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Zuiker Teen Topics
Imperfect: A Story of Body image
Dounya, a Muslim girl living in Las Vegas, Nevada, shares her very personal story of battling eating disorders when she was a teenager, in order to help other young people suffering from this affliction.
A Story of Body Image is the fourth in a series of graphic novels written by young adults for their peers.
Dounya Awada is a 24-year-old, devout Muslim, happy, healthy, and very much alive. But just a few years before, she nearly starved to death.
Her struggle began when she was six years old.
Little Dounya wanted nothing less than to be perfect, like her mother. She pushed herself hard every day, excelling in schoolwork and at home. She had to be the cutest, prettiest, smartest girl in the room. The slightest hint of imperfection led to meltdowns and uncontrollable tantrums. Her parents loved her fiercely but were unable to understand what was happening to their little girl.
Being perfect all the time was exhausting. In Dounya’s culture, food is nearly synonymous with love. Food is nourishment, nourishment is love, love is life. Dounya began to eat to fill the growing need within her. She grew in size, eventually hitting over 200 pounds at just age 15. Food became her only friend. Her peers mocked her. She felt utterly alone.
As is the case for someone with dysmorphia, Dounya’s obsession with food did a turnabout, and she began rigorous exercising and dieting. But even a substantial weight loss didn’t satisfy her. She looked in the mirror and still saw the fat girl she used to be. She began the ugly cycle of bingeing and purging, eventually hitting a low weight of just 73 pounds.
Dounya’s horrific struggle with eating disorders has led her to advocate for boys and girls facing the same hurdles with which she struggled. She is now studying clinical psychology, and hopes to open an eating and dysmorphia disorder facility in Las Vegas for boys and girls with her disorder. If her story helps just one person to recognize the beauty of their imperfection, then her pain will have been worthwhile.
Zuiker Press is proud to publish stories about important current topics for kids and adolescents, written by their peers, that will help them cope with the challenges they face in today’s troubled world.
A Story of Body Image is the fourth in a series of graphic novels written by young adults for their peers.
Dounya Awada is a 24-year-old, devout Muslim, happy, healthy, and very much alive. But just a few years before, she nearly starved to death.
Her struggle began when she was six years old.
Little Dounya wanted nothing less than to be perfect, like her mother. She pushed herself hard every day, excelling in schoolwork and at home. She had to be the cutest, prettiest, smartest girl in the room. The slightest hint of imperfection led to meltdowns and uncontrollable tantrums. Her parents loved her fiercely but were unable to understand what was happening to their little girl.
Being perfect all the time was exhausting. In Dounya’s culture, food is nearly synonymous with love. Food is nourishment, nourishment is love, love is life. Dounya began to eat to fill the growing need within her. She grew in size, eventually hitting over 200 pounds at just age 15. Food became her only friend. Her peers mocked her. She felt utterly alone.
As is the case for someone with dysmorphia, Dounya’s obsession with food did a turnabout, and she began rigorous exercising and dieting. But even a substantial weight loss didn’t satisfy her. She looked in the mirror and still saw the fat girl she used to be. She began the ugly cycle of bingeing and purging, eventually hitting a low weight of just 73 pounds.
Dounya’s horrific struggle with eating disorders has led her to advocate for boys and girls facing the same hurdles with which she struggled. She is now studying clinical psychology, and hopes to open an eating and dysmorphia disorder facility in Las Vegas for boys and girls with her disorder. If her story helps just one person to recognize the beauty of their imperfection, then her pain will have been worthwhile.
Zuiker Press is proud to publish stories about important current topics for kids and adolescents, written by their peers, that will help them cope with the challenges they face in today’s troubled world.
96 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2019
2 people are currently reading
110 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
January 5, 2020
A Muslim American woman recounts her struggle with body dysmorphic disorder, from childhood binge eating and obesity to a teenage eating disorder. Her faith plays a large role, including some goofy scenes that have her literally talking and wrestling with the devil. Good intent, flat execution.
And it was really disconcerting to turn the page from her declaration that, "I have learned to accept me for me . . ." that caps her memoir and see Awada's photo on the About the Author page. The image is the basis of the cover, but between makeup and possibly some photo retouching her nose has practically disappeared from her face. It's an odd choice that perhaps undercuts the moral the story is presenting. Fortunately, the following pages also have some more realistic images from the author's life.
