Perfect

By Natasha Friend

In the world of thirteen-year-old girls, everything’s fine—at least on the surface.

Isabelle Lee is a typical, wisecracking, middle-of-the-pack girl who just happens to be dealing with some big issues. Her father has died and no one—especially her mother—wants to talk about it. Meanwhile, Isabelle’s sister, who “used to be nine and charming,” has messed everything up by ratting Isabelle out to their mom about her eating disorder.

At school, there’s Mr. Minx, the self-important (but really not bad) English teacher; Ashley Barnum, the prettiest girl around; and the lunchroom, where tables are turf in an all-eyes-open battle for social status. Isabelle has measured the distance to being cool and she thinks it’s long shiny hair, a toothpaste smile, and perfectly broken-in size-zero jeans.

Perfect is the story of one girl’s attempt to cope with loss, define true friendship, and figure out the difference between appearances and reality.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Milkweed Editions
• Release date: Jan 1, 2010
• ISBN: 9781571318015

Natasha Friend

Natasha Friend is the award-winning author of Where You'll Find Me, Perfect, Lush, Bounce, For Keeps, and My Life in Black and White. She lives in Madison, Connecticut, with her family.

Book preview

002

1

APRIL USED TO BE MY SISTER. She used to be nine and charming. She used to respect the two most important laws of sisterhood: Thou shalt not spy and Thou shalt not report thy sister’s crimes to the authorities.

Now Ape Face is ten and everything’s different. She is evil, and she must be destroyed.

Here’s how it happened: The week before school started, my ex-sister burst through the closed door of the bathroom we share and found me. On my knees. With my head in the toilet.

Euwww, she said. Naaasty.

I removed my fingers from my throat and swallowed. Don’t tell Mom.

Don’t tell Mom what? she said.

"That I have the flu, April. Obviously. I don’t want her to worry."

"Ohhh. Is that what it is? The flu?"

I wanted to call her the worst name I could think of—something I heard Jason Gullo call Ryan James in gym. But with Ape Face, you have to choose your words carefully. You’d better not tell her.

Ape Face raised one eyebrow. Or what?

Or else. That’s all I’m saying.

Oooo. She waggled her fingers at me. Scary.

Here is our business arrangement in times of crisis: bribery. Of the items I own, here is what April wants: everything.

We stepped into my office, which doubles as a bedroom, and shut the door. As if shutting doors means anything around here.

My rhinestone barrettes, I said.

Ape Face wrinkled her nose. She has no taste. She wears a leotard to school, if that tells you anything. And anyway, just as a good batter never swings at the first pitch, Ape Face never takes the first offer. She likes me to throw some heat.

I went over to my bureau and pulled out my pink tank top. There was a time when Ape Face would have gnawed off her own arm for this shirt. That is, before there was a gigantic ravioli stain on the front.

Right, said Ape Face, and made a move toward the door.

I had to say something. Anything. My Wonderbra?

Ape Face said, That’s very funny, Isabelle. You should be a comedian.

I’m serious. It makes you look like you have something on top even when you don’t.

Ape Face narrowed her eyes at me. Do you know that you are exactly ten seconds away from being grounded for life?

I couldn’t tell if she was trying to scare me or if she meant it. With three balls, no strikes, I couldn’t take the chance. This one was gonna hurt. My red boots, I said. Ouch.

The suede ones? said Ape Face, brightening.

The suede ones. Noooooooo. These are my absolute favorite boots in the whole world and she knows it. I saved my allowance for three months to buy them.

Regret! Regret!

Ape Face came over to my bed and sat down, one leg crossed over the other. She held out her hand to me like she was royalty and I was supposed to kiss her ring.

I reached under the bed to get the shoe box and handed it to her.

Ape Face took her sweet time. She laced up each boot with excruciating care. She pointed her toes in the air, flexed. Pointed, flexed, assumed ballet positions. She stood and did a few pliés and arabesques. Then, even more slowly, she sat back down and unlaced. Slowly, oh so slowly, she placed my all-time favorite boots back in their tissue paper cocoon.

She handed me the box. I don’t think so, Isabelle. They’re a little scuffed.

She’s that good.

Okay, April. Name it.

Your mountain bike. She actually said this with a straight face.

You’re crazy.

Your mountain bike, she repeated.

Have you been sniffing glue? Those fumes, you know, they can make you nuts.

Ape Face walked over to the door, placed one hand on the doorknob. This is my final offer, Belly. Take it or . . . don’t.

I have never hated anyone so much in my entire life as I hated my sister at that moment. Get out of my room, I told her. Out.

