Kendra was sexually abused and is still recovering years later. She doesn't remember the face of her abuser, but slowly her memories are coming back. Kendra doesn't think she has the time it'll take for her memories to return--someone's following her. And threatening her to keep silent.
All Kendra has is her art. But her artwork is getting more expressive of the trauma she's going through, trauma that she cuts to forget. Her artwork also leads her to Meghan, a girl whom Kendra can relate to. Soon she finds herself wanting to talk about everything that's happened to her. And her abuser ups the stakes to keep her quiet.
A very intense book. Kendra's pain is real and visual. Her cutting is well-described so it can be hard to read. Not reading it would be the real tragedy. This is a book everyone should read to understand what the victims of sexual abuse go through, and how inadequate most of the help for them really is. Heartbreaking, realistic, and emotional.
Showing posts with label cutting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cutting. Show all posts
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Bait by Alex Sanchez
Diego's in trouble. A guy at school looked at him funny, and Diego went a little off the edge and assaulted him. Now Diego is awaiting sentencing.
That's when he meets Vidas, his probation officer. And Diego, who feels abandoned by all the adults in his life, starting with his mom (who is still around), and finishing with his stepdad who committed suicide, finds he wants to keep talking to Vidas.
There are certain topics Diego would prefer not to talk about. What his stepdad was doing to him for one. What his stepdad was planning on doing to Diego's little brother Eddie for two. The scars up and down both of his arms for three. Diego struggles with guilt, anger, confusion, and hatred while trying to keep his head above water with the law, Vidas, and his own inner demons.
We often forget that boys suffer from a lot of the same pressures girls do, that they can be just or more abused by family members and by their own need to assert their masculinity as they get older. Diego struggles with trying to appear strong instead of weak and a lot of his anger comes from proving he isn't gay.
This was a fabulous book. It was heartbreaking to read Diego's story.
That's when he meets Vidas, his probation officer. And Diego, who feels abandoned by all the adults in his life, starting with his mom (who is still around), and finishing with his stepdad who committed suicide, finds he wants to keep talking to Vidas.
There are certain topics Diego would prefer not to talk about. What his stepdad was doing to him for one. What his stepdad was planning on doing to Diego's little brother Eddie for two. The scars up and down both of his arms for three. Diego struggles with guilt, anger, confusion, and hatred while trying to keep his head above water with the law, Vidas, and his own inner demons.
We often forget that boys suffer from a lot of the same pressures girls do, that they can be just or more abused by family members and by their own need to assert their masculinity as they get older. Diego struggles with trying to appear strong instead of weak and a lot of his anger comes from proving he isn't gay.
This was a fabulous book. It was heartbreaking to read Diego's story.
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