My Sister's Bones

by Cathi Hanauer

A touching coming-of-age novel featuring a protagonist who’s the kind of girl every woman wishes she’d had as a best friend growing up

Billie Weinstein sees things most people don’t see. Her sister, Cassie, has always been her touchstone, the person she turns to for advice and guidance, the person whose opinion means the most to her. But ever since Cassie left for college, she’s seemed different—withdrawn, obsessed with studying, and she barely eats. Billie can’t talk to her parents about it; they act as if nothing is wrong, refusing to see the changes in their older daughter.

Now Billie has become Cassie’s confidante, the only one Cassie trusts enough to tell the truth to, and Billie is suddenly thrust into an unfamiliar—and disturbing—role; one that drives her to make choices that will forever change the way she looks at the world.

A poignant story of self-discovery, My Sister’s Bones explores the shifting landscape of family, friendship, and love through the eyes of a young girl possessed of a wisdom far beyond her years. In Billie Weinstein we meet a character as funny, vivid, and endearing as any in recent memory, and watch her transformation as she achieves freedom from the seemingly unbreakable web of family ties.

Genres: Fiction, Young Adult, Mental Health, Coming Of Age, Family, Psychology

272 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

Reviews

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured this book

It's been a long time since I've picked up a book and read non-stop the way I read My Sister's Bones by Cathi Hanauer. There are so many things I liked about it, but it was primarily the excellent, utterly readable writing. There is nothing excessive--each word counts in this first person story of Billie Weinstein and her struggle through family life as a sixteen year old girl. I assume this story takes place in the 1970s, given all the references, yet because it is written in first person and doesn't give off even a trace of nostalgia, I had the feeling that I was in the same room as Billie as she told her tale in present tense.

Billie's beautiful and intelligent older sister, Cassie, suffers from anorexia. Hanauer expertly details the emotions brought on by this disease on behalf of each of the family members: Billie's fear for her sister, her parents' denial and debate over treatment, and Cassie's deterioration. But this is not Cassie's story. This is Billie's story and it's about so much more than her sister's anorexia. Billie is a rather typical suburban teenager, coping not only with her sister's illness, but also with pressure from her parents to do well on the SAT test, learning how to drive, dealing with a popular boyfriend who wants more from her than she's willing to give, and a best friend with a colorful family who simply disappears one day . . .

One can't help but fall in love with Billie. I thoroughly enjoyed reading her story and because of Hanauer's talent for storytelling, I look forward to reading more of her work.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

the title of this book makes it sound more harrowing than it is: sure, there is some emotionally devastating content, but the eating disorder narrative is only one strand of many here, and the central theme of the book is the narrator coming of age emotionally and sexually while negotiating a complicated family dynamic in which her father is an overbearing control freak who has to be right about everything. i was pretty impressed with this book and its attention to class, place, and ethnicity as well as gender. the narrator and her family are jewish, and are living in a predominantly italian american neighborhood in new jersey; she has to confront ethnic stereotypes quite a lot, including her own. her admiration/emulation of italian american culture is particularly interesting in that it gives her a way to assert her self-identity as apart from her family's. lots of compassion for all characters; not a whole lot about the roots of her sister's anorexia or even her sister's pathology or symptomatology. the anorexia here, when it is discussed, is often tied to a critique of overconsumption. i haven't seen this connection in other books that i've read and was pleased to see anorexia linked to a politics distinct from societal pressures to be thin. not to be dismissive of those societal pressures or the eating disorders they breed -- at all -- but that in the hands of some authors that's ALL anorexia is, and the anorexic is then disdained for succumbing/selling out in wanting to be thin therefore beautiful. hanauer dramatizes multiple contributory factors of her character's eating disorder without actually pointing and saying "here."

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

In certain ways, I could really identify with Billie, the main character in this book. Billie struggles to find her place both within her family and among her peers. She must deal with issues that are common for teenagers as they grow up and get ready to move from high school to college, but faces the additional stress of her older sister Cassie's anorexia. How Cassie's illness affects all of the members of the family is a primary focus of this novel.

