The Best Little Girl in the World [School & Library Binding]

Steven Levenkron (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1989

This story is based on the theme of anorexia. To her father, Francesca is "the best little girl in the world", but at her ballet class she realizes she is "fat". With this realization, fat Francesca has to die, and slim Kessa takes her place. Help arrives in the shape of Sandy Sherman, a doctor.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• School & Library Binding: 256 pages
• Publisher: Turtleback Books: A Division of Sanval (March 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0808586521
• ISBN-13: 978-0808586524
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 4.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (177 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,594,365 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars GOOD BOOK, BUT GOOD FOR THE WRONG REASONS, February 20, 2000

By 

shannon brooks (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Best Little Girl in the World (Mass Market Paperback)

I have read this book and yes, it is a great book, but one must use caution when reading it. When I read this book I was in the worst part of my struggle with anorexia, and while reading this book I became wrapped up in some sick competition with Kessa. I continued to use many of the tips i read in the book, along with my own tricks, until I ended up in the hospital. I strongly reccomend that NO ONE currently in treatment or suffering from an eating disorder read this book. Wait until you have reached a strong level of recovery before you read the book. In my opinion, this book is a VERY TRIGGERING book.

25 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Frighteningly accurate, May 25, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Best Little Girl in the World (Mass Market Paperback)

I read this book at the beginning of my own eating disorder, and I wish I could say it was all a lie. It was painful to read because I, like Kessa, am 5'4" tall, but at the time I weighed nearly 30 more pounds than when she began. It's been a while since I read it and its sequel (Kessa), but the impact is permenent. One person said that it was written for people who have trouble reading. I've been reading novels since first grade, and while the literary part was simple, the emotional part was like a bullet. This book was my giudebook, almost my Bible, for a long time in my life. I tried to mirror myself off of Kessa. I wish Kessa was real so that I could go find her and say, "I know you. You're me." Maybe we could help each other. It's the most powerful book I've ever read, except possibly its sequel. But don't read it unless you know you can handle it.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Love/Hate, January 26, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Best Little Girl in the World (Mass Market Paperback)

I became completly absorbed and obseesed with this book. Stuggling with annorexia myself, Kessa provided companionship for me, as I isolated myself from the rest of the world. It however, I don't think was a healthy influence. The Best Little Girl in the World became me Bible, from which I molded much of my behavior. While it was by no means a cause of my struggle, I found myself adopting many of Kessa's behavior. Read this book with caution. If you are struggling with an eating disorder yourself, I urge you to restrain the temptation of reading it.