Reviews

Scars by Cheryl Rainfield

rennegade's review against another edition

2.0

I finished this book a few days ago and struggled with how to rate it. I feel badly about rating it so low (especially after reading the author note and seeing how many of the events were autobiographical), but this book just did not work for me.

There was a whole lot going on in this novel (

Spoiler

pretty severe self-harm, repressed sexual abuse memories coming back, stalking, a romance with a fellow female high school student, finally remembering that her father was the one who abused her, being held at gunpoint by her father, etc.

). None of these elements specifically made the novel un-enjoyable for me, but as a whole I just felt like the elements were thrown a little haphazardly into the story. I also felt like the two main teenage characters (Kendra and Meghan) were almost caricatures of teens with problems. So many of the things they said seemed to me as though they were sentiments that people think people with these issues say but aren't entirely true to life.

I dunno. The book has excellent reviews, so I could be missing something. This book was recommended to me because of other books in a similar vein that I have read (By the Time You Read This I'll Be Dead, Hate List, Thirteen Reasons Why, etc.), but this book was not a good read for me.

lostingothicmusic's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

bookiepanda's review against another edition

5.0

COVER: I love it. It doesn't look very good or professional but that's exactly why It got my attention and after reading it, I get the meaning behind it.

REVIEW: It's the second sh book that I read in a week but this one is so different from "Cut" by Patricia McCormic. And I love it. Truly uncomfortable, full of tension and emotion. I love the plot. How we start nd discover more and more about Kendra, all the details of her life. I also appreciate the different sexuality of the characters and the way it's presented and accepted in the book. I'm not even mad there was a love story. And the end? I suspected it may be her father but I didn't really believe it. Her false feeling of security with him. He's also the one who taught her to cut? Incredibly thoughtful. I really love this book for everything it is. Child abuse, dealing with sexuality, homophobic parents and mental health. There was everything.

OVERALL: I didn't expect to love it that much but I truly do.

autumnk3lly's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Toxic relationship, and Rape

caffeinatedmix's review

2.0

Underwhelming. Way too fast-paced. Tackles issues that the author should have spent more time developing. A fair bit unrealistic.

sandyfrancesca's review against another edition

5.0

This was a very delicate story, told in the POV of a 15year old, a very mature 15year old. Let me start by saying I LOVED IT. In my opinion abuse stories tend to be dark and dramatic and overly complicated, everything this was not. It was deep. It made you think. It left you in awe of a teenager. And quite frankly at least for a while leaves you inspired to be a stronger. The way it written, i found myself turning the pages so enthralled and hypnotised by the story. I loved it.

khaleesi987's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful sad tense fast-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

5.0

I’m so sad I’m done reading this book! It’s so well written and the character’s voice is so passionate. A great book for anyone who has or is in pain. 

bettyboop25's review against another edition

2.0

I liked this book but there were many problems. This seemed unrealistic because why did this problem last so long? She was seeing a THERAPIST.!!! There is no way that a therapist would just ignore everything that the main character was saying. Also, I think there were many more themes that that could have been expounded upon ... but the author chose to focus on the fact that Kendra was cutting herself.

I also have a problem with the fact that the author took the stereotypical way out (the person who did it was obvious). I like the thought of this book but it wasn't executed as well as it could have been.

mahdigasmi's review against another edition

4.0

I don't fee like reviewing books lately but this one was a unique one I want to document and memorize it.

The plot + protagonist(s)

The book is mainly about Kendra 15 yo girl who was a victim of sexual abuse. The book follows her process of finding her abuse, her fight against fear and of course Kendra finding love.

About Kendra: she's a typical YA character ( as I always say ) but this time the major problem is the sexual abuse.

Positive thoughts:

1- the writing: I really love the writing! Not the best I've read but it was really captivating.

2- the setting: the events in the book were all set in periode of one week which is a plus for the book because it makes the transition from chapter to chapter easier and it helps to catch up with story even if we had to put it for a little while.

3- Honesty: I don't if it only occurs to me but I literally freaked out every time she got those memories. Along with that, this book is full of emotions: grief, sadness, fear and they're all so truthful to me.

4- This is something I think you'd only feel once you've read the book: the whole book was wrapped in a very logical and reasonable way, I'd expected a lot of drama, I'd thought the writer would go off the limits with some stuff ( not to spoil you) but I was so revealed that didn't happen.

5- I think that I went with lots of predicts,negative ones to be honest, and that really helped.


Negative thoughts:

The ending: it's mainly the reason I dropped that fifith star: first thing I had no clue who was the doer which was a good thing because the author made us hanging on there till the end. But once the truth was revealed everything was clichéd!! Clichéd reactions, clichéd dialogues, events....ugh and that's what I hate the most! This obnoxious lack of creativity!!

In addition, I wouldn't give this book a 5 star even with a different end, because in the end this was a nice book, I'm glad that I've read something with  a molested girl's perspective but it didn't blew me away.

emiliosandoz's review against another edition

dark emotional informative sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

the Only book out there that's accurate when it comes to self-harm and that's because it's written by another self-harmer. also a very VERY realistic book when it comes to the effects of sexual abuse when your memories are repressed.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Rape, Self harm, and Sexual assault