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Goodbye, Paper Doll
Anorexia Nervosa...
That was the doctor's diagnosis. But seventeen-year-old Rosemary Norton knew better. She wasn't sick; the doctor and her parents were only worryworts. Jason, who said he loved her, was just like the rest of the boys; all he cared about was her looks. And Trudy and her other so-called friends at school were simply jealous, because Rosemary alone had the willpower to diet and exercise to the limit.
Rosemary had never looked or felt better. she was paper-thin and brimming with energy. And she was smart- smart enough to get around the doctor's threats to put her in the hospital; to trick her parents into thinking she was eating; to beat the enemies who would like to see her fat. Rosemary thought she was smart enough to beat them all...but she didn't know she was on the brink of destroying herself.
That was the doctor's diagnosis. But seventeen-year-old Rosemary Norton knew better. She wasn't sick; the doctor and her parents were only worryworts. Jason, who said he loved her, was just like the rest of the boys; all he cared about was her looks. And Trudy and her other so-called friends at school were simply jealous, because Rosemary alone had the willpower to diet and exercise to the limit.
Rosemary had never looked or felt better. she was paper-thin and brimming with energy. And she was smart- smart enough to get around the doctor's threats to put her in the hospital; to trick her parents into thinking she was eating; to beat the enemies who would like to see her fat. Rosemary thought she was smart enough to beat them all...but she didn't know she was on the brink of destroying herself.
155 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 1, 1980
8 people are currently reading
2097 people want to read
About the author
Anne Snyder
21 books4 followersAnne Snyder was a prize-winning author of young-adult fiction whose novels confronted alcoholism, homelessness, sexuality and other real-life dilemmas
She was born in Boston and grew up in the blue-collar Jewish neighborhoods of Detroit. She attended high school in Detroit and later put herself through two years of college.
In 1949, after marrying and starting a family, she moved to Los Angeles, where she began her writing career. She wrote and directed plays for a Westchester theater group called Kentwood Players and for the City of Hope. She also studied creative writing at Los Angeles Valley College.
During the 1970s, she taught creative writing at Valley College and at Pierce College and Cal State Northridge.
Snyder also worked in television. She researched and wrote questions for the "Hollywood Squares" game show and contributed concepts and scripts for "General Hospital" and "The Lucille Ball Show."
She was born in Boston and grew up in the blue-collar Jewish neighborhoods of Detroit. She attended high school in Detroit and later put herself through two years of college.
In 1949, after marrying and starting a family, she moved to Los Angeles, where she began her writing career. She wrote and directed plays for a Westchester theater group called Kentwood Players and for the City of Hope. She also studied creative writing at Los Angeles Valley College.
During the 1970s, she taught creative writing at Valley College and at Pierce College and Cal State Northridge.
Snyder also worked in television. She researched and wrote questions for the "Hollywood Squares" game show and contributed concepts and scripts for "General Hospital" and "The Lucille Ball Show."
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
April 12, 2017
I first heard of this book in a "You Will Also Enjoy" list of YA books on the front or back pages of a YA book called MY LITTLE BIG SISTER by Marcia Leonard. Years later I finally followed up and obtained this book.
On the very first page, "Camaro" is misspelled. Then the date of either the first day of school or the day our protagonist, California teen Rosemary Norton, commences her diet, is September 11. (Early 1980s.)
Rosemary is pretty and smart and has her head on straight, but she gets it into that head that she isn't thin or pretty enough and decides to change that. No big deal, right? There is a "magic number," and when the scale announces that she's reached it, she'll stop.
But what if the mirror suggests that the scale is lying?
What if this has become possible because her head, heart, and soul have been filling with the ever-dizzying swirl of family and school concerns, new and not-so-new friendships and relationships, and just growing up female in the early 1980s?
I am glad I read this book. I hope it went over well with its original intended audience when it first came out.
Thanks for reading.
On the very first page, "Camaro" is misspelled. Then the date of either the first day of school or the day our protagonist, California teen Rosemary Norton, commences her diet, is September 11. (Early 1980s.)
Rosemary is pretty and smart and has her head on straight, but she gets it into that head that she isn't thin or pretty enough and decides to change that. No big deal, right? There is a "magic number," and when the scale announces that she's reached it, she'll stop.
But what if the mirror suggests that the scale is lying?
What if this has become possible because her head, heart, and soul have been filling with the ever-dizzying swirl of family and school concerns, new and not-so-new friendships and relationships, and just growing up female in the early 1980s?
I am glad I read this book. I hope it went over well with its original intended audience when it first came out.
Thanks for reading.
June 6, 2008
I read this in sixth grade, and I think it saved me from eating disorders throughout high school.
June 23, 2025
I was lucky enough to get to buy books from the book fair when I was a kid. I truly treasured them. I always got a handful of paperbacks for Christmas too. This Y/A fiction book about "anorexia" came out in 1980. I'd have read it the year before I went to High School. I think I really liked it back then. There are a couple of parts that I still remembered. (Like when Rosemary and her boyfriend become intimate and he says the words that trigger her to "double down" in her illness).
