A gripping young adult novel tackles difficult issues

Cover of Scars by Cheryl Rainfield

After I reviewed The Last Dragon by Cheryl Rainfield, I remember seeing a sneak peek of the cover of her upcoming novel, Scars at her blog. My first thought…I have to check that out! As if the cover isn’t chilling enough, the story is a gripping tale that tackles the difficult issues of sexual abuse and self-harm.

Kendra has terrible memories of being sexually abused when she was little, however there’s one huge thing missing–the identity of her abuser. Because the events were so horrific, Kendra cannot remember who abused her. As she walks along the street or visits friends, Kendra’s mind plays tricks on her, questioning whether that person is the one. Her rapist is fearful that Kendra is beginning to put the pieces together, so he stalks her and leaves her disturbing messages- “Never tell, or I’ll kill you.”

To cope with her emotions and escape the intense pain she feels, 15-year old Kendra turns to cutting. Her cutting is kept secret from her parents, her friends, and even her beloved therapist, until she meets Meghan.  For the first time, Kendra begins to let somebody in on her secrets, while unraveling the truth of her haunting past.

This book is so intense, it makes for a quick read. Rainfield tackles the difficult, traumatic subjects of sexual abuse, cutting, and sexual preference in a tactful way, opening up about her own experience in an author’s note at the end. Rainfield says she felt so alone and had so much shame for many years about using self-harm to cope with abuse and knows it would have helped her to know she wasn’t alone. This powerful story is sure to do just that–bring hope to those who have suffered like Kendra and understanding to those who are unfamiliar with using self-harm to cope. Rainfield does an incredible job of getting inside Kendra’s head from her deepest thoughts, insecurities, and fears to portraying her as a survivor and a fighter.

You’ll find an extensive list of websites, helplines, and support in the back for self-mutilation and abuse.

To celebrate the release of SCARS, Rainfield is giving away a Sony Digital Reader, a $100, $50, or $25 gift card to Amazon.com (or any online bookstore) plus a copy of SCARS just for sharing the SCARS book trailer! Please visit her blog for more details.

Additional Information:
Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 250 pages
Publisher: Westside Books; First edition (March 24, 2010)
ISBN-10: 193481332X
ISBN-13: 978-1934813324
Source of review copy: publicist