And it was really disconcerting to turn the page from her declaration that, "I have learned to accept me for me . . ." that caps her memoir and see Awada's photo on the About the Author page. The image is the basis of the cover, but between makeup and possibly some photo retouching her nose has practically disappeared from her face. It's an odd choice that perhaps undercuts the moral the story is presenting. Fortunately, the following pages also have some more realistic images from the author's life.
November 15, 2019
Originally reviewed for YA Books Central: https://www.yabookscentral.com/yanonf...
A memoir in graphic novel form, offering the personal account of a young Muslim girl’s nearly lifelong battle with perception, body image, and eating disorders.
An offhanded (and honestly, benign seeming) remark from her aunt on how “big” she’s gotten sends a very young Dounya spiraling into full blown body dysmorphia and binge-eating. The book then traces her unhealthy relationship with food all the way up through high school, where she eventually decides to make a change in her lifestyle habits. But the overly positive reaction of her peers causes her mental health pendulum to swing to the opposite extreme, to the point where she nearly dies of bulimia.
One has to applaud the author’s transparency and willingness to share her story through such a public medium. The intention to offer relatability and help others is clearly there (although, I couldn’t find any listing of helplines at the end of this book. There was a website for Zuiker Press and a 5-point takeaway writeup on recognizing body dysmorphic disorder.) One can certainly see youth mental health advocates utilizing this book as a potential tool.
The artwork is neither disappointing nor exceptional. (Though honestly, the subject matter doesn’t easily lend itself to graphic novel depiction.) The color pallet is rich and the style well defined, but with the flashback format and range of age depictions it is sometimes a touch difficult to recognize characters from frame to frame.
While it’s refreshing to see someone’s sincere personal faith integrated into a mainstream work, I would have liked to see more of the author’s organic growth and progression in that area. The author credits Islam in saving her life, but doesn’t really explain how. If she grew up in this faith, as was indicated, then what changed about her understanding of it that so aided her in overcoming her self-destruction? What principals or texts/scripture did she cling to amid her recovery?
Unfortunately, readers aren’t privileged with this information.
Ultimately, the story felt a little too abbreviated. It could have easily been twice as long if more aspects had been fleshed out. For the purposes of school counseling office waiting areas, brevity may be an advantage… but I’d still have liked to see more references to direct readers who may yet be ready or able to seek help from the adults in their lives. I can otherwise see it proving to be a valuable resource—adding more diverse voices to a mental health issue that carries a lot of stereotyping.
A memoir in graphic novel form, offering the personal account of a young Muslim girl’s nearly lifelong battle with perception, body image, and eating disorders.
An offhanded (and honestly, benign seeming) remark from her aunt on how “big” she’s gotten sends a very young Dounya spiraling into full blown body dysmorphia and binge-eating. The book then traces her unhealthy relationship with food all the way up through high school, where she eventually decides to make a change in her lifestyle habits. But the overly positive reaction of her peers causes her mental health pendulum to swing to the opposite extreme, to the point where she nearly dies of bulimia.
One has to applaud the author’s transparency and willingness to share her story through such a public medium. The intention to offer relatability and help others is clearly there (although, I couldn’t find any listing of helplines at the end of this book. There was a website for Zuiker Press and a 5-point takeaway writeup on recognizing body dysmorphic disorder.) One can certainly see youth mental health advocates utilizing this book as a potential tool.
The artwork is neither disappointing nor exceptional. (Though honestly, the subject matter doesn’t easily lend itself to graphic novel depiction.) The color pallet is rich and the style well defined, but with the flashback format and range of age depictions it is sometimes a touch difficult to recognize characters from frame to frame.
While it’s refreshing to see someone’s sincere personal faith integrated into a mainstream work, I would have liked to see more of the author’s organic growth and progression in that area. The author credits Islam in saving her life, but doesn’t really explain how. If she grew up in this faith, as was indicated, then what changed about her understanding of it that so aided her in overcoming her self-destruction? What principals or texts/scripture did she cling to amid her recovery?
Unfortunately, readers aren’t privileged with this information.
Ultimately, the story felt a little too abbreviated. It could have easily been twice as long if more aspects had been fleshed out. For the purposes of school counseling office waiting areas, brevity may be an advantage… but I’d still have liked to see more references to direct readers who may yet be ready or able to seek help from the adults in their lives. I can otherwise see it proving to be a valuable resource—adding more diverse voices to a mental health issue that carries a lot of stereotyping.
September 18, 2021
3-3.5
I really liked the illustrations and I was gonna rate this a lot higher but it felt a bit oversimplified and some things could be seen as contradictive to the whole moral of the story so idk?? It kinda felt like it just encouraged those who are skinny to accept themselves, but not exactly the same for others. So I wish there was more clear support for all body types.
However, there are still some parts of this book that could be able to help those who are struggling in similar situations to reach out which is obviously great.
I really liked the illustrations and I was gonna rate this a lot higher but it felt a bit oversimplified and some things could be seen as contradictive to the whole moral of the story so idk?? It kinda felt like it just encouraged those who are skinny to accept themselves, but not exactly the same for others. So I wish there was more clear support for all body types.
However, there are still some parts of this book that could be able to help those who are struggling in similar situations to reach out which is obviously great.
July 25, 2020
For a book about struggling with body image and disordered eating, I felt like this sent a lot of mixed signals. It talks about the author "ballooning" up to 200 pounds, and includes and extremely airbrushed image of her on the back cover, to the pint where her face is not naturally shaped and she doesn't seem to have a nose anymore. The whole thing was just weird. And I'm glad she's doing well now and that religion was a part of that, but it give the impression that the only cure is god, which is absolutely not the case. I just can't recommend this one.
November 15, 2020
Over-simplified and didactic. Love real people sharing their stories to make complex issues real, and putting that into a graphic novel/memoir format could be interesting but this feels overwrought.
August 9, 2025
I enjoyed reading a story about body image. Everyone struggles with body image and this story just goes to show you even though you want to be so skinny. Sometimes being too skinny can make you sick. I loved how the author grea from this and is promoting body image.
October 15, 2019
Lovely art, though I'm sorry this wasn't longer. It sort of falls into the common mental-health-book trap of going 'problem problem problem problem oh by the way I got better the end'. There's a lot of material that I would have loved to be explored in more depth: for example, what is it like to grow up in the (shadow of the) glitz of Las Vegas? How, if at all, did religion influence Awada's body image struggles? (I've read plenty of books with a Christian perspective on this, and there's a liiiiiittle bit of 'religion made my life better' here, but I'd be curious about more specifics.) What about being a person of colour with an illness often associated (incorrectly, but still) with rich white girls? The emphasis here is also on body image rather than Awada's very serious eating disorder, and I'm curious about that choice, though I'm guessing it was heavily influenced by the publisher.
So overall interesting, but room for a lot more complexity/analysis.
So overall interesting, but room for a lot more complexity/analysis.
July 22, 2019
Just wasn't for me. The illustrations didn't elevate the story, and I thought the final version of the character design (e.g., when she had found a healthy relationship with weight and food) was a cookie cutter image of a perfect body. The various visual depictions -- narrator as a whale because boys called her a whale, narrator as walking alongside the devil -- were too over-the-top and kind of corny.
April 5, 2023
I wasn’t fond of the cover of this book and if I was browsing, I wouldn’t pick it up. This nonfiction story is about Dounya who has a disorder. Body Dysmorphic Disorder – a psychological disorder that makes a person obsessed with their appearance. This person is obsessed with faults that they feel they have in their appearance.
Dounya grew up with a mom who she thought was perfect. Dounya wanted to be just like her mother so she tried, even at a young age to copy everything her mother did. Her world of being a perfectionist was just beginning. In every aspect of her world, Dounya tried to remain the perfect little individual. If Dounya thought she had failed, she was devasted. In their culture, food was love and her mother enjoyed showing her daughter her love through food. As Dounya put on the pounds, she tried to hide it but her aunt’s comment put her size out in the open, devasting Dounya.
Her reaction was not what I had expected. I felt Dounya was hiding and it wasn’t until later, that did she realized what she had done and she knew that she needed to do something different. With determination Dounya started to turn her life around but I began to wonder if she would ever be satisfied? This perfectionist in her just wasn’t going away.
The illustrations in this graphic novel are bright and colorful and I enjoyed all the different size text boxes that they used to create this book. There were a few instances where I thought the illustrations contradicted the story and I just didn’t know what to believe. If she accepted herself for who she was, why did her illustrations make her look so perfect? Was she perfect? I appreciate that Dounya shared her story but I have mixed feelings about how the artwork fit with her story. 2.5 stars
Dounya grew up with a mom who she thought was perfect. Dounya wanted to be just like her mother so she tried, even at a young age to copy everything her mother did. Her world of being a perfectionist was just beginning. In every aspect of her world, Dounya tried to remain the perfect little individual. If Dounya thought she had failed, she was devasted. In their culture, food was love and her mother enjoyed showing her daughter her love through food. As Dounya put on the pounds, she tried to hide it but her aunt’s comment put her size out in the open, devasting Dounya.
