You Are Enough

March 1, 2019

Gr 5 Up-Part personal narrative, part self-help manual, this compassionate work offers insight and options for eating disorder recovery. It is assumed that readers are familiar with the topic, meaning little time is spent defining eating disorders or describing their symptoms. Instead, the focus is on recovery. Relevant skills from research-proven therapy practices are presented in an accessible way, and medical, nutritional, and mental health experts are cited throughout. Social and societal pressures that contribute to disordered eating are countered with subjects like body positivity. Chapters end in simple exercises for readers to employ what they have learned. Petro-Roy shares her own story as an eating disorder survivor throughout the book, making the text personal and relatable. The tone of the book is casual, while managing to give the topic the seriousness it deserves. Emphasis is placed on how dangerous eating disorders can be, and the importance of recovery. The 12-page table of contents makes it easy to find specific content, while recommended resources and a bibliography provide ample opportunity for further reading. VERDICT An excellent choice for libraries needing new eating disorder resources, especially those serving middle schoolers.-Alex Graves, Manchester City Library, NH

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 15, 2019
Grades 5-9 Resources on eating disorders for the middle-grade set are few and far between, but Petro-Roy writes for this age group with knowledge, compassion, empathy, and inclusivity. While she identifies as a straight, cis white female, she makes a concerted effort to acknowledge and include stories and statistics pertaining to men and boys, the queer community, and people of different racial or cultural backgrounds. After relaying her personal struggles with anorexia nervosa and her journey to recovery, Petro-Roy organizes her book into four parts that can be read in any order: About Eating Disorders, Tools and Information for Recovery, Society, Role Models, Family, and Media, and As You Recover. Throughout, Petro-Roy shares her experiences, fears, and failures, while emphasizing that everyone's stories and bodies are different?and that's OK! She also includes information on a range of treatment options, openly acknowledging how expense can impact one's choices. Petro-Roy's encouragement and honesty will speak to readers who might be dealing with disordered eating, and the book's information, exercises, and resources will hopefully set them on their own paths to recovery. (For a fictional exploration of a similar topic, see Petro-Roy's Good Enough, on page xx.)(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)