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Ravenous: The Stirring Tale of Teen Love, Loss and Courage
Presents interconnected stories about the members of an eating disorder group as they struggle with their food addictions.
Ravenous is the eagerly anticipated sequel to Insatiable, nominated for Best Books for Young Adults 2002 (Booklist). Ravenous depicts the wide range of difficulties in growing up in America by exploring the journeys of three young women and two young men. Phoebe, the size-sixteen dreamer, finally gets a boyfriend and readers witness her euphoria and her fear during a particularly fragile time of life. Samantha, the anorexic perfectionist, faces difficult challenges with both her boyfriend and her father, and continues to struggle with an inability to eat more than lettuce and apples. Hannah, the bulimic lesbian, has a romantic awakening inviting readers to observe ways in which she holds back and ways in which she grows. Billy and Scott, two young men who appear briefly in Insatiable, play more prominent roles in Ravenous. Eating and body-image still play a part of the story, but are by no means its major focus. In Ravenous, the courageous young heroines and heroes are faced with a broader range of concerns-they face struggles with boyfriends, girlfriends, betrayal, parents, even themselves. Ravenous will be irresistible to any young person who has ever endured a night of loneliness, suffered the trauma and pain of rejection or a crushing disappointment, or despaired over the fear of never fitting in. It is both timely and timeless.
Ravenous is the eagerly anticipated sequel to Insatiable, nominated for Best Books for Young Adults 2002 (Booklist). Ravenous depicts the wide range of difficulties in growing up in America by exploring the journeys of three young women and two young men. Phoebe, the size-sixteen dreamer, finally gets a boyfriend and readers witness her euphoria and her fear during a particularly fragile time of life. Samantha, the anorexic perfectionist, faces difficult challenges with both her boyfriend and her father, and continues to struggle with an inability to eat more than lettuce and apples. Hannah, the bulimic lesbian, has a romantic awakening inviting readers to observe ways in which she holds back and ways in which she grows. Billy and Scott, two young men who appear briefly in Insatiable, play more prominent roles in Ravenous. Eating and body-image still play a part of the story, but are by no means its major focus. In Ravenous, the courageous young heroines and heroes are faced with a broader range of concerns-they face struggles with boyfriends, girlfriends, betrayal, parents, even themselves. Ravenous will be irresistible to any young person who has ever endured a night of loneliness, suffered the trauma and pain of rejection or a crushing disappointment, or despaired over the fear of never fitting in. It is both timely and timeless.
- GenresYoung AdultMental Health
342 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2002
1 person is currently reading
144 people want to read
About the author
Eve Eliot
4 books5 followersA therapist for the past twelve years, during which time she has treated patients individually and in groups, Eve is also a consultant for The Caron Foundation, where she is a facilitator in their week-long compulsive eating treatment program.
A frequently sought after expert in the field of food addictions, Eve has appeared on television with Barbara Walters, as well as on radio and local cable shows. She participated in the Choice Opens Our Lives (C.O.O.L.) Project, visiting schools to do workshops with students on the topic of eating disorders.
An award-winning advertising copywriter in New York City prior to pursuing her current work in clinical psychology, Eve is the co-author of The Health Family Cookbook. She pursued additional training in the field of nutrition, and studied cooking for health at the Kushi Institute in Brookline, Massachusetts.
Eve Eliot received both her undergraduate degree in psychology and her graduate training in psychology and social work at Queens College, City University of New York; Adelphi and Stonybrook Universities. She worked as a research associate in the department of psychology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
She has certificates of completion in both addiction counseling and eating-disorder counseling programs, and has been trained to use experiential techniques, including psycho-drama, to treat trauma survivors. In addition, Eve is the co-creator of The Eliot-Caplan Method, a new way of treating food addiction, and co-founder of the Menu for Living Weekend Workshops.
A frequently sought after expert in the field of food addictions, Eve has appeared on television with Barbara Walters, as well as on radio and local cable shows. She participated in the Choice Opens Our Lives (C.O.O.L.) Project, visiting schools to do workshops with students on the topic of eating disorders.