I think this did a pretty good job of demonstrating the behaviors and thoughts of a girl with an eating disorder. It's a little dated in its language, but interesting to see the changes in the health community as we've added more terminology and knowledge to this mental illness. It's sad to know that these illnesses are on the rise after having leveled off a bit in the 1990's.
It was fun to revisit this old favorite but I'm passing my copy along now.
Physical copy from my library
I think this did a pretty good job of demonstrating the behaviors and thoughts of a girl with an eating disorder. It's a little dated in its language, but interesting to see the changes in the health community as we've added more terminology and knowledge to this mental illness. It's sad to know that these illnesses are on the rise after having leveled off a bit in the 1990's.
It was fun to revisit this old favorite but I'm passing my copy along now.
Physical copy from my library
November 6, 2009
I really enjoyed this book although it is quite an uncomfortable read i found the way that anne snyder writes very easy to read. What i particularly liked about this book was the way in which Anne descriptively placed me in her book, though Rosemary's feelings and thought processes. overall one of the best books i have read containing and addressing anorexia.
January 1, 2011
I read this many years ago... It came back to me in a dream last night... Any book that returns to memory within your subconscious this many years later must have been incredible.
March 14, 2016
This was written quite a while ago and the language and attitudes reflect that. The doctors attitude that "some girls diet, lose too much weight and get this disease called anorexia" grated on me badly, and I found the main character shallow, rude and just not someone I could connect to at all. Others seemed to have enjoyed it immensely so I guess your milage may vary with this one.
December 17, 2016
This is another book I read as a teenager and recently reread. It took me 19 years of searching to finally find a copy, and I was lucky enough to find a first edition, signed copy for a complete steal!
Rereading it I couldn't help but notice similarities to another book that had come out around the same time (The Best Little Girl In The World), just little things mostly, but a scene in the hospital where Rosemary decides to hide food from her tray in case she needs to binge, which is discovered when it starts rotting? Yeah, that was pretty much entirely lifted from Levenkron's book, which is unfortunate. This book doesn't have the cult following of Levenkron's work, but I like it more and it also seems less triggering and less like a how-to manual than his books. It also benefits hugely by not being merely a vehicle for the author to stroke their own ego (*cough*Levenkron*cough*) through self-insert as the heroic Psychiatrist In Shining Armor.
Rereading it I couldn't help but notice similarities to another book that had come out around the same time (The Best Little Girl In The World), just little things mostly, but a scene in the hospital where Rosemary decides to hide food from her tray in case she needs to binge, which is discovered when it starts rotting? Yeah, that was pretty much entirely lifted from Levenkron's book, which is unfortunate. This book doesn't have the cult following of Levenkron's work, but I like it more and it also seems less triggering and less like a how-to manual than his books. It also benefits hugely by not being merely a vehicle for the author to stroke their own ego (*cough*Levenkron*cough*) through self-insert as the heroic Psychiatrist In Shining Armor.
March 15, 2008
a favorite from my youth about eating disorders and the impact of body image and identity in teenagers
June 2, 2010
a very real look at anorexia's disease process and its impact
October 13, 2010
I read this book back in junior high. It has stuck with me since then, which is how it has earned it's four stars. Giving it three stars did not do it justice. 3.5 would probably be about right.
Anyway, I loved this book because you really feel for Rosemary. You can understand where she is coming from and why she is anorexic, but you want to save her. You want to shout at her and make her just eat already. It is full of emotion. The scenes that define her character are so real and strong that you get pulled in and can't help but care deeply.
Anyway, I loved this book because you really feel for Rosemary. You can understand where she is coming from and why she is anorexic, but you want to save her. You want to shout at her and make her just eat already. It is full of emotion. The scenes that define her character are so real and strong that you get pulled in and can't help but care deeply.
December 3, 2024
For me, this book is really ironic. Anne Snyder is actually my great great grandmother. Anne Snyder wrote this book about her experience of anorexia through the character Rosemary. I also have anorexia, and I connect with this book so much, and it feels like I'm reading my life but with different characters. Rosemary is described to have brown/black hair, green eyes, and milky white skin,which I also have. I read this book as I recover, and it's helping a lot.
August 13, 2013
I'm sure it was good in its prime, and the themes are still relevant, but the language is too dated. A lot of sayings and words have changed over the past thirty+ years making it too difficult for a current young reader to connect to.
August 21, 2015
Love this book. Well written and hard to put down.
October 5, 2016
4/5
I really liked this book. I liked Rosemary, the plot lines were enjoyable, and I really came to care about the characters. I really have no complaints on this one.
I really liked this book. I liked Rosemary, the plot lines were enjoyable, and I really came to care about the characters. I really have no complaints on this one.
May 13, 2019
Not a bad book overall. I think I could of probably related to it if I had read it when I was 15 or so versus now as an adult.
Currently reading
January 7, 2009people are so stupid tryin 2 b skinny
June 27, 2016
Amazing. I wish it was available for my kindle.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews