The Best Little Girl in the World, written by Steven Levenkron, is a powerful novel which portrays a young teenager’s battle with her life. Francesca, or “Kessa” as she now calls herself, is the youngest girl in her family with her older brother and sister usually being her parent’s focus of attention; she is used to being the good girl as everyone knows her and usually steers clear of trouble. A comment from her dance instructor, her idol, sparks the start of her fatal journey. As Kessa develops anorexia nervosa, her life is in danger, yet her parents are oblivious to how severe her disorder actually is. Kessa refuses to eat and develops other unusual habits that help her feel in control, the element she feels has been lacking in her life.
