Review Detail

I can't believe I've never posted my review of SCARS. This is one of my all time favorite books, and it introduced me to the amazing talent of Cheryl Rainfield. The main character, Kendra, is surrounded by a mysterious stalker and chilling messages only she seems to pick up on. She is an abuse survivor, and must live in constant fear that someone is going to get her again. What's most frighting and sadly true (especially for most abuse survivors) is that the person is someone she knows. And yet, she doesn't realize this. As the story unravels, Kendra relieves her stress through her artwork and with cutting.

Fortunately, she finds a friend and support through Sandy, a friend of the family. Her therapist. Her art teacher. And, in Meghan, a girl who seems to understand Kendra in a way others do not. With a viable support network growing around her, Kendra is finally able to face and track down who is her abuser before it's too late. Likewise, she's finally able to stop cutting.

I couldn't stop reading this fast paced book once I began. It draws you in so completely and powerfully, you'll find yourself racing to the end to find out, along with Kendra, who's at the center of all the lies and carefully crafted secrets that allowed her abuser into a power position over her in the first place.

Currently, there are 40 million survivors of childhood sexual abuse in the USA alone. 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys. You are more likely to be a survivor of childhood sexual abuse before you turn 18 than being diagnosed with heart disease or diabetes. This hugely secret and shameful practice has been swept under the cultural carpet for far too long.

Survivors, their friends, and family should read this book to more fully understand how CSA affects the abused. They should also be inspired by the triumph Cheryl Rainfield's character, Kendra, discovers in herself as she faces her abuser and overcomes her abuse.