Rating: 
Summary: Bravo, Tracey!
Review: Although an extremely slim volume, Room to Grow is a very well-told story of an anorexic who happens to be living in the spotlight. As one of the stars of the popular television series, Growing Pains, Tracey kept secret from the world the devastating disease that was slowly destroying her.
Told with candor and a sense of awe about it all, Tracey manages to get her life back on track with therapy and a desire to live. Very moving and a special read.
Rating:
Summary: A Relief from so many other books on Anorexia
Review: As a recovered anorexic myself, it was such a relief to read a book that focused solely on the emotions associated with the disorder and not the particulars that so often become new learned techniques and guides that end up furthering the battle. I was always fond of Tracy Gold as an actress on "Growing Pains" and am even more fond of her after reading this book. She has been an inspiration to me and I will always keep her words in mind whenever I feel myself sinking back into that dark place. I strongly recommend this book to anyone who has suffered from anorexia, as well as anyone else who is interested or simply looking for a great book to read. So buy it, you'll be happy you did.
Rating: 
Summary: Save Your Money
Review: As a recovering anorexic myself, I did not find this book to be worth the paper it was printed on. I read it in less than an hour in the bookstore (thank goodness I didn't waste my hard-earned money on it). The writing itself was boring and dry (Tracey should stick to acting). The content left more than just a bit to be desired. Tracey had a negative experience in a treatment center/hospital setting. Unfortunately, she goes on to make blanket statements about how ALL eating disorder support groups and treatment centers are just breeding grounds for anorexics and bulimics to get worse (by learning "tips" of the trade, so to speak). My turning point into recovery came in an eating disorder treatment center. Without it I would have died. Furthermore, I have maintained my recovery (and have continued to recover beyond the restored weight and cessation of anorexic behaviors) through twelve-step and other support groups. I know many others who could say the same. To steer people away from that kind of help just because SHE had a negative experience is dangerous--especially because she was/is a celebrity and will be looked to as having all the answers. Also, comments such as (paraphrase) "Ensure has, like, a million calories" has no place in a book like this. Ensure is a helpful supplement to many anorexics . . . reading something like this only confirms their disordered thinking that Ensure is evil and will make them fat. Finally, it really sounds like Tracey has a LONG way to go in the thoughts/thinking department of recovery. She still makes a lot of anorexic comments at the end of her book where she is supposedly in recovery. There is a BIG difference between being recovered from the behaviors and low weight and being fully recovered in mind, body, and spirit. I do not claim to be the latter--that is why I say I am in recovery. I have maintained a healthy weight and not engaged in anorexic behavior for many years (more than Tracey) now, yet I still think in terms of "good" and "bad" foods, etc. That is not recoverED. The book is printed in large print on about 1/2 normal size paper. It is not a compelling read. Of course, as with most books on eating disorders, I am sure that those with eating disorders will buy it in hopes of one of two things: 1)find the magic answer that will cure them; 2)learn how to be a better anorexic/bulimic. I doubt any will find any true words of wisdom that will put them on to the path of recovery though . . .
Rating:
Summary: I appreciated her honesty
Review: As a recovering bulimic I really appreciated reading this book. I appreciated how honest she was about what was occuring in her head during the eating disorder. Her thoughts and actions mirrored my own, in fact at times I felt like I was reading my own story. It was nice to be able to use this as a spring board of how to verbalize what was going on in my head during that time and even still today. I think that everyone's journey in an eating disorder is different but it is nice to know that there are people out there that can relate to your battle with food. It also is a nice resource for those who work with young women and have never dealt with such an issue, though it should not be viewed as bible for eating disorders at least it sheds some light into a world that is not talked about.
Rating:
Summary: Tracey is more than just a former anorexic!
Review: As someone who did watch Tracey Gold grow up on television and admire her work I wanted to read what she had to say. I enjoyed this book immensely because I was happy to see that Tracey is so at peace now. This is the story of her life so far, and if you are looking for a book just about anorexia this isn't it. Like Tracey said in her book, she isn't going to go into specific details about what she did as an anorexic as it could potentially teach others who mistakenly believe they want to BE anorexic. Tracey candidly describes her feelings and the circumstances of her anorexia, but she also talks about her relationship with her wonderful husband, Roby, and her close-knit family, and what it is like being an actress. She discusses how she overcame her anorexia and is now happily married with two adorable boys. This book gives hope to anyone trying to overcome a personal problem and shows that although counseling and medical treatment helped, in the end it was Tracey's willpower that let her succeed. Good for you, Tracey!