An award-winning advertising copywriter in New York City prior to pursuing her current work in clinical psychology, Eve is the co-author of The Health Family Cookbook. She pursued additional training in the field of nutrition, and studied cooking for health at the Kushi Institute in Brookline, Massachusetts.
Eve Eliot received both her undergraduate degree in psychology and her graduate training in psychology and social work at Queens College, City University of New York; Adelphi and Stonybrook Universities. She worked as a research associate in the department of psychology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
She has certificates of completion in both addiction counseling and eating-disorder counseling programs, and has been trained to use experiential techniques, including psycho-drama, to treat trauma survivors. In addition, Eve is the co-creator of The Eliot-Caplan Method, a new way of treating food addiction, and co-founder of the Menu for Living Weekend Workshops.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
March 21, 2019
"Insatiable: The Compelling Story of Four Teens, Food, and It's Power", and it's sequel, "Ravenous: The Stirring Tale of Teen Love, Loss, and Courage" were both written by Eve Eliot. They are young adult novels, published in 2001 and 2002. The books follow characters that meet in eating disorder group therapy. I enjoyed these stories in high school and revisited them in college. Unsurprisingly, now that I am in my mid 20s, Eliot's work does not hold up as well under scrutiny. I understand they her books are written with a younger audience in mind, but my criticisms stem more from how the different eating disorders are depicted. Seeing as the author is both a survivor of an eating disorder, and a practicing clinician, close examination is warranted.
It isn’t entirely clear what Eve Eliot’s credentials are. From author bios and back covers, I’ve gathered that Eliot studied psychology and social work at Queens College, The University of New York, Adelphi, and Stonybrook University. She was also research associate in the psychology program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Although the certifications and degrees are not specifically named, her author bios state she is certified in both Addiction and Eating Disorder counseling. Eliot was co-creator of the Eliot-Caplan Method for treating food addiction, and co-founder of “The Menu for Living Weekend Workshops”. I haven’t found any current information on either of these programs. The website shared in the books is no longer operating.
It is abundantly clear Eliot’s clinical practice at the time was not HAES (Health at Every Size) informed. HAES may not have been the common vernacular at the time. But while I cannot pinpoint the exact moment when eating disorder clinicians began to understand body diversity, I know there were therapists and dietitians practicing in the early 2000s that incorporated HAES-like principles when treating clients. . I understand even today, the HAES model is not universal to eating disorder treatment. But I was treated using HAES. The National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) backs HAES. If you don’t like HAES, you probably won't like what I have to say.
In the Afterword of “Insatiable”, Eliot talks about her experiences with emotional eating as a child. On the back of both books, it’s stated that Eve Eliot has “suffered from and overcome Anorexia Nervosa, Compulsive Overeating, and Obesity. ” In a bio toward at the end of “Ravenous”, it states she is in recovery from “all the major eating disorders”, which rubs me the wrong way. What is a “major” eating disorder? Does that mean other eating disorders are somehow minor? “Overcoming obesity” is also a red flag for me, as it implies that being fat is in itself, an eating disorder. I am hoping Eve Eliot’s views have changed since 2002. From what I have found online, Eliot is still a practicing psychotherapist and an instructor of both yoga and meditation. She writes for the Annals of the American Psychotherapy Association.
It is apparent Eve Eliot was a clinician and not a seasoned novelist. Especially as the main characters are introduced, “Insatiable” reads more like a list of case studies rather than a fluid narrative. It describes the character, their clinically significant behaviors, and an interpersonal issue at or near the root of their eating disorder. These issues often deal directly with their relationship to their parents, and center around intimacy, grief, or autonomy. I refuse to believe these teenagers are that self-aware prior to seeking treatment. Some sections of the books go into excruciating detail about the character’s outfits, or interior decorating. This may very well be Eve Eliot’s patient fan-fiction.
