About the Book
You can see when someone's been hurt the way I was. It's obvious. Something changes in their eyes; pain becomes their center, even when they try to hide it.
Review
Kendra, the main character in this novel, was sexually abused for years as a child. She can't remember who did it, but she's trying to by attending therapy. As a coping mechanism, she also self-harms. The scenes which deal with her cutting can get graphic and although I do not want anyone to harm themselves, I appreciate that it was told how to do so in a safer way.
One thing I didn't really expect was the lesbian relationship between Kendra and someone she's gotten involved with. Although it is not a main focus, I do like how it was done. Especially as this book is almost a decade old, and lesbian YA fiction was not really being written then.
I am frustrated over who ended up being the abuser. I think it's because I convinced myself it was someone else. Not even anyone Kendra expected, and I don't even think they were on the radar. But I was wrong. I kinda feel I should be offended it proved my wrong, ha!
One thing I related to strongly in this book was when it showed a flashback of Kendra as a child trying to tell an adult about the abuse, but it was ignored. Although I don't remember outright telling anyone of my own sexual abuse as a child, I do know for a fact I displayed many obvious signs that the adult figures in my life overlooked or ignored. And so I can understand the frustration and betrayal.
For the most part I was interested in this story, even though I felt it was a little distant. I didn't have a stronger connection to Kendra as I'd have hoped. And the end felt a little too rushed for me to fully enjoy it.