Scars
Cheryl Rainfield

WestSide Books
2010/ ISBN 978-1-934813-32-4
Young Adult Fiction
Amazon

Reviewed by Carmen Ferreiro

A survivor of childhood sexual abuse, Kendra has buried her memories so deeply she can't remember the face of her assailant or any other detail of those terrifying events. And when, in the safety of her therapist's office, her memories start to resurface, the pain is such she feels compelled to cut herself. Thus the “scars”, psychological and real, of the title.

Kendra's therapist has told her former abuser won't hurt her now that she is a teen, but Kendra is not so sure. First she hears someone following her on foot, then by car. But when she finds a note in her backpack that says "you have broken your promise" she knows the threat to her life is real. Scared, she cuts herself more and more often. But this time the memories refuse to stay buried and her stalker, who somehow seems to know everything about her, is getting desperate. Desperate enough to kill her?

Told in first person narrative, Scars takes you on an emotional ride inside the mind of a very troubled girl, who is struggling with the hard secrets of her past while trying to understand her own sexual identity and gain her mother's approval.

Based on the author's personal life, this is a brave and unwavering look at a very difficult subject, done with restraint and empathy.

The book includes an extensive Resource Guide of websites, help lines, books and videos dealing with self-harm, abuse and homophobia.

Reviewer's Note: Paperback edition coming out May 2011