All in all, this is a good story and a very quick read. Unlike an author like Jodi Picoult, Cathi Hanauer does not delve into the minutia of Cassie's disease. Instead, Hanuauer chooses to let Billie tell the story of her family from her own point of view (i.e., while anorexia is part of the story, it does not dominate every word on every page).

[Wendy Ledger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I thought it was poetic and deep. The ending will stick with me. I can't wait to read more of Cathi Hanauer's books.

[julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow
i literally could not put this down. i feel like books like this aren't written anymore. it reads like a memoir but its fiction, its eloquent and deep but the writing is simple. 10/10

[Wynne • RONAREADS · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in high school, and ever since then I've listed it as a favorite book. I was reading it right around the time I'd gotten my hands on Incubus' "Megalomaniac" album, so when I listen to that I think of this book and vice versa. (Just in case you're looking for a soundtrack.) Since I first read it, I've read the book a few more times, the same copy in the same library where I originally read it. I have searched for it in book stores, but have never been able to find it in store.
Billie's story is so relatable, there isn't one plot line that seems stretched. The reviews I've read that say there is too much going on don't seem to understand how this novel relates to life. How many lives have just one or two big things going on? We're constantly juggling our relationships with other people, our jobs, our family, our thoughts about ourselves, our schedules-and that's what this book does with Bilie's life. She's not an extraordinary girl who learns any big lesson that makes you want to sigh and nod your head knowingly at the end. Everything in this book--Billie's overbearing parents who are in desperate denial about the eating disorder their older daughter is suffering from, her best friend whose family has a secret of their own, the two young men Billie has her first relationships with, and even her learning to come to grips with who she wants to be as a young woman, everything is rich and layered and wonderful and relatable. There's a reason its spent so much time on my favorites list.

[Mirjana Villeneuve · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really honest depiction of growing up and changing relationships. It's funny and sweet, but also desperately sad, as Billie chronicles the diminishing health of her sister alongside her own desperate grasp for control through her friends and promiscuity.

I always approach books about eating disorders with hesitation, because, having dealt with one myself, I find that they can be highly triggering. This one wasn't as much. Although it does mention Cassie's weight, it doesn't dwell only on the shape of her body. Cassie herself is not as concerned about her weight as she is about disappearing. She is trying to make herself as small as possible, not out of vanity, but out of shame and guilt. She rejects greed with her whole being, having been taught to be stingy from a young age, but takes it to the next level. This is such an accurate depiction of what anorexia does to you and your mind, and Hanauer pulls off the connection between this illness and obsession with aplomb.

I would offer a trigger warning for those who have experienced disordered eating and whose recovery is a little shaky right now. It's not that this book is terribly triggering, but that if you're in this situation, you're extremely vulnerable and, even though it's tempting, try to stay away from literature and movies about eating disorders. Take your mind off this obsession as much as possible.

[Beth Schwenker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hard to read because of content at times. Human story written in from the first person perspective of an adolescent girl coming of age in a family household where her older sister is struggling with anorexia. Difficult and shocking to read at times, but enlightening. Brings to light the scary world in which most adolescents live. Reminds you that they are still just children, at risk and running around in an adult world with decisions many times beyond their comprehension.

[Stephanie A. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I checked it out because it said it was about a high school girl whose older sister develops anorexia when she goes to college. Well, hello there flawless story, come to me! Except the only thing that stayed with me afterwards was my intense loathing for the scenes in which the main character doles out two kinds of jobs, along with her virginity just for the hell of it. You're what's wrong with current literature, basically.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazingly "big" book for one so short. The author's writing is simple, but elegant, and the main character, Billie, is engaging and real. This is not a book about anorexia; rather, it is about families...and needs...and wants...and control...and expectations. It's about human frailty, and human strength. It is so much more than the sum of its parts, and I loved it.

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. I loved the main character, and the story was just so real-I feel like it could definitely have actually happened (although some things i definitely would not like to happen in real life...) Cathi Hanauer did a lovely job of creating dynamic, interesting characters that really make you feel something.

