Estimated read time: 8 min read
Table of Contents
List of Characters
- Ana - The protagonist and narrator of the story.
- Mrs. Parker - Ana's English teacher and mentor.
- Sarah - Ana's best friend.
- Jess - Ana's other best friend.
- Josh - Ana's boyfriend.
- Coach - Ana's track coach.
- Kate - Ana's sister.
- Mom and Dad - Ana's parents.
- Dr. Dietrich - Ana's doctor.
Role Identification
Ana is the main character and the narrator of the story. She takes us on a journey through her struggles with an eating disorder and the impact it has on her life and relationships. The other characters play various roles in Ana's life, serving as her support system, friends, and love interests.
Character Descriptions
- Ana: She is a high school student who starts keeping a journal as she embarks on a dangerous path of extreme dieting and weight loss. She is described as intelligent, athletic, and driven, but also vulnerable and insecure. As the story progresses, her physical and mental health deteriorates, and she becomes more obsessed with her weight and appearance.
- Mrs. Parker: Ana's English teacher and mentor. She is portrayed as understanding and supportive, providing Ana with guidance and encouragement. Mrs. Parker plays a crucial role in helping Ana recognize the severity of her eating disorder and encouraging her to seek help.
- Sarah: Ana's best friend. Sarah is caring and concerned for Ana's well-being. She tries to be there for Ana and offers support throughout her struggle with the eating disorder. However, she also struggles to understand the full extent of Ana's obsession and the danger she is putting herself in.
- Jess: Ana's other best friend. Jess is described as outgoing and fun-loving. She enjoys parties and socializing, which contrasts with Ana's increasingly isolating behavior. Jess becomes worried about Ana's drastic weight loss and tries to intervene, but Ana pushes her away.
- Josh: Ana's boyfriend. He is initially supportive and loving towards Ana. However, as her eating disorder worsens, their relationship becomes strained. Josh struggles to comprehend Ana's obsession with weight and food, causing tension and eventual break-up.
- Coach: Ana's track coach. He is depicted as tough but caring, pushing Ana to excel in her athletic pursuits. However, he fails to notice the warning signs of Ana's deteriorating health until it is too late.
- Kate: Ana's sister. Kate is a source of inspiration for Ana, as she successfully overcame her own struggles with body image and self-esteem. However, Ana's obsession with weight triggers a strain in their relationship, as Ana becomes distant and secretive.
- Mom and Dad: Ana's parents. They are supportive and loving, but they struggle to fully understand Ana's eating disorder. They become increasingly concerned as Ana's health declines and try to seek professional help.
- Dr. Dietrich: Ana's doctor. She plays a critical role in diagnosing Ana's eating disorder and providing treatment options. Dr. Dietrich emphasizes the importance of therapy and nutrition in Ana's recovery.
Character Traits
- Ana: Determined, insecure, intelligent, athletic, vulnerable.
- Mrs. Parker: Understanding, supportive, caring.
- Sarah: Caring, concerned, supportive.
- Jess: Outgoing, fun-loving, worried.
- Josh: Supportive, confused, frustrated.
- Coach: Tough, caring.
- Kate: Inspirational, strained.
- Mom and Dad: Supportive, concerned.
- Dr. Dietrich: Professional, knowledgeable.
Character Background
- Ana: Ana is a high school student who initially starts her journal as a way to document her weight loss journey. She is driven by a desire to be thin and begins to restrict her food intake drastically. As the story progresses, we learn about Ana's struggles with self-esteem, body image, and the pressure to fit societal standards of beauty.
- Mrs. Parker: Mrs. Parker is Ana's English teacher who takes a special interest in her writing and offers guidance and support throughout her journey. She becomes a trusted confidante for Ana and plays a crucial role in helping her recognize the severity of her eating disorder.
- Sarah: Sarah is Ana's best friend, who has known her for years. She is caring and concerned about Ana's well-being, but struggles to fully understand the depth of Ana's obsession with weight and food.
