A Trick of the Light

Telling a story of a rarely recognized segment of eating disorder sufferers—young men—A Trick of the Light by Lois Metzger is a book for fans of the complex characters and emotional truths in Laurie Halse Anderson's Wintergirls and Jay Asher's Thirteen Reasons Why.

Mike Welles had everything under control. But that was before. Now things are rough at home, and they're getting confusing at school. He's losing his sense of direction, and he feels like he's a mess. Then there's a voice in his head. A friend, who's trying to help him get control again. More than that—the voice can guide him to become faster and stronger than he was before, to rid his life of everything that's holding him back. To figure out who he is again. If only Mike will listen.

• Anorexia for Boys: A raw and honest look at a male eating disorder, a topic rarely explored in teen fiction. Mike thinks he’s getting stronger, but the voice in his head has other plans.
• Unreliable Narrator: Told from the chilling perspective of the voice itself, this novel pulls readers directly into Mike’s fracturing mind as his new “friend” takes over.
• Teen Mental Health: A powerful and important story for teens struggling with control, body image, and the pressure to be perfect when everything is falling apart.
• Toxic Friendship: The voice promises to be Mike’s best friend, the only one who can help him. But its guidance comes at a terrifying cost.