Have it your way, Ape Face said. And here is what she, my own flesh and blood, did: she placed both hands on her nonhips, smiled at me, and started yelling. Mahhhhhm! Belly’s puking her guts out!

That’s how it happened. That’s how my ex-sister realized her lifelong dream of seeing me placed under house arrest. That’s how I ended up here, on this pee-colored couch from the disco era, sandwiched between a skeleton and a whale.

003

2

GROUP IS MY PUNISHMENT. As in Eating Disorder and Body Image Therapy Group. It is just how you wish you could spend every day for the rest of your life: sitting around in a circle, talking about things you don’t want to talk about, in a room with no air circulation and orange carpet that smells like Cheez-Its.

The first day of Group I wouldn’t get out of the car. My mother had us parked in a ten-minute spot, but that didn’t make me move any faster. I stared out the window at absolutely nothing. Then I fiddled with the radio. When I’m in the mood I can switch stations so fast you can’t even tell what song is playing. It is quite a talent.

Finally my mother reached over and turned it off.

What? I said. I was listening.

Isabelle. She put her hand on my arm. It’s almost five. You don’t want to be late.

I moved as far away from her hand as I could get. Yes, I do, I said. I want to be very, very late. You have no idea how late I want to be.

My mother sighed and gripped the steering wheel with both hands.

I turned the radio on again and fiddled with the buttons like crazy, which you would think would make a mother furious. Not this mother. She is the type that says, in a voice so gentle you want to scream, Oh, honey.

Fine! I turned off the radio. I unbuckled my seat belt to make her think I was planning on going somewhere. Just answer me one thing. Why are you making me do this?

Because that is the deal, my mother said.

Some deal. It’s not like I had a choice.

You’re right. My mother took off the stupid black sunglasses she always has to wear when she goes out, even when it’s raining. She turned to look at me. About this, you don’t have a choice. You need to do this one thing.

Now I was the one who reached over to touch her arm. Mom. Please? It was just that one time I threw up. I won’t do it again. I promise.

I know you won’t, she said.

You do?

Yes.

So I don’t have to go?

No, Mom said, shaking her head slowly. You do have to go. That’s how I know you won’t do it again.

Huh, I said. I made my voice quiet and spoke directly to the windshield. The worst words possible. Daddy would never make me go. Not in a million years.

The silence was so big it made my stomach ache.

My mother couldn’t look at me. I’ll pick you up at six thirty, she said in a wobbly voice. On went the sunglasses.

When I got out of the car I slammed the door as hard as I could. I didn’t care if she cried. She could cry all day if she wanted to. Just for once, though, I’d like her to do it out in the open, not hiding behind something like sunglasses. It’s a wonder she doesn’t go blind.

I stood at the curb, watching my mother fumble with the car keys for about a hundred years until she finally turned on the ignition. I figured I might as well wait until she pulled away, so she could wave good-bye to me like everything was fine. And I could wave back like nothing had happened.

The leader of Group is Trish, who has hair like Orphan Annie and an overbite. I know what an overbite is only because I have one too. At least I used to, before I got braces. Now all I have is a mouth full of metal.

The first day, Trish bounced around handing out three-by-five cards and touching everyone on the shoulder. Here you go. . . . Here you go. . . . She’s the camp counselor type. If anyone can make a rope ladder out of dental floss, it’s Trish.

Welcome to Group! Trish said. Why don’t we go around the room and introduce ourselves. . . . Mathilde? Trish pounced on the girl to my left. Would you like to start?

When Mathilde ducked her head, you could see all five of her chins. I’m not saying this to be mean, it really happened. She spoke so softly we could barely hear her. I’m . . . uh . . . Mathilde.

Great! said Trish. Hi, Mathilde. Let’s all say ‘Hiii, Mathilde.’

We all said, Hiii, Mathilde.

You have to feel badly for Mathilde. You really do. First of all, she wears things like shorts with little strawberries on them, and T-shirts with iron-on kittens. You can bet her grandmother picks them out. Second, she has the fat-test legs I’ve ever seen. Next to hers, my legs look like sticks.

Dawn? said Trish.

I’m Dawn, said Dawn, the cute girl sitting across from me. Long yellow bangs, sad eyes, pug nose. I liked her right away.

Hiii, Dawn, we said.

Then there was Rachel. Rachel looks like she should be in a gang. She has about ten earrings in each ear and black eyeliner all around her eyes. You can guess what she’s thinking just from looking at her. I don’t need you people! I don’t need anyone!

