"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.

A true-life story of a teenage girl's battle with anorexia

About the Author
Judith Fathallah is 18 years old and comes from Cardiff. She is currently in her first year of an English degree at Cambridge. At 13 Judith was diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa and admitted to a psychiatric ward. Now fully recovered, Judith wants to tell her story through the persona of Jessica.

Reviews
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 Bookseller *
This 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 News *
Heart-felt and illuminating account of a young girl's battle with an eating disorder, told with perception and grim humour * The Bookseller *
The 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 * Carousel *



Book Information
ISBN 9781909531413
Author Judith Fathallah
Format Paperback
Page Count 304
Imprint Definitions
Publisher Penguin Random House Children's UK
Weight(grams) 213g
Dimensions(mm) 198mm * 129mm * 19mm