I actually cried when I first read this book. I have never related to a character as much as I related to young, sarcastic, Lori. People may say she is immature but what they don't realize is when you are dying it is very hard to be kind to everyone. You can barely function. I was in the hospital for 3 months 3 years ago when I was 13 and I made the same slightly immature comments to the nurses, everything. This book IS very realistic. The only thing I found less than realistic was that all of Lori's friends were dieting when she was only 11. This is clearly not going to happen. But 11 is by no means too young to have an e.d. I have met 9 year olds in my treatment. All in all an excellent book that explores childhood anorexia in all it's horrors, but with wit and hilarity.