Hiii, Rachel, we said anyway.

Next was Lila, who is superskinny. She’s always tapping her fingertips against her kneecaps. Her skin is white, white, white, and you can count her ribs through her turtleneck. Most people would probably think that’s gross, being able to count someone’s ribs through their shirt, but personally, I wouldn’t mind looking like Lila. It’s better than being fat. Way better.

Hiii, Lila, we said.

Finally there was me. Isabelle Lee. Here’s the problem with Isabelle Lee: shorten it, and what do you get? Izzy Lee, which I hate. Or Belle Lee, which is just as bad. And Belly? Well, Belly is unforgivable. I wake up every day ready to kill Ape Face for coming up with that one.

I used to be Bella, Daddy’s name for me. But then he died and I wouldn’t let anyone call me that anymore. If they did I’d bite their head right off.

Nobody in Group knows about that. To them, I’m just Isabelle, and that’s how it’s going to stay.

Hiii, Isabelle.

Hi, I said. My voice came out so squeaky I didn’t even recognize it.

Trish looked at her watch and said we should wait a

Reviews for Perfect

[hmoonier · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What a great book! I loved it, the emotions are completely genuine. I really felt like the words came straight from isabelle. I could feel her hurt, her frustrations, her happiness. I especially liked the ending because she finally gains the courage to make peace within herself and her situations.

[nm.winter08.a.kenned · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a very good book so far. It hits on bases that people don't usually talk about. There are so many people who could relate to this book; and other ones by this same author. I can really understand this book because I have friends who used to have these kind of problems, but they have stopped, knowing they are only hurting themselves. The way Natasha Friend explains some things makes me wonder why people don't relize what they are doing to their bodies when the try to get skinnier.

[supermanlver · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

this is seriously a must read. It is about a girl with depression who uses an eating disorder to control her life. It is very moving and sad, but is a very good book.

[lilibrarian · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

After her father dies, Isabelle, her sister and her mother are bereft. But mom won't even talk about dad, and Isabelle can't deal by herself. She begins a cycle of binging and purging and meets the perfect Ashley in the eating disorders group. Maybe perfect isn't always what it seems.

[jrlibrary · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Isabelle Lee is a high school student with an eating disorder.

[hannahmcvay · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This book was disappointing. I was expecting it to be extremely good, and I didn't get much out of it. There were several parts of this book that appeared to be randomly put in there, but if you ignore those random details, and the ending, I'd give it a 3 out of 10.

[kaydence_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Positives: * Deals with a very tough issue in a very real way * Explores guilt, the way a child takes over adult roles too early in life, grief, and a multitude of very real emotions that we don't usually talk about * Simple words make her easy to understandNegatives: * I don't like the descriptions that the author uses. * No resolution with anything, I don't even think they accurately portray the healing process of any of the major issues discussed in the book * I feel tempted to try the things that she does, rather than stay away from. That scares me because I know that a teenager reading it will have less self control than I do. (No offense to my students who are all wonderful) * There are very few positive moments, answers given to the problems, etc. The psychologist that plays a positive role could have provided some facts so that teenagers receive an accurate interpretation and don't lead themselves to other conclusions.

[kennedythedramaqueen · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book was absolutely amazing. It shows the emotions of a teenage girl, Isabelle Lee, struggling through life. It tells a story of how she overcomes the obsticals of loosing a loved one, and an eating disorder. But my favorite, was how she realized what Ashley Barnum, the most popular girl in school's life, is really like. Which, in this case, isn't as perfect as everyone thinks. This book takes you through life in Isabelle's shoes, and it I can definatley relate to her feelings. I think that all teenage girls feel this way, and I would definately recommend it for girls middle school and up.

[cougargirl1967 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Great book. I believe all women and young girls should read it, a touching story about a very real and scary problem.

[samantha7nop · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book is about a girl, Isabelle Lee. Her sister, April, tells their depressed mother Isabelle has bulimia. Isabelle became bulimic since their father died two years ago. Isabelle's mother forces her to join "Group" a group to help girls appreciate their body image. At Group, Isabelle becomes friends with the most popular girl in school, Ashley Barnum, who is also bulimic. Isabelle goes through a few weeks with Ashley as they eat and purge together. Isabelle is upset her mom won't forget her dad and is depressed all the time. But as Isabelle is in Group longer, she stops purging and tries to help her mother overcome her depression.I liked this book because it shows what a lot of girls my age go through. I appreciate the fact the author doesn't try to make anything less harsh. She writes what really happens, and how people are affected by things such as death. I'm glad that Isabelle overcomes bulimia. I hope that Ashley Barnum also does the same. This book can be life-changing to a lot of teenage girls. This book has a very good lesson. When something bad happens, you need to stay strong and keep family close. Don't let them go no matter what.

