Nothing tastes as good by Claire Hennessy
Hot Key Books, 2016. ISBN 9781471405747
(Age: 15+) Mental illness. Death and grief. Anorexia and eating
disorders. Abuse. Teen romance. Secrets. Food plays a very powerful
role in this book; it is the beginning and end of the conflict. For
Annabel, the narrator of this YA book, food (or the lack of it) led
to her death. She is now in the afterlife and has been appointed as
a 'post-life' guide (not unlike a guardian angel but without any
spiritual or godly role). Annabel's role is to be the one to change
the life of Julia - to rescue her, to guide her. But will her own
issues impact her new charge. Will Annabel ever be able to connect
again with her own family, now lost forever? At first glance Julia
does not seem to need help. She is a gorgeous, mature, positive and
motivated student with a passion for the school newspaper and a
future journalism career... but something is going wrong with her
relationship with food, with her body and in her relationships with
others. Annabel can barely believe that this is the person that
needs her help! The potential love interest in Julia's life is quite
gorgeous (and perhaps too good to be true) and although he is not
actually a Knight-in-Shining-Armour for Julia, his role does give
this serious book a romantic flavour.
On one level this is a journey into the psychology of trauma, and
the impact that this can have on our choices, but it is also an insight
into eating disorders and the terrible tragedy that this expression
of illness can be. Through a fairly normal teen coming-of-age plot,
with parties, school concerns, and relationship beginnings and
endings, Claire Hennessy has overlaid the internal dialogues,
secrets and tensions of Julia, and has given us a powerful insight
into the thinking of Annabel, the anorexic. As a consequence there
is almost a risk that it is too real, and too confronting, and
perhaps even dangerous for some vulnerable teenagers. Hearing the
internal dialogue of the teens in connection to food issues, and
counselling provided by adults and professional helpers is a
reminder that Mental Health issues are not easy to deal with.
Hennessy writes with a deft touch and insight into teen behaviour
and thinking.
Although a very well-written YA Fiction novel, its content should be
taken into account before recommending it, particularly if
body-image issues are a risk.
Carolyn Hull