Second Star to the Right - Deborah Hautzig

This book was a really incredible first hand account of a young adult with anorexia. At first, I was really nervous reading the text, and immediately was picking up on her thoughts that seemed off or unusual. I knew the basic theme of the book and was looking for hints throughout the entire story. Once I followed her pattern of thoughts and her ideas, the story picked up immediately into her struggle. It was almost like it was a direct map of warning signs and then the realization of the problem, and then the problem continuing to increase and increase. Her diet was terrifying and her frame of mind was shocking at times. I think that is what I was so drawn to throughout the book; I could visualize the problem happening in this young girl. Although it was scary, it was realistic. As a young woman, I feel like a lot of people my age and Leslie's age (the main character), struggle with a small or big problem with self image. How easy would it be to get this carried away?
The book gives such a good take on a problem that seems to be growing. Because it is written in first person point of view, as readers we get a wonderful example of voice and personal expression. It is easy to relate to the feelings expressed by Leslie.
On a teaching level, this type of book is useful in the way that you can reach out to certain students and get them engaged in a kind of text that is relative to their own thoughts (not meaning they need to be this serious or destructive) but the students at this age will relate to the other feelings that Leslie is feeling, such as struggling for social acceptance, feeling lost and lonely, not being good enough for your parents, and the feeling of emptiness or that something is missing. A young voice like this could reach out to a lot of students, and the story is written so that it is quick and easy to follow.

Overall my judgment of the book was that it was truly powerful. It was powerful in a personal reading setting, and I think it would be even more powerful in a classroom setting. I would enjoy teaching the realistic circumstances in this book and I think it would gain a trust between myself and my students on a really sincere level by sharing the reading experience.