Rating:
Summary: Informative - Not Looking For Sympathy but to Reach Others
Review: from BlueJeanOnline.com
by Truc Doan, age 15, Teen EditorThis book is about an actress who had an eating disorder known as anorexia nervosa. Does this sound familiar? Before beginning to read this book, I looked at the inside cover and immediately believed I was going to endure a literate, extended version of 'Behind the Music' (only without the music, drugs, or groupies). Well, everyone knows that they say about judging books by their cover, right? Room to Grow by Tracey Gold is about her life and her battle with anorexia, but if you're looking for preachy, 'look-at-poor-beautiful-me,' tear glistening in eye cripe, then you won't find it here. Room to Grow uses fairly simple language to show the development of a problem, the recognition and the conquering of it. Throughout the book, one accepts that acting was simply something Gold did. It didn't define her and it wasn't the cause of her anorexia. Like most little girls, Gold had grown up wanting to please and (with a little help from movies and books) began to believe that if she was skinnier, it would be better. The book itself is not so much autobiographical as it is informative. Gold's life acts simply as a backdrop to the main topic, a disease that kills. Gold isn't asking for sympathy. She explains this in the first chapter. She just wants to know that somebody read this and it helped them to better understand the disease and to seek help if they have it. Well, I read it and I commend her for caring enough to write it. ...
Rating: 
Summary: "STICK FIGURE: A DIARY OF MY FORMER SELF" is BETTER
Review: I admire Tracey for telling her story, but it's really badly written and doesn't shed as much light on the mind of a young anorexic as the much better book, STICK FIGURE: A DIARY OF MY FORMER SELF, by Lori Gottlieb when she was a teenager also growing up in Los Angeles. For parents who really want to understand the mind of a young woman with an eating disorder -- including family dynamics, the relationship with therapists and doctors, and how the peer group is involved and how you can help -- I'd recommend reading STICK FIGURE instead.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing, inspiring, very honest book! Great for Tracey fans!
Review: I am a male, and I got this book because I am a long-time fan of Tracey Gold. I have never had an eating disorder, or known anyone that has, but I still thought this book was wonderful! It is not only about Tracey's battle with anorexia, it is about Tracey! Tracey the actress, mother, daughter, sister, person, and lastly Tracey the eating disorder victim! I do not know why amazon classified this as a "young adult" book, I do not think it is only intended for young adults, but I do think young adults can read it. When I read this book, I learned a lot about Tracey that I had never known. She is a very honest writer, In the book she talks about when she first became sexually active, menstruation, she shares excerpts from her diary, letters to her husband and many other things that you do not expect in a "celebrity" book. I have read Room To Grow twice, and I think because I am writing this review, I will read it again! I cannot reccommend this book to anyone enough. I let one of my friends borrow it, and after she read it she got her own copy! It is not just for female eating disorder victims, it is for anyone who wants to read it! The number of pages may seem short, but I found the book to be like a long adventure. This is by far the best celebrity-written book I have ever read! 5/5 stars (*****)
Rating:
Summary: A Relief from so many other books on Anorexia
Review: I bought this book after Tracey came to my college and spoke about her battle w/ anorexia. Her speech was very inspiring and the book was even better. I could relate to many things she talked about because I had experienced similar feelings. She tells about her childhood as an actress, and how impressionable she was when she became anorexic. I think she is a very brave and admirable person for writing a book in hopes to help others. I would recommend this book to anyone, especially those who have battled anorexia or who know someone who is.
Rating:
Summary: Very Inspiring and Well-Written
Review: I bought this book after Tracey came to my college and spoke about her battle w/ anorexia. Her speech was very inspiring and the book was even better. I could relate to many things she talked about because I had experienced similar feelings. She tells about her childhood as an actress, and how impressionable she was when she became anorexic. I think she is a very brave and admirable person for writing a book in hopes to help others. I would recommend this book to anyone, especially those who have battled anorexia or who know someone who is.
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