Samantha is a cheerleader with Anorexia. She also struggles with self-injury. Although it’s never stated outright, it’s implied she may have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. She begrudgingly joins Gale’s group when her mother gives her an ultimatum- outpatient therapy or inpatient treatment. Most of her plot lines revolve around her romantic interests.
Hannah struggles with Bulimia, and is coping with the death of her mother, who battled both cancer and Anorexia. She is also coming to terms with her sexual orientation.
Phoebe struggles with Binge Eating Disorder. Her mother is a former model, and her father is a well-known photographer who works with super models and other celebrities. He constantly makes disparaging comments about Phoebe’s physical appearance. Phoebe works in his studio, and is therefore surrounded by successful and conventionally attractive people in the entertainment industry.
Binge Eating Disorder was not categorized as it’s own disorder until the DSM-5 was published in 2013. Clinical diagnoses of people who binged, but did not purge, usually fell into the Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (EDNOS) category. In these books, Eliot uses the term “Compulsive Overeating.”
In reality, most people who binge eat do so as a response to restrictive eating patterns. Whether this be intentionally starving oneself, dieting, or having to weather food scarcity. We do see Phoebe try to diet or restrict at times. But most of her restriction is inflicted by her parents. They serve low fat, low calorie foods for family meals, leaving Phoebe craving sweets and carbohydrates. She eats the foods she enjoys in secret, but in large amounts. Phoebe’s emotional reasons for eating and body image are the only trigger that is explored. Neither book addresses the role deprivation often plays in binge eating cycle.
Having a book that portrays Binge Eating Disorder at all is rare. I am still critical of Eliot, because while she wrote Phoebe with the best of intentions, this depiction is misleading for people stuck in a restrictive-binge-cycle. This applies to people with eating disorders, and to people without a clinically defined disorder that yo-yo diet. “Insatiable” and “Ravenous” come close, but are still rife with misconceptions when it comes to binge eating.
Hannah, who has Bulimia, does not restrict at first. She appears to eat normally outside her binge and purge sessions, yet is described as being underweight. She binge eats to self soothe. There are people who binge eat that do not restrict, but this is rare. Eliot writes both Hannah and Phoebe as only binging for emotional reasons, and this is an oversimplification of their eating disorders. When Hannah begins to abstain from purging, she avoids her trigger foods entirely. While this may be necessary early in treatment, it’s usually not sustainable in the long term.
There is a minor character in both books named Billy, who also struggles with “Compulsive Overeating.” Billy and Phoebe are both characters with clinical eating disorders who are described as fat. Gale includes weight loss in both of their treatment plans. During Phoebe’s second individual session, Gale puts her on a low fat diet and encourages her to start reading food labels. Someone who isn’t familiar with treating eating disorders may not see a problem with this, but to me, this is a red flag for a treatment provider. Weight loss should never be an objective of eating disorder treatment, and prescribing a diet is akin to prescribing another eating disorder. But at the time this book was written, and with the education the author received, this was often considered an acceptable practice. Today there are still treatment providers that practice this way, but it’s frowned upon.
Author Eve Eliot is said to be well recognized in the field of “food addiction.” In her bio in the back of “Ravenous” it states she was a consultant for The Caron Foundation’s Compulsive Eating Treatment program. I don’t care how extensive her resume is. I still don’t agree with the methods she depicted in her books. If you are not familiar with HAES-based eating disorder treatment or intuitive eating, I strongly encourage you check out the websites and social media accounts of clinicians like Jennifer Rollin , Mary Radovich, Christy Harrison. These are just three people I’m naming off the top of my head. There are numerous therapists and dietitians that practice HAES.
Read the rest of my review for both Ravenous and Insatiable:
https://bitemeblogs.wordpress.com/201...
It isn’t entirely clear what Eve Eliot’s credentials are. From author bios and back covers, I’ve gathered that Eliot studied psychology and social work at Queens College, The University of New York, Adelphi, and Stonybrook University. She was also research associate in the psychology program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Although the certifications and degrees are not specifically named, her author bios state she is certified in both Addiction and Eating Disorder counseling. Eliot was co-creator of the Eliot-Caplan Method for treating food addiction, and co-founder of “The Menu for Living Weekend Workshops”. I haven’t found any current information on either of these programs. The website shared in the books is no longer operating.
