All That Fills Us

DEBUT Twentysomething Melanie “Mel” Ellis is nearing rock bottom when she awakens in a hospital room after passing out as a result of her eating disorder. Rather than undergo treatment, Mel sets out on an ill-planned hike from Michigan to Mount Rainer where she believes she will finally find whatever has been missing inside her. Mel’s journey is filled with physical hardships made all the worse by her anorexia and the ghosts of her past mistakes. After having to rely on the kindness of strangers to survive, Mel slowly begins to realize that restricting food intake is not the answer to her problems. Lytle draws on her own experience with eating disorders to take readers inside Mel’s mind and misguided thinking about her own worth and health. An author’s note at the end stresses the need for those who suffer with eating disorders to get help, but no list of resources is given.