Review: Scars by Cheryl Rainfield

Title: Scars
Author: Cheryl Rainfield
Publisher: Westside Books
Release date: March 24th 2010
Pages: 250
Genre: Contemporary YA
Source: Bought
Find out more: Amazon ; Goodreads

Goodreads description:

Kendra, fifteen, hasn't felt safe since she began to recall devastating memories of childhood sexual abuse, especially because she still can't remember the most important detail-- her abuser's identity. Frightened, Kendra believes someone is always watching and following her, leaving menacing messages only she understands. If she lets her guard down even for a minute, it could cost Kendra her life. To relieve the pressure, Kendra cuts; aside from her brilliantly expressive artwork, it's her only way of coping. Since her own mother is too self-absorbed to hear her cries for help, Kendra finds support in others instead: from her therapist and her art teacher, from Sandy, the close family friend who encourages her artwork, and from Meghan, the classmate who's becoming a friend and maybe more. But the truth about Kendra's abuse is just waiting to explode, with startling unforeseen consequences. Scars is the unforgettable story of one girl's frightening path to the truth.

First sentence:

"Someone is following me." I gulp air, trying to breathe.

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars

This book was very hard to read. What happens is so terrible, it seems too terrible to be true. And yet, it's inspired by the author's own struggles, and the cover really shows the author's own arm. Thinking about how something so terrible happened to someone in real life makes Scars an utterly heartbreaking read.

The writing, in my opinion is just okay - it's good at times, but some of the dialogue is unrealistic, and there is more than enough melodrama in this book. Kendra is a pretty good character, and easy to relate to, but not my favorite character ever. I really liked the supporting characters Meghan and Sandy.

The writing and characters are just okay, and usually that would mean that, for me, the entire book is just okay, since it's I'm usually pulled in by wrting and characters. Not in Scars, though. In Scars, what really convinced me was the plot. It had me on the edge of my seat throughout the story - there's just so much suspense, and I loved the mystery aspect of not knowing who the abuser is. I felt scared right alongside Kendra.
I loved reading about Kendra's art. It sounds amazing, and I could imagine it perfectly. It told me so much about Kendra as a person.

The cutting aspect was interesting to read about, too. I've read a few books about self-mutilation, but it's portrayed really differently in Scars than in those other books. I don't want to say too much and spoil it for anyone, but Kendra's reasons for cutting and just the way it's described are different and fascinating.

The ending is... wow. I kind of saw it coming, I always sort of knew who her abuser was but didn't want it to be true. Even if the ending is somewhat unrealistic and defnitely melodramatic, it was thrilling to read.

I don't have all that much to say about this book, but that doesn't mean I didn't like it -  the writing and characters are pretty good, and the plot is amazing - thrilling and so suspenseful, but also emotional and heartbreaking. I definitely recommend it!