anotherhel's review against another edition
3.0
Spoiler
She could simply let herself feel, acknowledge the bad and embrace the good—and between the two, come to an acceptance.
She could learn not to merely survive but to live.
Melissa Miller, sixteen and a self-injurer, looked upon the embodiment of her rage. "I accept you," Missy said, opening her arms wide. "I accept me."
With a savage roar, the Red Rider pounced.
Missy, unafraid, closed her arms around the knight and embraced her, embraced herself as a torrent of emotion flooded her. Violence and hatred and loathing and bitterness and too many other feelings to name hammered her, ravaged her ... and washed over her without dragging her under. She felt them all, and let them go.
lillianhong's review against another edition
3.0
greatbutuseless's review against another edition
2.0
babygirl06301's review against another edition
5.0
spoilers and strong content
Once again, a brilliant novel that has a brilliant message with a brilliant story is born. So, I already highlighted the "bad" in my review of [b:Hunger|11920359|Hunger (Riders of the Apocalypse #1)|Jackie Morse Kessler|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/book/50x75-a91bf249278a81aabab721ef782c4a74.png|7134137]. I'm sure I'll bring some of it up again, but for the most part, I want to focus on the good the great and the tragic of this book. I've also already talked about the reason this book doesn't need to have "5 stars for content," so to speak. Again, it'll be brought up again, but I'd like to get to the main points I had about this novel first.
Okay, so with the first book's review, I discussed one of my favorite (and simultaneously least favorite) parts. With [b:Rage|18612908|Rage|Jackie Morse Kessler|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1410149845s/18612908.jpg|10281706], that part for me was the moment right after the party and right before she became War when she cut into her artery. It was just such a beautiful- yes, beautiful- scene with how [a:Jackie Morse Kessler|4611069|Jackie Morse Kessler|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/authors/1315370985p2/4611069.jpg] described the blood and the euphoric pain and... well, Missy's acceptance of death. It was very interesting, as well, because I don't think Missy wants to die. She said she did want to when she was talking to Erica on the phone, but I don't think she would've actually acted on those feelings. I'll talk more about that later on. I also really enjoyed the little bit where Missy ran her hands over her scars and associated the word itself- scars- with cutting. In addition to those were the scenes with her sister, Sue, and with Erica when they talked about Missy's cutting.
And I also really enjoyed the "Adam's betrayal" scene. I know, you're like what? Okay, I get it. But the way it was written was just so painful to read as a reader, and it made me feel the exact same emotions that Missy was feeling. Isn't that what great writing is supposed to do?
Now, as in my last review, I'm going to mention my personal connection with this topic of self-harm. Coincidentally, my Lisa was also my Missy. And I was Missy, too. No, not as extreme, but I was. I was actually quite taken aback by how similar Missy is to how I was. I cannot express enough how accurately this author talks about self-harm. From someone who knows, it's very chilling to read about something that is so undeniably true and raw, especially if it isn't romanticized. Bottom line: Kessler did a great job talking about what it is to cut. I did, however, feel like this novel didn't lean as heavily on its message, like [b:Hunger|18612597|Hunger|Jackie Morse Kessler|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/book/50x75-a91bf249278a81aabab721ef782c4a74.png|7134137] did. That's probably because the author doesn't have a personal relationship with self-harm like she does with eating disorders.
Into the characters. Missy is pretty awesome. I know she said that she's hated herself for months and that many people associate self-harm with low self-esteem because there's no way you'd do that to yourself if you liked yourself. Well, that's wrong, because Missy (most of the time) was feeling herself. For example, using the last book's protagonist as an example, if something similar happened to Lisa as it did to Missy (the party), Lisa would've turned her rage and depression inward as opposed to Missy's way of dealing with it, which was to turn it outward. Yes, cutting is a very inward and personal thing, but Lisa would've said, "Of course they did this to me. I'm just a useless, fat blob." Missy said, "Fuck all ya'll, lemme just calm down, but then I'ma whoop yo ass." So, anyway, I liked how Missy was still confident for the most part, even over all other issues she was having.
The whole "war-being-a-voice-inside-Missy's-head" thing was a little weird. I mean, it kind of happened with Famine a little bit, but not like it did here. I mean, Christ, in both of these books, the final boss was War... even though Missy is War. Split personalities much?
Okay, so this go 'round, the boyfriend was not the sweetest little pumpkin spice latte. Unless, you consider the boyfriend to be Death. Then, yes he is. But I consider him to be that wee festering boil of a shitstain Adam. I hated him so much? Like? I know people like him and the rest of that school exist, but I'm fortunate enough to not have gone to school with people that were that horrible. I almost hated Sue just as much, but she seemed to lock it down there at the end. She's young and dumb, which doesn't excuse what she said, but maybe she just doesn't know how to express "I care about you" to Missy.