[Hayley Lekas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hanauer paints a story of two teenage sisters, one with anorexia but told from the point of view of her younger sister, Billie. Billie is 16 going on 17 and dealing with all the typical things 16 year old girls deal with: boys, friends, family, finding yourself, fitting in, etc. However, I cannot stress enough that Hanauer tells this story so beautifully that you feel every emotion with the characters; what would be a mundane scene actually has you sitting on the edge of your seat with anticipation. I felt her crushes, her embarrassment, her victories, and her losses all too realistically.
Billie could have been me or any other woman who reads this book, I think, could easily identify with her. Touching, intriguing, and perfect, I loved this book.

Also, this was a great glimpse of the true feelings and scenes of an anorexic. Not only are the physical symptoms, unflattering (which is good because some authors try to make anorexia tragically beautiful, this novel it's clear it is NOT), but the mental signs and limitations and perceptions through the family's eyes of their sick daughter and sister is spot on.

Highly reccomend.

[AJ LeBlanc · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a frustrating read, only because I wished the father was real so I could punch him. In spite of this, I really liked this book and read it in one sitting.

If you're looking for a story about how a family pulls together as they all deal with one member's battle with anorexia, this isn't the book you're looking for. Instead, we live 16 year old Billie's life for a few months and feel her frustrations with being a teenager and realizing her parents are flawed human beings. She seems to be the only one to recognize her sister's anorexia, but she's 16 - she'd rather be out with friends and she shouldn't have to be the one dealing with this. And she's right - which is why I liked this book so much.

This one goes well with An Egg on Three Sticks by Jackie Fischer. I really enjoy reading through a teenager's lens, especially when they seem to be the only one that has any sense in the whole book, even if they do something stupid and completely teen-agery on the next page.

[Wendy · Rating 1 out of 5]

On the one hand, this was pretty readable so there must have been something redeeming about it. On the other hand I felt a bit lost. The book is about the sister of an anorexic girl in the NJ suburbs and her junior year in high school, what happens, how her family deals with the anorexia (not well) - but the first thing to throw me is the setting. At first I assumed it takes place around the copyright, sometime in the late 1990s. It's not until we're at least halfway into the book that it's apparent it's most likely the 70s, though maybe 8-track tapes were big in the early 80s. The characterizations are okay, but without a whole lot of depth, and the Weinstein family, except for Cassie, is pretty much unlikeable. It's hard to be more specific at this point; the book seems to head off in one direction and never quite gets there, the ending is guessable but still leaves the reader hanging. Just a very unsatisfying story.

[Jodi · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little "fluffy" for my taste - it must be geared more towards a teen audience. I couldn't believe that the parents were so clueless about what was happening to their daughter. I was even madder that the father, who is a medical doctor, let her leave the treatment program early. How does he expect her to recover? I felt that the facts presented about an eating disorder were forced to the reader's attention through the younger sister, Billie. She was the only one aware of what was happening to her older sister and her one trip to the library to read a book on the topic made her the voice of authority spouting disjointed facts throughout the book. The author also tried to make Cassie too stereotypical - she had more issues going on than just an eating disorder, but the author tried to make it all seem that it was due to her eating issues. Okay book, but nothing great.

[Britta · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was quick and 'readable'. So I finished it. I did not stay tuned due to my investment in the characters, however. I think there was too much going on, and yet, nothing felt like it carried the weight it should have. We're told about all of Billie's emotions, but we never feel them. The storyline involving the sister was the most interesting to me, and was usually shuttle to the back burner, so we could focus on important teen issues. Which, ok, Billie is 16, so that's all part of her life. But, it didn't work for me. And throwing in a best friend whose father may be in trouble with the mob - overkill. Unnecessary to the overall story.

