Paperweight

By: Meg Haston

Narrated by: Mandy Siegfried

Length: 8 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's summary

Seventeen-year-old Stevie is trapped. In her life. And now in an eating-disorder treatment center on the dusty outskirts of the New Mexico desert.

Life in the center is regimented and intrusive, a nightmare come true. Nurses and therapists watch Stevie at mealtime, accompany her to the bathroom, and challenge her to eat the foods she's worked so hard to avoid.

Her dad has signed her up for 60 days of treatment. But what no one knows is that Stevie doesn't plan to stay that long. There are only 27 days until the anniversary of her brother Josh's death - the death she caused. And if Stevie gets her way, there are only 27 days until she, too, will end her life.

©2014 Meg Haston and Alloy Entertainment (P)2015 HarperCollins Publishers

The Fake Southern Accent? Yeeeeesh!

I wanted to really enjoy this audiobook, based on the recommendations of friends. But I had a really hard time getting past the sharp sulky tone of the main character herself, and with the narrator, who puts on a southern accent seemingly at random intervals, when she remembers to.
I found myself getting out of the story so much due to both of these factors that I think I'll read it on Kindle.

Terrible Narator

The narrator has a fake and sporadic southern accent that inexplicably appears and disappears. It ruined the story for me.

a must read!

I highly recommend this book. it touches on a delicate issue in a compassionate manner.

narrator ruined it for me

I really struggled to get through this, I don't think it was the writting... I believe it was the narrator.

Insightful and honest

This story is written and narrated beautifully. The listener is allowed into the mind of someone who is going through the painful process of opening up and healing. Her thoughts and memories are vividly portrayed. A must-listen for anyone who wants to better understand not only eating disorders but also depression, anxiety, self-harm and suicidal ideation.

Favorite book

One of my favorite books. I’ve read it and listened to it many times. Never get tired of it

SO AMAZING

Beautifully written and heartwarmingly gorgeous piece by meg haston would definitely recommend to all my friends

Uneven

Grade: C-

Stevie, a new patient at an eating disorders clinic, plans to commit suicide on the one-year anniversary of her brother's death.

PAPERWEIGHT is composed of Stevie's journal entries chronicling her arrival at the clinic throughout her first several weeks. Meg Haston gave Stevie an bright, teen voice, often unlikable and unsympathetic. The writing was the best part of the story.

Hello clichés:
-reluctant, angry patient
-feels responsible for dead friend/relative
-refuses to cooperate with treatment

I won't list any more clichés, to avoid spoiling readers, but will say there is nothing unique or different about PAPERWEIGHT and the ending is predictable.

I'm not sure what kind of research Haston did when writing the novel, but I doubt she ran the therapy scenes by an actual therapist for authenticity. I was disappointed to see her therapist buy into the making Eden a fall-guy for much the calamity in Stevie's life, as if the trouble older teen should have recognized Stevie's problems, forced her to get help, and a few other spoilery things.

THEMES: eating disorders, treatment, death, grief, siblings, family, friends

Teens may enjoy the story, but PAPERWEIGHT won't give insight into eating disorders or treatment.

my thought on the book

it was not what I thought it was so I did not like it thanks but it maybe something someone else likes but not me

couldn't finish

I read reviews complaining about the random fake country accent but I thought "how bad can it really be"... but it made it really difficult to listen to... I couldn't even finish it!