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hitbooksnotgirlz's review against another edition
5.0
This is the story of a girl who experienced a horrible breach of trust from someone who was supposed to love and care for her, and she wants nothing more than to protect her little sister from the same fate. It was heartbreaking, powerful, and inspiring. An amazing read.
brdsk8s's review against another edition
5.0
While my experience isn’t the same as Skye’s, this book made me feel so heard and understood. Everything about this book is difficult to digest, but Laura Sibson really managed to present it as respectfully as possible.
I’ll leave some quotes below that moved me.
————————————
“If people knew what happened, they’d see that one thing, not the whole me.”
“If he wants to do this stuff to me, I guess it’s okay to let him. Even if it doesn’t feel right.”
“I have to admit that I crave the attention from boys, especially when I’m partying. Getting a guy to want me feels like a victory. Like their desire makes me worthy of taking up space in this world. […] Lately, I think that maybe I’ve just been letting stuff happen to me rather than choosing what I really want. Because I’ve never been sure that I’m allowed to have what I want.”
“But I’m finished with defining myself by who wants me or by how I look.”
“I’m choosing this. […] I’m allowed to take up place in this world. Not for the pleasure of others, but for myself. It’s a step toward believing that maybe, just maybe, I can turn the damaged parts of me into something new.”
I’ll leave some quotes below that moved me.
————————————
“If people knew what happened, they’d see that one thing, not the whole me.”
“If he wants to do this stuff to me, I guess it’s okay to let him. Even if it doesn’t feel right.”
“I have to admit that I crave the attention from boys, especially when I’m partying. Getting a guy to want me feels like a victory. Like their desire makes me worthy of taking up space in this world. […] Lately, I think that maybe I’ve just been letting stuff happen to me rather than choosing what I really want. Because I’ve never been sure that I’m allowed to have what I want.”
“But I’m finished with defining myself by who wants me or by how I look.”
“I’m choosing this. […] I’m allowed to take up place in this world. Not for the pleasure of others, but for myself. It’s a step toward believing that maybe, just maybe, I can turn the damaged parts of me into something new.”
ellorarobinson's review against another edition
3.0
⭐⭐⭐.5/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This book was breathtaking.
The story was absolutely captivating and so unbelievably sad all at the same time.
(To be continued).
This book was breathtaking.
The story was absolutely captivating and so unbelievably sad all at the same time.
(To be continued).
bookslifeandeverythingnice's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you to NetGalley, Viking Books for Young Readers, and Laura Sibson for an ARC ebook copy to review. As always, an honest review from me.
Trigger warning: sexual abuse of a child
Like:
- The foreshadowing - good, but is about terrible things to come
- The main character: Skye
- Good perspective about college: a way to be who you could be and learn lots about yourself, life and a career
- The abuse isn’t too graphic or triggering in my opinion
- Very realistic portrayal of a teenager coming to terms with being sexually abused by her step father and the impact it has on her life
Love:
- Discusses very difficult to talk about topics (sexual abuse) as the character is experiencing them
- Art as a way to express oneself in a way that words can’t
Dislike:
- Lots of drugs, drinking and partying - it’s realistic to the character and her situation, but it’s not something that I enjoyed reading about
- The teenage boy that she had a relationship with/ didn’t consent to/ doesn’t remember that night — confusing and not sure if I read that scene correctly
- Most of the book in some manner, revolves around the main character being sexually abused
Wish that:
- there was more opportunity for her mother to explain, think about, and remember what happened on the day her daughter was sexually abused. The story wraps up rather quickly and doesn’t give much time to explore what happened further.
- The story was a little more balanced, in terms of content.
Overall, a good realistic portrayal of Skye, a teenage girl, coming to terms with being sexually abused by her step father years ago. A definite trigger warning for most of the story revolving around this topic, but it doesn’t get too explicitly graphic. I would have liked a more well balanced story, but in general an important and fairly enjoyable read.
Trigger warning: sexual abuse of a child
Like:
- The foreshadowing - good, but is about terrible things to come
- The main character: Skye
- Good perspective about college: a way to be who you could be and learn lots about yourself, life and a career
- The abuse isn’t too graphic or triggering in my opinion
- Very realistic portrayal of a teenager coming to terms with being sexually abused by her step father and the impact it has on her life
Love:
- Discusses very difficult to talk about topics (sexual abuse) as the character is experiencing them
- Art as a way to express oneself in a way that words can’t
Dislike:
- Lots of drugs, drinking and partying - it’s realistic to the character and her situation, but it’s not something that I enjoyed reading about
- The teenage boy that she had a relationship with/ didn’t consent to/ doesn’t remember that night — confusing and not sure if I read that scene correctly
- Most of the book in some manner, revolves around the main character being sexually abused
Wish that:
- there was more opportunity for her mother to explain, think about, and remember what happened on the day her daughter was sexually abused. The story wraps up rather quickly and doesn’t give much time to explore what happened further.
- The story was a little more balanced, in terms of content.
Overall, a good realistic portrayal of Skye, a teenage girl, coming to terms with being sexually abused by her step father years ago. A definite trigger warning for most of the story revolving around this topic, but it doesn’t get too explicitly graphic. I would have liked a more well balanced story, but in general an important and fairly enjoyable read.
kasiak44's review against another edition
4.0
Heartbreaking. Beautiful. A story of personal growth through turmoil, not glamorized but real.
dissociativephoenix's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
teddy_2023's review against another edition
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
alifromkc1907's review against another edition
4.0
Gut Instinct Rating: 4
Characters: 4.5
Believability: 5
Uniqueness: 4
Writing Style: 4
Excitement Factor: 3
Story Line: 5
Title Relevance: 5
Artwork Relevance: 4
Audiobook Narration: 4.25
Overall: 4.28
Characters: 4.5
Believability: 5
Uniqueness: 4
Writing Style: 4
Excitement Factor: 3
Story Line: 5
Title Relevance: 5
Artwork Relevance: 4
Audiobook Narration: 4.25
Overall: 4.28
ps_a22's review against another edition
5.0
I LOVED THIS BOOK. I was so in love with Skye and how she described people and moments in terms of how she would capture them in art. I liked how despite all the trauma she went through as a child, she finally stood up for herself and for the safety of her sister and told her mom how her boyfriend molested her when she was 12. I loved how she made a mural with broken pieces of tiles show that broken things can become beautiful. I can't count the number of times I cried reading this book, and I loved how she finally found the courage to get with ben at the end. I loved how even when she hit rock bottom, she rose back up again.