Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
Elena Vanishing  By  cover art

Elena Vanishing

By: Elena Dunkle,Clare B. Dunkle
Narrated by: Lauren Fortgang
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $19.95

Buy for $19.95

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

Seventeen-year-old Elena is vanishing. Every day means renewed determination, so every day means fewer calories. This is the story of a girl whose armor against anxiety becomes artillery against herself as she battles on both sides of a lose-lose war in a struggle with anorexia.

Told entirely from Elena's perspective over a five-year period and cowritten with her mother, award-winning author Clare B. Dunkle, Elena's memoir is a fascinating and intimate look at a deadly disease and a must-listen for anyone who knows someone suffering from an eating disorder.

©2015 Elena and Clare B. Dunkle (P)2015 Audible, Inc.

What listeners say about Elena Vanishing

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    317
  • 4 Stars
    117
  • 3 Stars
    37
  • 2 Stars
    20
  • 1 Stars
    10
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    304
  • 4 Stars
    79
  • 3 Stars
    29
  • 2 Stars
    23
  • 1 Stars
    7
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    283
  • 4 Stars
    95
  • 3 Stars
    33
  • 2 Stars
    18
  • 1 Stars
    13

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Eaten from Within

Elena Dunkle's memoir re-lives her struggle with anorexia, when it was a separate force consuming her, a demon working against her. This might be the truest portrait of this disorder out there.

She gives a vivid account of the state of mind that anyone with psychological problems, from depression to addiction, can recognize, highlighting the inner voice that constantly counteracts any acknowledgement, any progress toward a healthy mindset. It's a harrowing story that gives you a clear understanding of the disease eating up a victim.

When Elena finally starts to come around, she is again, so honest and so accurate, that you know that recovery is not a straightforward path, it will be a lifetime's work.

The extraordinary Lauren Fortgang does a bang-up job as narrator. She makes it nearly a dramatization, giving the memoir an extra layer of meaning.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

13 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Good but...

I would not recommend reading this book if you are currently battling an eating disorder. It’s a good story and offers valuable insight.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Awestruck

I don't write many book reviews but I have to say how much I appreciate all of the ones other people write. Therefore I cannot leave this book without leaving a couple of my thoughts. This was an absolutely beautiful book...amazingly well written, powerful, thought provoking, sorrowful, painful, uplifting and brutally honest. The performance is one of the best I e ever heard! You will never forget Elena once you've read this memoir.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

So powerful

This honest memoir is heart wrenching and beautifully written. What Elena and her family went through was beyond any words I could write in a review. Anorexia steals the lives of so many, and almost stole Elena's. Regardless of whether you or a loved one has battled (or is battling) anorexia or if you just want to know what it's like from the inside this is absolutely worth a credit. If you love the book as I did, check out Hope and Other Luxuries by Clare B Dunkle and Elena Dunkle for the story of Elena's mother, Clare's battle to save Elena from the monster that is anorexia.
Lauren Fortgang is an incredible narrator who I have enjoyed listening to on this and many other books before. She always gives an amazing performance.
Happy listening!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing book!

What did you love best about Elena Vanishing?

Inspirational story, and the way they describe the part of you that is always making you feel like less than you are really hit home.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing, all of it.

This memoir is truly amazing. It brought tears, anger, and small moments of laughter out of me. I have struggled with an eating disorder myself. Nothing to this extent or extreme, but it took up a chunk of my life and my "critical mind" was nasty too. She still is sometimes and books like this one have helped squander her voice. Helped me to want a healthy mind and body. The author is so brave to share her story. I believe her story could help save lives.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

The most beautiful and touching story I have ever read

I bought this book expecting just another eating disorder memoir. I was touched beyond words.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

A nice sequel

This was a nice sequel to Hope and Other Luxuries. I thought it was very interesting to hear Elenas side of the story and to understand what she was going through.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Says the voice in my head

Hate to complain about an anorexia memoir but have to be honest. The writing lacks. Too much repetitive inner monologue that doesn't serve the story or convey any pertinent emotion. Story is very vague and uninteresting. The phrase "says the voice in my head" every other sentence. We get it, you're trying to convey inner conflict but don't have the writing tools to show instead of tell. Heartbreaking story, and nothing against the subject.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Captivating

As someone who is battling an eating disorder, this book was spot-on. Her pain and emotion and feelings toward recovery are things I can relate to, and it’s refreshing to know I’m not the only one. Excellent book - even if you don’t have an eating disorder.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful