The Best Little Girl In The World

Essay, Research Paper

Analysis of The Best Little Girl in the World The author of

my book is Steven Levenkron. Warner Books published this

book in September of 1978 in New York, NY. The genre

of my book is fiction with suspense. The Best Little Girl in

the World could be based on a true story, but it is not

completely true to life. It would fall under the suspense

category because the reader does not know if Kessa will live

or die. The all-important purposes of this book are to inform

and to narrate. The author does a nice job of achieving his

purpose. I am now aware of the many dangers of the deadly

disease being described. Steven Levenkron has many

qualifications. He is a ?practicing psychotherapist with a

specialty in eating disorders? (The Best Little Girl in the

World page 2). He has been a ?clinical consultant at

Montefiore Hospital and Medical Center as well as the

Center for the study of Anorexia and Bulimia in New York

City? (page 2). He is also a ?current member of ANAD of

Highland Park, Illinois? (page 2). This book does have a few

weaknesses but more strengths. A weakness would have to

be the ending. It is not eventful. I was hoping for a surprise

of some sort, and it never came. However, I noted many

strengths. The descriptive details seem great. Although the

details appear rather gross at points, I think that is a good

thing. That way a reader discovers the harsh reality of the

disease. ?The thinner is the winner? (The Best Little Girl in

the World Steven Levenkron page 25). This is a powerful

quote because thinness is what the whole story is based

upon. Kessa thinks that the thinner she is the better. She is

most definitely proved wrong in the end. I noted three main

settings used in this book. The Best Little Girl in the World

takes place in the year of 1979. The first one is the

Dietrich?s home. Their apartment is located in New York

City. The second location is at Francesca?s dancing studio

downtown. The third location where the action takes place is

in the hospital. Kessa is in the hospital for about three

months, and then she is released to live at home. Four main

characters are present in this book. They happen to be

Kessa, Lila, Grace and Harold. The two protagonists are

Kessa and Grace. Kessa is a short, frail, fifteen-year-old

girl. Grace appears to be a middle-aged housewife. Grace is

supportive of Kessa even through the tough times. The

antagonists are Harold and Lila. Harold is Kessa?s father

who has a slight drinking problem. He always yells and is

ill-tempered. Lila, Kessa?s roommate in the hospital, is

always putting Kessa down for being anorexic. She calls her

a ?skinny.? One type of conflict in this particular book is

man/woman versus man/woman. This is shown when Kessa

is forced to eat by her parents. Another type of conflict is

man/woman versus self. This is the biggest conflict

throughout the entire story. Kessa continues to battle herself

over her weight. Yet another type is man/woman versus

nature. This is shown when Kessa?s blood pressure drops to

an extremely low rate. Man/woman versus society is the

pictures of skinny models that Kessa cuts out demonstrate

the effect of society upon young people. Man/woman versus

fate, supernatural, and god/goddess is shown because

Kessa?s fate is to keep her life. The writing style of the

author is third-person omniscient. This means that the author

can crawl into the character?s minds. I enjoy this style

because the reader is able to know what all of the characters

are thinking. I enjoyed this book, so I would definitely

recommend it to others. It shows the harsh reality of

anorexia nervosa. After reading this book, an individual will

realize that this is a serious matter, which should not be taken

lightly.