and family’s secrets throughout the book. We begin with Isabelle discussing her sister, which she so humorously names “Ape Face”, or April, and how April has tattled on her for something she has “done”. This book brings to light the strong and difficult topic of eating disorders, pear pressure, fitting in and stereotypes. We follow Isabelle through the book and find that she is not the only one carrying a large burden and “issue” on her shoulders. Isabelle’s sister and mother carry much emotional pain and issues that they have yet to deal with. We learn of the death of Isabelle’s father, who has been gone for some time and the affect that his absence has on their home, their family, and their own personal selves. This book brings strong emotions into play of how to deal with one’s own family whiling trying to take care of one’s own self.

This book, written very accessibly with language and literary strategies, allows many readers to dive right into the story. Although written, with a primary audience of ages 10-15, I personally think, the topics and issues brought up could certainly pertain to all ages through high school. The typical high school drama and problems echo through the voice of Isabelle and allow us into her world of being 13 years old. She is in the 8th grade and has only her mother and sister to count on for "continual support" if you can even call it that good of a name. She has two friends, Nola and Georgie, whom she eats lunch with and hangs out with, until she find herself in the company of someone higher up on the popularity ladder. She lacks social confidence and thus has found herself without a large social surrounding. When Isabelle’s mother learns of her eating disorder, the “deal” is for her to attend group therapy sessions. With these sessions flows the realization of her problems, the discovery of a lifetime- that the most popular girl in school also has an eating disorder, and her family’s path to acceptance and dealing with her father’s death.

In a world where so many children are dealing with single parent homes, loss of one parent or both, eating disorders, social issues, and much more. This book gives an insight to the “real” world of how some manage to stay, barely, afloat with life passing them by. Things are not always what they seem, as this book proves over and over again with the characters. Written with mainly girl characters, the male audience may have a harder time getting into the book, but if there was a way to use this text as a “vehicle” text it may prove more than useful in helping students to understand that those sitting next to you in class are battling something of which you know absolutely nothing about, and on a daily basis. I liked this book a lot because it kept me interested throughout and with easier language, plot, and theme, it was something most people (in my opinion- more so females) could get into. However, the ending of the book left a lot to be desired. I was frustrated at how the ending left so much unanswered, and as much as that may be a part of the story, for those who want closure, this book gives none. I would recommend this book to others with the precautionary advice of, it being a “girl issue” book and may leave you wondering where the other half of the book went.