It is abundantly clear Eliot’s clinical practice at the time was not HAES (Health at Every Size) informed. HAES may not have been the common vernacular at the time. But while I cannot pinpoint the exact moment when eating disorder clinicians began to understand body diversity, I know there were therapists and dietitians practicing in the early 2000s that incorporated HAES-like principles when treating clients. . I understand even today, the HAES model is not universal to eating disorder treatment. But I was treated using HAES. The National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) backs HAES. If you don’t like HAES, you probably won't like what I have to say.
In the Afterword of “Insatiable”, Eliot talks about her experiences with emotional eating as a child. On the back of both books, it’s stated that Eve Eliot has “suffered from and overcome Anorexia Nervosa, Compulsive Overeating, and Obesity. ” In a bio toward at the end of “Ravenous”, it states she is in recovery from “all the major eating disorders”, which rubs me the wrong way. What is a “major” eating disorder? Does that mean other eating disorders are somehow minor? “Overcoming obesity” is also a red flag for me, as it implies that being fat is in itself, an eating disorder. I am hoping Eve Eliot’s views have changed since 2002. From what I have found online, Eliot is still a practicing psychotherapist and an instructor of both yoga and meditation. She writes for the Annals of the American Psychotherapy Association.
It is apparent Eve Eliot was a clinician and not a seasoned novelist. Especially as the main characters are introduced, “Insatiable” reads more like a list of case studies rather than a fluid narrative. It describes the character, their clinically significant behaviors, and an interpersonal issue at or near the root of their eating disorder. These issues often deal directly with their relationship to their parents, and center around intimacy, grief, or autonomy. I refuse to believe these teenagers are that self-aware prior to seeking treatment. Some sections of the books go into excruciating detail about the character’s outfits, or interior decorating. This may very well be Eve Eliot’s patient fan-fiction.
Samantha is a cheerleader with Anorexia. She also struggles with self-injury. Although it’s never stated outright, it’s implied she may have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. She begrudgingly joins Gale’s group when her mother gives her an ultimatum- outpatient therapy or inpatient treatment. Most of her plot lines revolve around her romantic interests.
Hannah struggles with Bulimia, and is coping with the death of her mother, who battled both cancer and Anorexia. She is also coming to terms with her sexual orientation.
Phoebe struggles with Binge Eating Disorder. Her mother is a former model, and her father is a well-known photographer who works with super models and other celebrities. He constantly makes disparaging comments about Phoebe’s physical appearance. Phoebe works in his studio, and is therefore surrounded by successful and conventionally attractive people in the entertainment industry.
Binge Eating Disorder was not categorized as it’s own disorder until the DSM-5 was published in 2013. Clinical diagnoses of people who binged, but did not purge, usually fell into the Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (EDNOS) category. In these books, Eliot uses the term “Compulsive Overeating.”
In reality, most people who binge eat do so as a response to restrictive eating patterns. Whether this be intentionally starving oneself, dieting, or having to weather food scarcity. We do see Phoebe try to diet or restrict at times. But most of her restriction is inflicted by her parents. They serve low fat, low calorie foods for family meals, leaving Phoebe craving sweets and carbohydrates. She eats the foods she enjoys in secret, but in large amounts. Phoebe’s emotional reasons for eating and body image are the only trigger that is explored. Neither book addresses the role deprivation often plays in binge eating cycle.
Having a book that portrays Binge Eating Disorder at all is rare. I am still critical of Eliot, because while she wrote Phoebe with the best of intentions, this depiction is misleading for people stuck in a restrictive-binge-cycle. This applies to people with eating disorders, and to people without a clinically defined disorder that yo-yo diet. “Insatiable” and “Ravenous” come close, but are still rife with misconceptions when it comes to binge eating.
