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TL;DR: Eighteen-year-old Lia Overbrook and her best friend, Cassie, once made a pact to become the skinniest girls in school. Now Cassie has been found dead in a motel room, alone, after calling Lia 33 times the night she died. Lia, who is struggling with anorexia, is haunted by guilt and by Cassie's ghost, and she slips further into her illness.
Table of Contents
Wintergirls at a Glance
| Author | Laurie Halse Anderson |
| First published | 2009 |
| Type | Young adult novel |
| Best for | readers who want an honest, powerful novel about eating disorders and recovery |
Wintergirls is a young adult novel by Laurie Halse Anderson, published in 2009. It is praised for its raw, poetic portrayal of anorexia. Below you will find a part-by-part summary, five key takeaways, ideas worth remembering and a note on who will enjoy it.
Content note: Includes eating disorders, self-harm, suicidal thoughts and death.
Main Characters
- Lia Overbrook: A teenager with anorexia.
- Cassie: Lia's former best friend, who has died.
- Jennifer: Lia's stepmother.
- Emma: Lia's young stepsister.
- Elijah: A young man who works at the motel.
What Happens, Part by Part (Contains Spoilers)
Cassie's death
Lia learns that Cassie was found dead in a motel room. Cassie had called Lia 33 times the night she died, but Lia did not answer. They had stopped being friends. Lia feels guilty and confused. She begins to see Cassie's ghost, who urges her to join her.
Lia's illness
Lia has been in treatment for anorexia twice. Now she lives with her father, stepmother and stepsister. She lies about eating and hides weights in her clothes to fool her family when they weigh her. She counts calories obsessively and cuts herself. Her writing, with crossed-out words, shows her true thoughts.
Family
Lia's parents are divorced. Her mother is a busy doctor, and her father is a professor. They both love Lia, but they struggle to help her. Her stepsister Emma, whom Lia loves, is frightened by her illness. Lia feels invisible and broken.
Elijah
Lia goes to the motel where Cassie died and meets Elijah, who works there. He was with Cassie on her last night. He becomes Lia's friend, but he does not know how sick she is. Lia learns more about Cassie's final hours and her struggle with bulimia.
Choosing life
Lia's illness gets worse until she nearly dies at the motel. In a hallucination, she decides that she wants to live. She enters a treatment center and begins the slow work of recovery. The book ends with hope, as Lia starts to thaw out of her winter.
5 Key Takeaways
- Eating disorders are serious illnesses.
- Recovery is possible but difficult.
- Guilt can be destructive.
- Families need support too.
- Honest conversations can save lives.
Ideas Worth Remembering
These are paraphrased, not direct quotes:
- Asking for help is an act of courage.
- Words can reveal hidden pain.
- Hope can return even in the darkest times.
Who Should Read Wintergirls?
Read Wintergirls if you want an honest, powerful story about mental illness and recovery. It suits older teens and adults.
About Laurie Halse Anderson
Laurie Halse Anderson (born 1961) is an American author best known for Speak, a novel about a girl who survives sexual assault. Her other books include Chains, Fever 1793 and The Impossible Knife of Memory. She received the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award in 2023 for her body of work.
Questions to Think About After Reading
These prompts work for solo reading, a book club or a classroom discussion of Wintergirls:
- Why does Lia feel responsible for Cassie's death?
- How does the writing style show Lia's thoughts?
- What helps Lia choose to live?
How to Use This Summary
Use this page as a quick reference before a book club meeting, an exam, or a decision about whether Wintergirls is worth your time. The takeaways are written to stand on their own. If a point interests you, go back to the book for the author's full story, characters and style, which no short summary can replace.
A Note on Accuracy and Spoilers
This summary is based on the published text of Wintergirls, not on any film, series or stage adaptation, which often change the story. Details are kept at the level of the main events so that nothing is invented. Editions differ slightly in length and wording, so page numbers and small details may vary between copies.
Should You Read the Book?
Yes, with caution. It is raw and painful but important.
Check price of Wintergirls on Amazon
What to Read Next
- Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson: a girl finds her voice after trauma
- Paperweight by Meg Haston: a girl in treatment for an eating disorder
- Challenger Deep by Neal Shusterman: an honest look at mental illness
Related: Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson: Summary and Key Takeaways · What Age Is Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson Appropriate For? A Parent’s Guide
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Wintergirls about?
A girl with anorexia struggles with guilt after her best friend's death.
Who wrote it?
Laurie Halse Anderson, in 2009.
Who is Lia?
An eighteen-year-old with anorexia.
Who is Cassie?
Lia's best friend, who dies.
Why does Lia see Cassie's ghost?
It reflects her guilt and illness.
Does Lia recover?
She begins recovery at the end.
Why are words crossed out?
To show Lia's true thoughts.
What age is it for?
Older teens and adults.
How long is it?
About 280 pages.
Is it triggering?
It may be for some readers.
Is it hopeful?
Yes, at the end.
Where can people get help?
Eating disorder organizations and doctors can help.
Is Wintergirls used in schools?
Yes, though teachers often discuss it with care because of its content.
Is Wintergirls worth reading?
It depends on what you want. The book is best for readers who want an honest, powerful novel about eating disorders and recovery. If that describes you, it is likely a good fit. If not, the titles under What to Read Next may suit you better.