Okay, so the good people. Erica and Bella. That's pretty much it. I mean, besides the parents (mostly) and the other Horsemen (...mostly). I also know an Erica, and I felt bad for her. I was a little peeved with her during the party because she was just being a bystander, but can you blame her? At least she made up for it, in my opinion. Even though she called her emo and goth. Sidenote: Don't use "emo" or "goth" as an insult. It's like using "gay" as an insult. It's just embarrassing for you as a member of society. Okay, anyway. Bella was cool. And sort of a badass. I'll talk more about her down there.
Wishes. How I love wishes. K, so my wishes for this book include: ending this sentence here and starting a new one for each wish, because I can't sum up all my wishes in a sequenced sentence. So, back to Bella. I wish we got to see more of her. She seemed like the only other supportive person in Missy's life besides Erica. And while I'm at it, I would've liked to see more Erica. Mkay. That's that. Adam. I wanted to see that motherfucker actually get fucked up. Sure, she shoved her fingers in his eye sockets and knocked out some teeth, but the bitch was still smiling afterwards. Listen, I don't approve of torture, but the least she could've done would be to project all of the negativity and cruelty put on her, onto him. And in general, I just wanted to see Missy blow up more than she did at the end. I get the whole "accept yourself" message, but it still would've been cool to read about everyone in her school realizing that they should've never messed with her. Do I sound like a psychopath? No, I sound like War. Didn't I tell you that Missy and me were alike? I surprisingly wanted more scenes with the parents, just because that would've been such a cool dynamic, what with them finding out and going from angry to tearful to loving. Last one: more hubba hubba time with Death. Yep, you heard right. I ship it too hard. P.S. the horse was adorable. All trying to act like he didn't like the attention. I see you, Ares. I see you.
Okay, so just like last time, I'm going to go ahead and say that, if you self-harm or know someone that does, please take it seriously and talk about it. Here is the link to To Write Love on Her Arms (TWLOHA), and, as always, you can always text Crisis Text Line for help.
Well, that's about it. I'm getting the next two books in the mail soon, so I'll have my reviews out for those ASAP. Kessler just knows how to get a point across. This series is something that every single person should read. Trust me on that.
"Go thee out unto the world."
badwolfbooks's review against another edition
4.0
bibliofiendlm's review against another edition
5.0
books_plan_create's review against another edition
4.0
And, I cannot wait for Death!
crabbygirl's review against another edition
3.0
the second in a list of YA books singled out in the NY times as too dark for their audience. like it's listmate, Scars, the protagonist is a cutter. but i think this book did a much better job of dramatizing her life and making it slightly easier for me to understand this whole cutting business. first of all, this is more of a fantasy genre, with the 4 horsemen of the Apocalypse showing up and offering her the job of War (the other horsemen are Death, Famine and Pestilence). but as War, she gets to see real trauma, real devastation... you know - war - up close and although her character never directly says her problems are minor in comparison to children in refugee camps or boy soldiers forced to kill, it is obvious that the author wants her teen readers to come to that conclusion. after all, it is only in the rich, well-fed, and overly indulged west that teens could use self mutilation as a pastime. in fact, this author's first book was about the Famine horseman and she is/was an anorexic - another unheard of problem in areas that suffer daily for simple survival - so i think she's got an underlining theme here.
as for the violence? yes, there was an awful lot of talking about, and wishing for, cuts to open and blood to spill. it was both repetitive (so sort of boring) and disturbing (that there was still so much rage left unplumbed) and i would definitely NOT allow my daughter to read it. it's too bad because this series wants to turn teen angst and indulgence on it's head
sydofbee's review against another edition
3.0
I was very invested in Missy and truly and honestly wanted to see her succeed. Also I wanted to see her punch Adam's teeth in even though I don't actually have one single violent bone in my body. Some people just have it coming.
Anyway, Kessler excels at describing the struggles a teenage girl might have to deal with. She is able to portray every emotion as gut-wrenchingly real. Still, in my opinion Missy is able to overcome her troubles too easily. Overcoming self doubt and withstanding bullies is not done in a single weekend, believe me. That is the main issue I had with this book. Yes, it is most likely supposed to send some form of hope. But becoming a stronger person is not easy, and trying to deal with bullies is even harder. I wish Kessler would have covered a bigger time span in this novel. If that had been the case, I would gladly have awarded Rage with a full rating.