Her reaction was not what I had expected. I felt Dounya was hiding and it wasn’t until later, that did she realized what she had done and she knew that she needed to do something different. With determination Dounya started to turn her life around but I began to wonder if she would ever be satisfied? This perfectionist in her just wasn’t going away.
The illustrations in this graphic novel are bright and colorful and I enjoyed all the different size text boxes that they used to create this book. There were a few instances where I thought the illustrations contradicted the story and I just didn’t know what to believe. If she accepted herself for who she was, why did her illustrations make her look so perfect? Was she perfect? I appreciate that Dounya shared her story but I have mixed feelings about how the artwork fit with her story. 2.5 stars
March 6, 2022
Another inspiring title from the Zuiker Teen Topics series.
Awada (now aged 24) discusses how she conquered her obsession with imaginary defects in her appearance/Dysmorphic Disorder) while in her teens. She freely admits that this is an ongoing issue she needs to control. A perfectionist, she was branded by an aunt as "fat" when a child. As a result, she kept eating to comfort herself and gaining until she finally decided she needed to lose weight. She became bulimic as she obsessed about losing weight. She sought help from a therapist/counselor; this is what turned her life around.
Awada's text is casual, as if a friend was speaking to a friend. Girls especially will relate to her. Like others in the series, this is told in graphic novel format, with full color artwork that looks like her. Backmatter includes a color photograph and brief bio of Awada, some photos of her and other primary sources at various ages, and "5 Takeaways" written by an LSCW specializing in this topic.
Note: Awada makes no mention of a "devil" putting these ideas in her head, however the illustrations include a red devil figure behind her supporting her as she spirals downward. I have heard some friends who were diagnosed with either addictions or OCDs speak of the "demons inside me", so wonder if she had conveyed this to the illustrator.
This should be in every counselor/therapist toolkit. The graphic nature makes it a quick read and perfect way to open a discussion about this issue.
Highly Recommended for grades 6-up.
Awada (now aged 24) discusses how she conquered her obsession with imaginary defects in her appearance/Dysmorphic Disorder) while in her teens. She freely admits that this is an ongoing issue she needs to control. A perfectionist, she was branded by an aunt as "fat" when a child. As a result, she kept eating to comfort herself and gaining until she finally decided she needed to lose weight. She became bulimic as she obsessed about losing weight. She sought help from a therapist/counselor; this is what turned her life around.
Awada's text is casual, as if a friend was speaking to a friend. Girls especially will relate to her. Like others in the series, this is told in graphic novel format, with full color artwork that looks like her. Backmatter includes a color photograph and brief bio of Awada, some photos of her and other primary sources at various ages, and "5 Takeaways" written by an LSCW specializing in this topic.
Note: Awada makes no mention of a "devil" putting these ideas in her head, however the illustrations include a red devil figure behind her supporting her as she spirals downward. I have heard some friends who were diagnosed with either addictions or OCDs speak of the "demons inside me", so wonder if she had conveyed this to the illustrator.
This should be in every counselor/therapist toolkit. The graphic nature makes it a quick read and perfect way to open a discussion about this issue.
Highly Recommended for grades 6-up.
March 11, 2019
I'd rate this one a 3.5, but I have to say even though I've only read two of the books in this new issues-based series, I know they'll be popular with teens, teachers, and counselors. Not are there downloadable teachers' guides, but the books tackle tough topics and issues with which many adolescent readers are wrestling. And while the endings of the stories might seem a bit too good to be true and be related in some respects to faith and religion, they are based on true experiences. In this particular book, Dounya struggles with perfectionism and body dysphoria. Although the young Muslim girl knew how much her parents loved her, she often felt that she couldn't measure up to her mother's perfect ways. A chance remark from a visiting relative about how big she was sent her in search of solace, which she found through food, eating in secret and eventually weighing 258 pounds as a high school sophomore and enduring much teasing from classmates. When she changed her habits and began working out and eating healthy foods, she lost all that weight, but then, got the wrong sort of attention from her peers. By now, her image of her body was increasingly skewed and she lost even more weight, almost dying. Her journey back to health and to self-acceptance is inspiring, made even more engaging because it is told in a colorful graphic novel format. Oh, how I wish this book had been available when I was a teen and struggling with similar issues.
