Scars C. A. Rainfield

Scars by C. A. Rainfield
15 yr old Kendra is being stalked by the man who sexually abused her as a child. Kendra doesn't know who abused her. She's talking about what happened to a therapist. Somehow Kendra's abuser knows and wants to scare Kendra into keeping quiet and not remembering. Kendra doesn't know who abused her. Kendra turns to cutting to cope

Kendra's voice is powerful. The author allows the reader to fully connect with and understand her fears. Right from the beginning when Kendra tells her therapist about being followed by her abuser, I was invested in her story.

Kendra's parents are worried about money. Kendra's mom has never been supportive always criticizing Kendra's only voice, her art. Kendra's dad is too busy worry about money to spend time with Kendra. He also feels shame over not being able to protect his daughter. Kendra doesn't have any emotional support at home. The same is true at school, until she meets Meghan. Kendra has been cutting for months, her parents never noticed. Meghan doesn't miss the scars. Kendra decide to trust Meghan with her secrets. Their friendship soon turns into a relationship.

There were many moments when I didn't think I could be any closer to Kendra. Her voice is sad beautiful and vulnerable. It easy to understand Kendra's need to cut. Kendra speaks through her art. On more than one occasion, the healing power of expressing oneself through art is mentioned. Reinfield doesn't realy on any tricks, she simply tells a story. Her writing is honest and real. Kendra's story will hit you hard.

Kendra's had some wonderfully tender moments with Meghan. In the beginning I didn't really believe in Kendra and Meghan's relationship. By the end I believed and loved it. When Kendra comes face to face with her abuser, I could almost feel her fear through the pages. That scene and Kendra will stay with me for a long time.

Compromised Heidi Ayarbe

Compromised by Heidi Ayarbe
This is Ayarbe's second YA novel. and the author has been honing are craft. It's always been just 15yr old Maya's and her dad a con -man. Maya has a mind for science, using hypothesis, to outline ways to keep her dad from getting caught. This time there is no getting away. Maya's dad is sent to prison and she's placed in orphanage.After Maya meets her potential foster parents she decides to runaway. Maya's searching for an aunt she's never known and is not 100% sure exist.

Maya's plan to go it alone is changed when Nicole, a girl who has always been in the system follows. The two walk and hitchhike to the state Maya's aunt may or may not be in. Maya formulates hypothesis that read like journal entries.

Nicole is still with me. I never really thought seh'd actually go through with it - running away for real. It's unlike her previous patterns of sticking around and waiting to be found. That's the thing about humans - highly unpredictable variables. I have to construct a new hypothesis, change the materials and variables. And that irritates me, because even my purpose has to change.

Maya's is book smart. Nicole can keep them safe and feed on the street. The two had the worst luck finding places to spend the night.

"I sigh. It's like we're doomed to share our sleeping arrangements with druggies. From the smell of things, we might as we have been lying on a bed of smoldering pot."

After Maya and Nicole feel each other talking becomes easier. I'd call what Maya and Nicole had conversations not dialogue. Ayarbe's has written a wonderfully realistic well layered novel. I loved Compromised, especially the ending, which Ayarbe crushed. Read an excerpt