Hannah, who has Bulimia, does not restrict at first. She appears to eat normally outside her binge and purge sessions, yet is described as being underweight. She binge eats to self soothe. There are people who binge eat that do not restrict, but this is rare. Eliot writes both Hannah and Phoebe as only binging for emotional reasons, and this is an oversimplification of their eating disorders. When Hannah begins to abstain from purging, she avoids her trigger foods entirely. While this may be necessary early in treatment, it’s usually not sustainable in the long term.
There is a minor character in both books named Billy, who also struggles with “Compulsive Overeating.” Billy and Phoebe are both characters with clinical eating disorders who are described as fat. Gale includes weight loss in both of their treatment plans. During Phoebe’s second individual session, Gale puts her on a low fat diet and encourages her to start reading food labels. Someone who isn’t familiar with treating eating disorders may not see a problem with this, but to me, this is a red flag for a treatment provider. Weight loss should never be an objective of eating disorder treatment, and prescribing a diet is akin to prescribing another eating disorder. But at the time this book was written, and with the education the author received, this was often considered an acceptable practice. Today there are still treatment providers that practice this way, but it’s frowned upon.
Author Eve Eliot is said to be well recognized in the field of “food addiction.” In her bio in the back of “Ravenous” it states she was a consultant for The Caron Foundation’s Compulsive Eating Treatment program. I don’t care how extensive her resume is. I still don’t agree with the methods she depicted in her books. If you are not familiar with HAES-based eating disorder treatment or intuitive eating, I strongly encourage you check out the websites and social media accounts of clinicians like Jennifer Rollin , Mary Radovich, Christy Harrison. These are just three people I’m naming off the top of my head. There are numerous therapists and dietitians that practice HAES.
Read the rest of my review for both Ravenous and Insatiable:
https://bitemeblogs.wordpress.com/201...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 24, 2020
As with Insatiable, feels like the author was trying too hard to be informative about eating disorders, triggers, therapy, at the expense of character/story depth, again maybe because it was covering four different girls. Plus now we have more about the two guys in the therapy group, and the therapist herself. There are other novels out there (Best Little Girl in the World, Second Star to the Left etc.) that are better.
September 17, 2010
Insatiable and Ravenous tell the story of a group of high school (and then college) students struggling with eating disorders.
I had a hard time giving these books credence based upon either the writing or the treatment of eating disorders. The plot is fairly thin, the characters flat (even into the second book I occasionally had to check to see which character I was reading about), and the lessons very, very heavy-handed. The treatment of eating disorders borders on pop psychology - everybody's reasons for having an eating disorder, and their triggers, are insanely clear-cut (and, yes, almost always come back to the parents).
The one thing that I did appreciate about these books was that they weren't unrealistically positive. Yes, the characters have eating disorders. Yes, some of them will get better. No, perhaps not all of them, and no, it won't be easy. I was glad that the books didn't wrap up tidily with a bow on top - but otherwise I was less than impressed.
Note: Cross-posted as a review for Insatiable.
I had a hard time giving these books credence based upon either the writing or the treatment of eating disorders. The plot is fairly thin, the characters flat (even into the second book I occasionally had to check to see which character I was reading about), and the lessons very, very heavy-handed. The treatment of eating disorders borders on pop psychology - everybody's reasons for having an eating disorder, and their triggers, are insanely clear-cut (and, yes, almost always come back to the parents).
The one thing that I did appreciate about these books was that they weren't unrealistically positive. Yes, the characters have eating disorders. Yes, some of them will get better. No, perhaps not all of them, and no, it won't be easy. I was glad that the books didn't wrap up tidily with a bow on top - but otherwise I was less than impressed.
Note: Cross-posted as a review for Insatiable.
June 22, 2008
I read this as part of a course I did at Lesley on Adolescent Literature. I highly recommend this series. The author follows a group of friends who meet in an eating disorder support group and the storyline is not only true-to-life but it is truer then we would like to believe.
July 24, 2011
The plot was dull and the ending was disappointing.
December 28, 2012
It was too juvenile for my taste.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews