Review: Scars by Cheryl Rainfield

Book: Scars by Cheryl Rainfield
Pages: 250 Pages
Publisher: Westside Books
Release Date: March 24th, 2010
Source: Teen Book Scene

Synopsis:
Kendra, fifteen, hasn't felt safe since she began to recall devastating memories of childhood sexual abuse, especially because she still can't remember the most important detail-- her abuser's identity. Frightened, Kendra believes someone is always watching and following her, leaving menacing messages only she understands. If she lets her guard down even for a minute, it could cost Kendra her life. To relieve the pressure, Kendra cuts; aside from her brilliantly expressive artwork, it's her only way of coping. Since her own mother is too self-absorbed to hear her cries for help, Kendra finds support in others instead: from her therapist and her art teacher, from Sandy, the close family friend who encourages her artwork, and from Meghan, the classmate who's becoming a friend and maybe more. But the truth about Kendra's abuse is just waiting to explode, with startling unforeseen consequences. Scars is the unforgettable story of one girl's frightening path to the truth.

My Thoughts:

The constant noise makes me want to scream-people slamming their lockers shut, girls giggling with each other, sneakers squeaking down the hall, boys burping as loud as they can-but I know I’m only feeling like this because of the note. And I can’t let myself think about that. My arm is hot and stiff, every jostle sending pain through me. But it’s not the bright, hard pain that makes everything go away. It’s an annoying, irritating pain that makes me grit my teeth. I wish I could tear my nails through my flesh like blades. I don’t know if I can go through the whole day without finding a way to cut.-Page 19 of Scars

Reading stories about terrible things that actually happen to people is hard for me because everyone has something bad that has happened to them (death, bullying, abuse, etc), but I read them anyway because most of them are good and they’re stories that need to be told. I really loved Scars and I think it’s different than any other story about cutting I’ve read.

But it’s not just about cutting. It’s about a misunderstood gay teenage girl who was sexually abused many times in her life. It’s about her trying to figure out who her abuser was and trying to move on. It’s a story that, I think, people will cry about.

Kendra was a strong main character and I doubt many people could’ve gone through what she’s gone through and still have happy moments in their lives. I’m glad that she could find love in such a dark place.  This story does show that even though you’ve been hurt, you can still have a happy ending. Cheryl’s writing is mesmerizing and I finished this book really quickly. Scars is a sad but beautiful story and I can’t wait to read more like it.