July 26, 2019
Not a fan, it's a good story and worth telling/reading. I know teens and tweens will find this book and find in it courage and strength. Maybe I had my expectations set from the beginning when it opens explaining how the publisher hopes it will be used in classrooms and the teacher section in the back. I just felt like this was middling for what it was, it feels like I'm reading a book that is screaming out, "hey kids like comics let's put real stories in them to educate them". The art is fine, I wasn't a fan but it didn't dislike it, the story is fine but it's so breezy and rushed. This book is meant for someone, but that someone clearly isn't me.
May 10, 2019
Fantastic GN based on real people and real issues. Honest, open and relatable. Back of book provides more information about the issue addressed in the book including downloadable guides for educators. In this case it's body dysmorphic disorder. Other books in this series address divorce, racism, activism and transitioning (identity). The back of the book contains pictures and short bio's of the illustrators and the author. A great addition to any secondary school library or classroom. Highly recommend.
June 29, 2019
In graphic novel format, Dounya Awada, a young Muslim woman, relates her story of living with Body Dysmorphic Disorder. Douyna had a desire to be the perfect daughter and follow in her mother's footsteps. But after hearing a remark about her weight as a child she developed a love/hate relationship with food. As a teen she gained excessive weight. Determined to change she took dieting too far and became bulimic. With the help of a therapist Dounya changed "imperfect" to "I'm perfect" just the way I am.
Reviewer 31
Reviewer 31
November 4, 2019
This graphic novel about a girl who struggle with an eating disorder is part of a nonfiction series written by young people for young people. The authors all tell about a serious problem that they struggled with and overcame. The art work is well-done and the stories are complete, if a little bit difficult to follow in some parts. The back matter, which has photos of the actual authors and advice for parents, is useful and interesting.
January 19, 2022
I think all libraries need this in their collection because it discusses the rough topic of eating disorders and how they can negatively impact your life and those around you. I relate to the character in one way and that is trying to be in control. Instead of binging and then making myself sick, I count calories and always keep track at where I’m at. I hate that society and us have done this to ourselves.
October 16, 2020
First graphic novel! Story of a girl with Body Dysmorphic Disorder, and her journey of learning to trust Allah with her life. Compelling pictures and great for learning about Islam beliefs. Would read again and recommend, especially as a quick, but thought-provoking read for teenagers who might be struggling to tell their loved ones about possible eating disorders.
December 17, 2022
3.75⭐️
such a wonderful novel to sit and review! i cant wait to read other graphic novels like this one that cover such important topics like suicide, racism, and transitioning. i love how the main character was a muslim girl (the representation of this book collection is amazing)
i love that my school has free resources to books like these because it could help so many students!
such a wonderful novel to sit and review! i cant wait to read other graphic novels like this one that cover such important topics like suicide, racism, and transitioning. i love how the main character was a muslim girl (the representation of this book collection is amazing)
i love that my school has free resources to books like these because it could help so many students!
December 9, 2019
A little too much reliance on Allah for me. I don't have a problem with people and their religions, but this felt a little weird, I don't know that I loved that "God saved her" instead of herself or her family being the ones to save her.
May 16, 2019
A well-written story that is important to share with people, especially those who may be struggling with body dysmorphia.
May 23, 2019
A good quick read.
Want to read
June 27, 2019Note: I received a finished copy of this book from the publisher at ALA Annual 2019.
July 10, 2019
This was an amazing graphic novel. It was a very short an easy read but really got into the depths of what its like to have an eating disorder. I highly recommend.
July 11, 2019
a great graphic novel for Young Adults. Thank you Zuiker Press for featuring authors and topics that are relevant to pre-teens and teens everywhere.
July 21, 2019
It’s an educational book, and not one I think is a recreational read, but I’m also pleased to see these issues addressed in memoirs by diverse voices. This is a good tool for educators.
September 18, 2019
Good work reading, quick and good for High School girls who are struggling with body dysmorphia
September 23, 2019
Imperfect is about a girl with a body image issue. She is very skinny because she went on a diet because she was being bullied in school because of her weight. Continue....
December 23, 2019
Great book and series
January 15, 2020
Another powerful graphic novel that talks about a difficult subject.
September 8, 2020
Graphic Novel
Body Image
Author's own story
Muslim, female main character
Eating, purging, exercise, weight issues and challenges
Body Image
Author's own story
Muslim, female main character
Eating, purging, exercise, weight issues and challenges
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews