Author:Judith Fathallah
"You've eaten too much, you fat pig."
When Jessica was thirteen years old, she met the Monkey.
The Monkey lived inside her: a driving, fiery voice telling her that thinness was the only way. The only way to be safe, to be good, to be acceptable and above all, to escape from the cold, looming threat of approaching adulthood. Jessica listened to the Monkey, and it consumed her.
This is the illuminating story of a teenage girl's wanderings in darkness: the spiral down into madness, the terrible realities of an adolescent psychiatric unit, and the stark choice that she must either tame her monster - or die.
Through memory, reflection, and enduring black humour, Jessica makes a tenuous peace with the world and with her emerging adult self.
Honest and darkly humourous, this is much more than just an "issues" book. Deserving of a wide audience, it is extremely well written and entirely engrossing
—— Angela Lockton , The BooksellerThis is a gripping account of a descent into illness. Hones, engaging and grimly humourous, this offers a fresh slant on a much-covered subject
—— Becky Stradwick , Publishing NewsHeart-felt and illuminating account of a young girl's battle with an eating disorder, told with perception and grim humour
—— The BooksellerThe story is deeply moving - unflinching in its realism, at times humourous and, ultimately uplifting. This is a thoroughly rewarding read taht should be made widely available to all teenagers
—— CarouselA love story that tackles the reality of young adult depression in a thoughtful and sensitive way
—— Irish IndependentSuzuma's accomplished debut A Note of Madness, told the story of a gifted young pianist diagnosed with bipolar disorder and this sequence follows Flynn in his attempts to keep his life balanced between love, music and medicine
—— The BooksellerChildren will laugh and learn throughout Candyfloss, yet another fun book from the ever-popular Jacqueline Wilson
—— Preston CitizenMore emotionally charged and gripping writing from the award-winning Children's Laureate
—— Hull Daily MailJacqueline Wilson captures exactly the intricate rituals of childhood
—— Daily EchoExpect drama, crises, gripping plot and realistic narrative
—— Birmingham Post