Hungry Ghost

"Hungry Ghost" is a poignant young adult graphic novel that follows Valerie Chu, a quiet, studious sixteen-year-old secretly battling an eating disorder. Her carefully constructed life unravels with the sudden death of her father, prompting her to reevaluate her choices, body image, and family relationships. The story delves into the complexities of grief, the impact of family dynamics, particularly a mother's "toxic projections," and the difficult but necessary journey towards seeking help and self-love. It's an important read for parents and teens to understand the internal struggles of eating disorders and the path to healing.

A young adult graphic novel about Valerie, a girl who is hiding an eating disorder from her friends and family and is forced to reevaluate her own self-image after her life is turned upside down.Sixteen-year-old Valerie Chu is quiet, studious, and above all thin. No one, not even her best friend Jordan, suspects that she has been binging and purging for years. But Valerie's life, and priorities, are upended when her father dies abruptly. At home, she abandons her ED patterns as she tries to comfort her mother and little brother.Val begins to reevaluate her life, her choices, and her own body. She realizes that the path to happiness might lead her away from her hometown and her mother's toxic projections. But first she must apologize to Jordan and find the strength to seek help.This beautiful and heart-wrenching young adult graphic novel takes a look at eating disorders, family dynamics, and, ultimately, a journey to self-love.