In recent years, mental disorders and substance abuse have been a central plot point for young adult literature. Popular titles include: "Cut" by Particia McCormick, "It's Kind of A Funny Story" by Ned Vizzini, and a collection of books written by Ellen Hopkins. Hopkins is well-known for her use of verse and poetry. "Crank" and "Glass" depict a character's lowest points of meth addiction. "Burned" tells the story of a young girl oppressed and abused by her religious upbringing, and "Identical" deals with sexual abuse, incest, and a rare mental disorder that isn't revealed until the novel's end. Finally, "Impulse" follows the opposing views of four teens recuperating in a mental health facility.
Christian author, Melody Carlson, wrote "The True Color Series." Titles like "Burnt Orange", "Moon White", "Pitch Black", or "Bright Purple" deal with under aged drinking, Wicca, teen suicide, and discovering one's sexuality. Each book contains the underlying themes of church, community, and Christ. Some installments preach more than others.
"Alice" in particular, was very well written. It contained complex metaphors, advanced vocabulary, and allusions to other written work. Surely the protagonist wouldn't put so much care into words meant for her eyes only? It is also quite difficult to believe she was able to keep such records in the novel's parts where she was institutionalized, or living on the streets. "Another day, another blow job," one such entry read. What I find most interesting is the copyright information:
"This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real locales are used fictitiously..." So on, and so forth. On my visits to the school library, I often find myself fighting this compulsion to move "Go Ask Alice" out of the Dewey Decimal System, and into fiction where it belongs.
(I have a habit of visiting www.snopes.com about monthly, or during rare instances of insomnia. ^-^ It confirmed my suspicions about "Alice." )
In recent years, I feel the focus of these stories have changed. Today, few authors aim to scare teenagers away from a sinful, hedonistic life style. I believe modern books about mental disorders send a message of tolerance and understanding. Literature changes with societies views. Characters with mental disorders exist to explain and convey another view point. Additionally, they are written to show troubled teenagers they are not alone.
I will go on to suggest authors choose their words and viewpoints with care. These stories are crafted with the purest of intentions. However, some works have inspired acts experimentation and ultimately, imitation. I feel this is most common, in the eating disordered.
My favorite example would be "The Best Little Girl in the World", written by Steve Levenkron. It was published in 1989 and became a TV movie. Many have praised it for getting into the mind of an Anorexic. Others would argue it is, "A romanticized account of a horrible disease." I would have to agree with the latter, as the book consists of cliches: a Caucasian ballerina, over bearing parents, successful older siblings, the constant element of "perfectionism", and an African American girl to reinforce racial stereotypes. Kessa meets Lila while hospitalized. The girl is unsympathetic towards Kessa. Towards Kessa, she uses "Skinny", as a a derogatory term. She firmly states that eating disorders are a problem only privileged races have. (Statistics prove otherwise. Educated physicians are aware that eating disorders impact all races, sexual orientations, socioeconomic statuses, as well as both sexes.) Kessa (the protagonist) collects photographs of models. She recites mantras throughout the story to motivate her extreme weightless. ("The thinner is the winner".) Such practices continue today amongst young girls, often in online archives ominously known as "Pro Anorexia Websites." Though written two decades ago, the book remains popular amongst young readers.
An reader on Amazon wrote, "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 recommend that NO ONE currently in treatment or suffering from an eating disorder read this book..."
"...Novels such as this one just reinforce dangerous misconceptions about eating disorders. Steven Levenkron (the doctor who treated Karen Carpenter for anorexia and very possibly contributed to her death) takes what should be an honestly sad, disturbing look at anorexia nervosa and makes it seem 'cool'," wrote another.
" I read this book when i was about 11 and it honestly became part of my downfall. For me it was more of 'how to' then a 'don't be like her'. Although I still to this day like this book i was WAY to young to read it. I think its an important book even if the writer is in my opinion a self-righteous hack..."
- The Troubling Allure of of Eating Disorder Books (Ny Times: Well Blog)
- Do Books about Eating Disorders Help or Hinder Teens? (Examiner, Milwaukee)
And finally, a web page that proves my point: http://www.starvingbeauty.1colony.com/custom2.html
No online "publication" of mine would ever be complete without giving my two cents on the "Pro Ana/Mia movement." Keep an eye out for that within the next six weeks.
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