Scars By Cheryl Rainfield
Pub. Date: March 2010 Publisher: Westside Books Format: Hardcover, 248 pages
Genre: Young Adult Source: Received From Author
Rating:
My Thoughts - Kendra is a fifteen a year old girl: a rape survivor. Being a survivor from this book clearly shows that it is hardly the end of the ordeal, the hardest part of all is perhaps trying to heal and move on as we see through Kendra's journey.
I was aware that the author is a survivor and I find this hugely inspiring. The fact that she was able to write a book that shares some resemblance to her ordeal showed me how courageous she really is. It must have been incredibly hard to write this story, but I know she did it to help others who are going through something similar, she has, in my opinion, achieved what she set out to.
Kendra cuts to ease the pain. It has almost become a routine for her. She is a girl who sees things very clearly in my opinion. I think going through what she has, has made her grow up too fast. You at times tend to forget that she is only fifteen. She can see that her mother doesn't exactly care about her, that her father may want to spend more time with her, but he has other things to do. She knows all about getting hurt, so it is almost like she doesn't expect anything else from those around her. I found that saddening because I can't blame her.
The abuse started from the age of two years old. I work with children so this hit a nerve, I was very angry. Why, why do that to a child knowing that the child has no way of knowing what is happening or no way to protect itself! You know men say that they have it bad too? It's situations like these that make me think, you know what? You men might say you have it hard too, but us females have it damn harder.
As if living in a dysfunctional family isn't enough going to school doesn't help either. Kendra has no friends and is often a target for bullies. Her one outlet is Art and she is an amazing artist, it's through Art that she expresses herself but even then her mother an artist herself doesn't agree with her work.
Kendra does it from the heart whilst her mother does it from the perspective of what she thinks other will like, it isn't exaggerating to say that mother and daughter definitely clash. Sandy a friend of her mothers has always supported her through the good and the bad, but when she needs him the most he seems to take a step back and that slightly got to me. I wasn't sure where his loyalties lay after that. Carolyn is the perfect example of how far you can come if you receive the right help, being her therapist as much as a new found friend and mother figure shows how much Kendra looks up to her.
She is almost the mother she never had, the mother she wish she did have. Carolyn in my opinion keeps her going. When financially things start to get tough, her parents contemplate moving but in doing so, would it result in Kendra loosing herself completely?
Things are becoming worse, she is now getting flashbacks that show her abuser but always in the dark, little flashes of him grabbing her wrist, threatening her, and now it would seem that he is back with a vengeance, and is set on making sure she never lets out a secret that could ruin them all. leaving her menacing messages, as the flashbacks come back stronger than ever Kendra tries to push them away in fear, but is she doing the right thing in doing so?
However, through all this turmoil and pain there is a little bright light and I would say it is Meghan, as soon as they met it was obvious to me that they were perfect for each other. Although both have been abused and hurt over and over it's through being with one another do they finally start to let that part of them go.
Scars is a touching novel that doesn't hold back. Through her story I got a vivid picture and the realistic feel to it. At times I had to take a deep breath before turning the page to prepare myself.
As cracks start to surface and the truth unfolds I can't say I didn't see it coming as much I didn't want it to be him. I had a pretty accurate gut feeling. It shows that it could be practically anyone and at times there is no explanation rather than the fact that being a human being doesn't ensure us with a safe pass card explaining who is and who is not safe to be around.
Think of Victoria Cilimbe when you think of a mother’s trust being broken and a girl neglected by the law and doctors over and over again. Think of Three year old Jamie Bulger who didn't deserve to be to be tortured by two evil 10 year old boys because his mother let go of his hand for a few seconds.
What I am trying to say here is that there are some messed up people out there which is just the truth. It makes me sad to think that people are going through this daily when they don't deserve to. It annoys me when I hear "oh but I don't like to read such things, it's too disturbing" get a grip! Come out of your shell and don't be oblivious in your ignorance, educate yourself and learn about it. If we don't make ourselves aware of what is going on around the world then who will? Reading
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