The Best Little Girl in the World (novel)
| Industry | Publishing |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Books |
The Best Little Girl in the World is a 1979 American young adult coming-of-age novel authored by Steven Levenkron. It centers on Kessa, a teenager grappling with an eating disorder. Initially released by Warner Books, the story was later adapted into a 1981 ABC television movie and earned the American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults Award.
Plot
Francesca Dietrich, a middle-class adolescent from the United States and an aspiring ballerina, battles anorexia nervosa. She assumes the name "Kessa" as she becomes obsessed with losing weight, influenced heavily by a demanding ballet instructor. Treated immaturely by her family, Kessa withdraws deeper into her illness until her parents take action by arranging therapy with a male counselor. During this period, she experiences complicated emotions towards him while also mourning a friend's death in the hospital. The narrative delves into various factors contributing to her condition, such as her difficulties with puberty, familial competition, and controlling pressures. Gradually, Kessa starts consuming small amounts of food as part of her journey toward healing.
Legacy
Levenkron drew partial inspiration for the novel from his interactions with musician Karen Carpenter, who passed away in 1983 after struggling with an eating disorder. Critical reception was mixed: Kirkus Reviews commended the realistic depiction of the therapist but found fault with the protagonist’s internal dialogue and what it considered an overly hopeful conclusion.
In more recent years, analyses from feminist and critical race viewpoints have highlighted the novel’s narrow representation. Erica Kanesaka of Ms. Magazine observed that such narratives often interpret female suffering through "the language of whiteness." Anna Rollins at Electric Lit characterized it as portraying a conventional anorexic figure—white, cisgender, affluent—who is ultimately healed by a white male therapist, contrasting this with more complex memoirs like Marya Hornbacher’s Wasted. Rollins stressed that mental health literature challenging patriarchal systems holds greater relevance amid ongoing discussions about women's rights and abortion.
The story was transformed into an ABC Afterschool Special under the same title, The Best Little Girl in the World, in 1981.