- Jess: Jess is another close friend of Ana's who loves socializing and enjoys parties. She becomes increasingly worried about Ana's drastic weight loss and attempts to intervene, but Ana pushes her away.
- Josh: Josh is Ana's boyfriend, who initially supports her but becomes frustrated and confused as her eating disorder takes hold. Their relationship becomes strained as Ana's obsession with weight intensifies.
- Coach: Coach is Ana's track coach, who pushes her to excel in her athletic pursuits. He fails to recognize the warning signs of Ana's deteriorating health until it is too late.
- Kate: Kate is Ana's older sister, who has successfully overcome her own struggles with body image and self-esteem. Ana looks up to Kate but becomes distant and secretive as her obsession with weight takes over.
- Mom and Dad: Ana's parents are supportive and loving but struggle to fully understand Ana's eating disorder. They become increasingly concerned as Ana's health declines and seek professional help.
- Dr. Dietrich: Dr. Dietrich is a doctor specializing in eating disorders who diagnoses Ana and provides treatment options. She emphasizes the importance of therapy and proper nutrition in Ana's recovery.
Character Arcs
- Ana: Ana's character arc follows her descent into an extreme eating disorder and her eventual path to recovery. She starts off as a determined and athletic student but becomes increasingly obsessed with her weight and appearance. Over time, Ana's health deteriorates, and she begins to realize the severity of her situation. With the help of Mrs. Parker, her family, and medical professionals, Ana embarks on a journey of recovery and self-acceptance.
- Mrs. Parker: Mrs. Parker's role in the story evolves from being Ana's English teacher and mentor to a guiding force in her recovery. She recognizes the warning signs of Ana's eating disorder and encourages her to seek help, ultimately playing a significant role in Ana's path to recovery.
- Sarah and Jess: Sarah and Jess serve as Ana's support system throughout her struggle. They witness her descent into the eating disorder and attempt to intervene, but their efforts are met with resistance. Their character arcs involve navigating the complexities of friendship and trying to understand Ana's mindset.
- Josh: Josh's character arc is marked by his initial support and love for Ana, which gradually turns into frustration and confusion as her eating disorder intensifies. He struggles to comprehend her obsession with weight and food, leading to the deterioration of their relationship.
- Coach: Coach's character arc is one of missed opportunities. He fails to recognize the warning signs of Ana's deteriorating health and becomes aware of the severity of her condition too late.
- Kate: Kate's role in the story is to inspire Ana with her own journey of overcoming body image struggles. However, Ana's obsession with weight triggers a strain in their relationship as Ana becomes distant and secretive.
Relationships
- Ana and Mrs. Parker: Mrs. Parker serves as a mentor and guiding force for Ana, offering support and encouragement as she navigates her eating disorder. Their relationship is crucial to Ana's recovery.
- Ana and Sarah: Sarah is Ana's best friend who tries to be there for her throughout her struggle. However, Ana's obsession with weight strains their friendship as Sarah struggles to understand the depth of Ana's disorder.
- Ana and Jess: Jess is another close friend who becomes increasingly worried about Ana's drastic weight loss. Ana pushes Jess away as she spirals deeper into her eating disorder.
- Ana and Josh: Josh is Ana's boyfriend who initially supports her but becomes frustrated and confused as her obsession with weight intensifies. Their relationship becomes strained, leading to their eventual breakup.
- Ana and Coach: Coach serves as Ana's track coach but fails to recognize the warning signs of her deteriorating health until it is too late.
- Ana and Kate: Kate is Ana's older sister, who serves as a source of inspiration. However, Ana's obsession with weight triggers strain in their relationship as Ana becomes distant and secretive.
- Ana and Mom and Dad: Ana's parents are supportive and loving but struggle to fully understand her eating disorder. They become increasingly concerned and seek professional help.
- Ana and Dr. Dietrich: Dr. Dietrich is a doctor specializing in eating disorders who plays a critical role in diagnosing Ana and providing treatment options. Her relationship with Ana involves guiding her towards recovery through therapy and proper nutrition.