[Rhonda M · Rating 2 out of 5]

Been trying to empty out a couple bookshelf books to declutter. After several chapters in, I knew this book must be a couple decades old. And then I found a ticket stub from 1998 inside.
Not really much of a story. The sister has anorexia, which never gets much resolve, or really even dived into except to say she looks horrible. The one and only friend is gone, and Billie doesn’t appear to make more. The guy situation is odd. It’s sort of as if the whole book was just a diary from a couple months of the characters life. And then she stopped writing so that’s all you get.
I wouldn’t read again. It’s going in the get rid of pile.

[Kim Mcgee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book

This book is well written. The topic of anorexia is explored and depicted realistically without being overly dramatic. Nothing is resolved in the end which makes it all the more compelling.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written book on how anorexia affects a family

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting in the beginning but then it got predictable and boring..more of a YA book

[Melanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This story was engaging. I found myself trying to find time to read to find out what happened. Unfortunately, nothing much did.

[Luna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a comment earlier today on a review Ieft for a book that I didn't finish.

I've tried sincerely reading said book twice and have glanced over it several more times. It's been a bit of a white whale for 18 years, but I've found it impossible to even get a dent in it. I gave it two stars; most books I DNF I give one star because, for me, the only reason I won't finish a book is because I find it unreadable. This is my prerogative as both a reader and a general enjoyer of books. I gave it an additional second star, as it is a book I would really like to finish one day, if I can get through the giant walls of tiny text with no paragraph breaks.

The commenter stated this was wrong. I shouldn't rate books I don't finish as it's a disservice to the author.

Is it? If I find a book so unreadable that I put it down, is this not worthy of a star rating? Is this not a forewarning to other potential readers that the book may be bad? Is it also not my right as a reader? Lastly... why should I take someone else's opinion for how I rate books?

So this review is solely for you, Alicia: I deliberately stopped reading this book and am yet still giving it two stars purely to piss you off. You're welcome.

[chels marieantoinette]

This book has been on my shelf forever, so it was finally time to read it. And once I started, I realized I’d already read it. That’s how little it impacted me. The parents were ridiculous and oblivious - I guess that’s somewhat expected for the time period My Sister’s Bones is set in. I felt bad for Billie, who seemed to be the only one aware and observing her sister’s downfall, but I didn’t really care for Billie overall. She just felt too young for me.
It’s a well-written book. Quick and realistic, I suppose, but with the developments and progress we’ve made with eating disorders nowadays, I don’t think this book is really appropriate anymore. I feel the author’s simplistic diagnosis for Cassie just wouldn’t fly. There’s an overall depth that just isn’t there for me.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Billie, the daughter of a successful, uber controlling father, is the main character of this novel. Her sister Cassie develops an eating disorder. The writing is very descriptive "Cool wet grass tickles my soles; its smokey sweet smell rises up to greet me". However the writing never went below the surface. The author shows us examples of how the father is controlling but does not provide examples of how it makes the daughters feel. This is a plot driven novel with no real character development. The younger characters are better drawn than the adults who are very two dimensional.

[Carmen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somewhat engaging.. but uneven store of a young girl who is coming of age at a time when her beautiful sister is dying of anorexia
The way the story is told it appears to be Dad’s fault both girls are driven to perfection..then the older girl finds all that is in her control is not allowing food to enter her body
Personally I think it’s more complex than that.. I grew up with an over the top controlling mother so I packed my things and went. It didn’t matter that I couldn’t afford much.. I had peace.

[Suzan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book as much for the story of war, war correspondents, the affect of addiction, and PTSD on the lives of all of us as for the story/plot. The first section of the could have been edited a bit tighter but overall a good read. Part of it will haunt me for quite a while, particularly as a mom.

[Kayleigh P · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read 2004-2006. This was just okay. It’s sold as a story about an eating disorder but that’s a small pet of the book. It’s more about MC’s coming of age in 1970s New Jersey.
Largely forgettable and doesn’t add anything new.

[Ricki · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not realize when I started this book that it was about anorexia. I could not finish it...

[Madeline taylor · Rating 2 out of 5]

Teen Novel?? Yet another book that I couldn't get to the end - just didn't care about a single character or how they ended up!

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very sad and depressing. A teen who lives in a high powered home tries to navigate adolescence as her sister dies of anorexia.