Seventeen-Year-Old By Elena Dunkle: A Brief Summary

Summary: In this novel, Seventeen-year-old, Elena Dunkle, suffers the grating realities of an insidious disease known as, anorexia nervosa. She also falls under illnesses such as Obsessive-compulsive disorder, Bulimia, and many more physical conditions that soon consequent from her eating disorders. In the span of five years, the reader gains more insight and background knowledge about Elena’s life as she lives in the States from her nearing years in High school to her life in College as well. The author includes information about her sister, Valerie, and her suicide attempt which affects Elena’s mental health tremendously. At times, when Elena seems to be recovering, she quickly falls back into her old habits of binging, purging, and starving herself. Amongst the pitfalls and highs she has encountered throughout her battle of anorexia, the author perfectly paints an image of the never-ending cycle that remains to be a constant burden in Elena’s life.
Pages/Chapters Read: I
Eating disorders are not something you can take lightly and there are serious psychological issues in the mindset of one who encounters them. With these theories as the basis of the story, the author also includes medical terminology to add a scientific perspective to her writings and enable readers to recall information and learn more about the eating disorder itself.
Contemporary Topics – In my speech, I want to discuss mental health, focusing on eating disorders and body image issues many people, especially teenagers, encounter in their daily lives but are too scared to speak up about. I also want to discuss how social media plays a role in this as well, and describe the fixed mindset of those who have anorexia or any serious eating disorder, educating people about the disease that society often