Saving Ruth.(Brief article)(Book review)

Saving Ruth

Zoe Fishman. Morrow, $14.99 trade paper (304p) ISBN 978-0-06-205984-0

Most teens pack on the dreaded "freshman fifteen" their first year at college, but 19-year-old Ruth's first year triggers an eating disorder that turns the likable smart-aleck pudge into a rail-thin introvert--and unlikely hero. Ruth's agonizing personal crisis comes to a head during her summer break. "I'm scared of food ... scared that I'll gain weight," she finally confesses to a nine-year-old girl who idolizes her. Still, Ruth manages to find romance with her brother's best friend Chris, who sees beyond her delusions. As Ruth battles her demons, …