The Best Little Girl In The World by Steven Levenkron

Steven Levenkkron is a psychotherapist who specializes in treating Anorexia Nervosa. He is also the author of a disturbing novel titled The Best Little Girl In The World. It is the tale of one Francesca Dietrich, ballet dancer, ignored third child, and victim of anorexia.

The novel opens with Francesca’s ballet teacher telling her to lose a few more pounds. At 5’1’’, Francesca weighs ninety-nine pounds. This ‘encouragement’ leads to Francesca creating obsessions for herself, most of which deal with food. She cannot let her teeth touch the tines of her fork, her food must be divisible by four, and every meal must be planned ahead of time. Her weight starts dropping dramatically. She is sent to a psychiatrist, and finally, the hospital. She reaches her low point at 67 pounds. Then, thanks to a caring psychiatrist, she begins to heal.

This stunning volume takes you on the terrifying, repetitive, confined journey of anorexics. In the end, it is not a story about not eating; it is the story of being hungry for what you can’t have.