Customer Reviews

Second Star to the Right

5 star:		(37)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I first read Second Star to the Right when I was 13 and suffering from a severely distorted body image. I had just begun to have trouble with eating and was about to plunge into full-blown anorexia. While the book provides a very real account of anorexia, I used it for inspiration (not the intended purpose) and copied some of Leslie's "tricks" to make myself sicker. Rather than providing a hopeful, recovery-centered novel, I thought that the book glamorized anorexia and made me feel special because I was sick...I think that Ms. Hautzig could have made eating disorders less appealing (perhaps by discussing the negative consequences), yet I understand that at the time the book was written the author was fighting her own battles. Thus, I reccommend this book with caution-it might be better to read if you have resolved to recover or if you are a bit older...at the age of 19 anorexia not seem so appealing anymore.

Oh wow! This book has become my favorite and most read book. Most books about anorexia tell it from a friend's point of view, or third person. But in Second Star to the Right, the story of Leslie is told by her. You get everything she is going through told as she sees it and lives it. Also, the entire story is not about her anorexia battle. Its about her life and her world leading up to it all. She is a "real teenager" dealing with all problems in her life. She tells all her feelings and I could totally relate. This is a great, mature book to read any time. Whether boy or girl, anorexic or not. I definitly reccomend it! Its my fav. book. Also, good for teenagers from about 13-16.

Though only 14, Leslie Hiller is dying. Only she is behind her demise. This harrowing tale of Leslie's journey through anorexia nervosa is so thourough and touching that it must be called one of those rare treasures that are read over and over and cherished forever. This book takes the reader through Leslie's mind and her experiences and the ending will bring tears as Leslie finds a will to live after so many months of pain. A deeply moving story that should be read by anyone whose family has been touched by this disease

After hearing how excellent this book was, I decided to check it out of my school's library, and I read it all in one night. I was so engrossed by the main character's struggle that I just couldn't put the book down! It was so amazing and touching.

'Second Star to the Right' is a moving story about a fourteen year old Jewish girl named Leslie Hiller. Leslie is a perfectionist who resides in New York with her mother, who constantly worries; her father, who is a pianist; and her little brother. In an attempt to find happiness, Leslie decides to go on a diet. But quickly, it becomes more than just a diet; it becomes a gradual and painful death. Leslie is well aware of the fact that she is slowly killing herself, but she believes that she is incapable of climbing out of the complex web in which she has intangled herself in.

This book doesn't focus on the physical conditions of anorexia nervosa; but rather, the emotional and mental conditions of the victim. It's interesting how Leslie struggles to understand why she is starving herself to death. Also, her parents confusion as to why their daughter is going down this self destructive path is interesting as well. I just wanted to jump right into the book and embrace Leslie. I desperately wanted to assure her that everything would be alright. But, unfortunately, I couldn't do that because 1.) It's impossible to jump into a book. and 2.) It was up to Leslie to decide if everything was going to be alright. We don't find out if Leslie begins her journey down the 'road to recovery' because the book leaves us with Leslie trying to figure herself out in a hospital, but that doesn't matter. We're given plenty of details, so we can imagine how things turn out for Leslie. Personally, I believe she recovered, but I'll never actually know.

This story delves into the mind of an anorexic and helps you to understand them, to see things from their perspective. Anorexia is a dangerous and terrifying disease, and aside from really moving me, Leslie's struggle also frightened me. The confusion... the pain... the slow deterioration of body, mind, and soul. I recommend this book to anyone between the ages of twelve and sixteen. Even if you have never battled an eating disorder before, you'll still enjoy it. Deborah Hautzig did an excellent job at writing this magnificent story.

I, too, suffer from life-threatening anorexia nervosa. Even at my present weight of 58 pounds, thin enough can never be achieved. This past year has been extremely rough, in and out of hospitals and treatment. Just when I felt hopeless, my friend contacted me with a pile of literature on anorexia, and this book was a breath of fresh air. This disease that is killing me, the monster of anorexia, and as I read about Leslie being in the hospital, torned between recovery and falling deeper into the hands of the illness, I was crying, because it was almost as if I was reading about ME. Leslie and I are so much alike-perfectionists, kind, sincere, always wanting to be the best. This book couldnt tell it all better-please read it! please! this is a wake-up call and should not be ignored!

I read second star on the right a few weeks ago and although I've never had anorexia, I thought I knew quite a bit about it - this book really opened my eyes to how destructive and devasting it really is, I would recommend this to anyone, but if you do have anorexia especially READ IT, IT COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE !

As with Stick Figure, this book provides too many accounts of ways to fool parents, friends and doctors. While it is realistic, if you are not committed to recovery it can trigger ED thoughts and habits. When someone is in the depth of their ED, the horrible consequences of an ED explored in this book will be ignored while the message justifying an ED will be remembered and imitated.

Having finished my sixth young adult fiction book on anorexia, I enjoyed Hautzig's book as well as "Go for the Gold" the best. Each cast varying influences and different scenarios instead of the typical stereotyped plot and characters that most books fall into. Hautzig gave a voice of reality to Leslie's experience by using her roomie, the African American girl who was hospitalized for leg surgery, as a beacon of normalcy. The main character, Leslie, didn't want to spend all her teen years trying to establish an existence all of her own by self abuse. Her friends in the hospital and the different sources of medical knowlege could be weighed in how postive the outcome was. It showed the reader what doctors and people should not say and what is also beneficial to do. I enjoyed the ending as it showed that there aren't just pat remedies for problems and things can't often be fixed in a pre-determined timeline. Really a nice read for any age.

It had always amazed me that an author, whom i presumed had not suffered from an eating disorder, could so accurately depict the anorexic's mind. Only when i read of her own struggle with the disease did i understand. Second Star to the Right is a moving account of a girl's passage through anorexia. The negative mindset of the sufferer is sensitively, yet accurately dealt with; the author is compassionate, yet truthful about the way anorexia disfigures one's mind and changes one's personality. Sufferers will easily be able to identify with Leslie's battle whilst non-sufferers will gain much insight into this deadly disorder. Highly recommended.

I first read this book when I was 12 yrs old and I have continued to re-read it throughout my life(I just turned 30). It became a part of me. When I first read it I was having some eating issues and have on/off my whole life. Not bad enough to be considered a full blown eating disorder but I've def. come close to that. I was very interested in the reviews which said this book was triggering for anorexics. I had never thought of it that way but I can see how ppl would say that. But that being said, I have to say that this book still means the world to me and I identified w/ it on so many levels, not just as far as food is concerned. I think it's a beautiful book that most young girls could relate to. I highly recommend it. Oh and I have never written a review for Amazon before, I just was reading some other reviews which were critical and felt I had to defend this book which meant so much to me.