[kama6_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The book Perfect was about how this girl named Isabelle dad's died. Isabelle's whole life is falling apart when she has a little sister that bugs her all the time. Isabelle's mom cries everyday because of her husband dieing.

[hady0605 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I thought this book was really good because it was about a problem many girls go through...accepting for who they are, and their bodies. A girl goes to a group to help solve their insecurity, and kept me reading.

[sacr0410 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

i thought the author was childish. saying things like "sure thing girlfriend"maybe that's how people from her generation spoke, i just thought it was weird

[ashliecaster · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE this book. I know many people who suffered through eating disorders and some that still do and they said that they found this book helpful. I read it in the 6th grade and was very happy to find a book that helped. The author made everything very convincing and very realistic.

[jjpoppyjj-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Was a really good book about a girl with a eating disorder an goes to a group with people just like her, there she meets the most popular girl in school and becomes good friends with her.

[sandystiles · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Isabelle's father has died and her mother, mired in grief, retreats to her own world, leaving her 2 girls to fend for themselves. Isabelle develops an eating disorder, but through therapy makes some improvements.

[wrightja2000 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a very well written book, though it ended with me wanting about twenty more pages- like it should have had another chapter or two. I would have given it five stars except I'm not sure about the graphic and detailed descriptions of binging and purging. It was good but being that the book was aimed at a middle school audience, they don't need to know techniques for bulimia. A little too much "how to". It's important not to gloss over what eating disorders are so that maybe someone will recognize themselves and realize they need to get some help but for those who don't, they don't need instructions for starting. I think I would consider having my daughters read it with me and discuss it but I definitely wouldn't let them read it on their own. One really strong point the book makes is showing how hard and yet how possible it is to stand up to peer pressure. It also deals with family relationships and grief.

[br13olro · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Perfect by Natasha Friend, is a book about a 13 year old girl named Isabelle whose father died and because she is so sad she now has an eating disorder. The story starts when April, Isabelle’s sister, catches her making herself throw up. April tells their mother what she saw and Isabelle’s mother brings Isabelle to a therapy group for eating disorders. When Isabelle gets to the therapy group, she is surprised to see that Ashley, a popular girl from her school, is there as well. During the time at the group, Isabelle and Ashley become friends because they have the same thing. When they get back to school, Isabelle chooses Ashley and her group at lunch over her other friends. The rest of the story is basically about Isabelle missing her dad, dealing with friends and her throwing up and the therapy group.I would rate this book a 5. It was one of the best books I ever read and I couldn’t put it down! I was sad when I finished it because it was that good. I could kind of relate to the book, even though I don’t have an eating disorder, because someone close to me died too, and I know those feelings of not knowing how to handle it. 

[edenjean_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

 Isabelle Lee has an annoying little sister, a depressed mother, a newly found friendship with the most popular girl in school, and bulimia. "Perfect" is the story of her personal journey through hardship and self-discovery. A year ago Isabelle's father died, and her family has not been the same since. Her mother spends days in bed, cries late at night, and doesn't often cook for her daughters. Isabelle's little sister, April, has to struggle with doing a school project on her family when her mother won't tell her where the photos of her father are. Forced to go to Eating Disorder and Body Image Therapy Group by her mother, Isabelle is shocked when Ashley Barnum, the most popular girl in school, walks in late. Soon a friendship forms between the two that is held together solely by their shared need for binging and purging food and soda. Through her observation of Ashley's eating disorder Isabelle comes to realize how much she is actually hurting herself and her family by continuing her own habit. Through fighting her mother's depression and helping the rest of her family recover from her father's death Isabelle is able to fight her eating disorder.Isabelle's matter-of-fact descriptions of the world around her and how it makes her feel are at times sarcastic, ironic, or pessimistic, but other times are funny, thoughtful, and quite true-to-life. The author's creative use of the first person point of view makes "Perfect" hard to put down once you start it. "Perfect" is a novel for middle and high school readers.

[ohioyalibrarian · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Isabelle's father has recently died. Neither she, her sister or her mother has really dealt with the pain of his death. They all have ways of avoiding the pain. Isabelle's way manifests itself as an eating disorder. This is a good book, although I believe the ending is easy and a bit too tidy. Real life is probably harder. Still, this is a good read that makes you understand what Isabelle is going through.