ParentsPick

Wintergirls — Content Guide for Parents

By Laurie Halse AndersonScholastic2014ISBN 9781407144610304 pages
Wintergirls

Themes present

Violence
Scary content
Sexual identity

Not found

Religious themesRacial/cultural contentProfanityClimate changeGender rolesLGBTQ+ themes

Content themes

Factual summary of themes present in this book. No opinion — just the facts.

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Religious themes

PRESENT

Contains references to prayer and church attendance. A minister character plays a supporting role in two chapters.

About this book

A beautifully written and riveting look at anorexia from acclaimed author Laurie Halse Anderson. Cassie and Lia are best friends, and united in their quest to be thin. But when Cassie is found dead in a motel room, Lia must question whether she continues to lose weight, or choose life instead.

Frequently asked questions

  • Is Wintergirls appropriate for a 7-year-old?

    The book includes themes of self-harm and eating disorders, specifically mentioning cutting and self-starvation. The narrative portrays the intense emotional and physical pain experienced by the characters. The book is described as very painful and intense, dealing with dark themes of mental illness and self-harm, which can be disturbing for readers. It provides a raw insight into the protagonist's struggles.

  • Does Wintergirls have violence?

    The book includes themes of self-harm and eating disorders, specifically mentioning cutting and self-starvation. The narrative portrays the intense emotional and physical pain experienced by the characters.

  • Does Wintergirls have scary content?

    The book is described as very painful and intense, dealing with dark themes of mental illness and self-harm, which can be disturbing for readers. It provides a raw insight into the protagonist's struggles.

  • Does Wintergirls have religious themes?

    No religious content, practices, or beliefs are present in the narrative of 'Wintergirls'. The book deals with themes of mental health and eating disorders without any mention of religion.

  • Does Wintergirls have racial/cultural content?

    The search results do not indicate any racial themes or discussions in 'Wintergirls'. The narrative centers on personal struggles rather than racial identity.

  • Does Wintergirls have profanity?

    No instances of profanity are mentioned in the search results regarding 'Wintergirls'. The focus is on the serious themes of the narrative.

  • Does Wintergirls have climate change?

    No climate themes or discussions are present in the narrative of 'Wintergirls'. The book focuses on personal and emotional struggles rather than environmental issues.

  • Does Wintergirls have sexual identity?

    There is a subtle hint that one character, Cassie, may have been sexually assaulted in her youth. The book also discusses the physical deterioration of the characters due to their eating disorders, which can imply sexual themes related to body image and trauma.

  • Does Wintergirls have gender roles?

    There are no explicit discussions of gender roles in the narrative. The focus is on the characters' struggles with eating disorders and mental health rather than traditional or modern gender roles.

  • Does Wintergirls have lgbtq+ themes?

    No LGBTQ+ themes or characters are mentioned in the search results related to the narrative of 'Wintergirls'. The focus is primarily on the struggles with eating disorders and mental health.