zannyw's review against another edition
2.0
First of all, I would like to thank Mark Mansfield very much for sending me a copy of this book. I really appreciate it.
Though this book has an interesting premise, the writing is a bit dull.
The book is about a girl named Emily, who gets accused of a crime she did not commit. Forced into terrifying situations, Emily learns about the cruelties of the world. She also learns about hope.
In my opinion, this book was very rushed at the beginning and very drawn out towards the end, which made it feel unbalanced. The writing was not very descriptive, and the absence of description made it hard to imagine the story in my mind, not letting me feel immersed in Emily’s world. The author tells us about one event, then the next, then the next, etc. We learn that Emily has lived in many places but we never get a sense of what those places are like. As my English teacher would say, the book needs more show and less tell. Also, in this story, Emily’s parents abandon and turn against her; but the author provides no explanation of why this happened, so I was left feeling confused.
I am not of Christian faith and I understand that this book relates heavily to Christianity, so that could have been one reason why I did not connect with it.
The plot of this book is intense and shows how unfair people in authority can be. I greatly respect the work of the author, Mark Mansfield, and am glad he wrote a novel based on his experiences as a foster carer.
Though this book has an interesting premise, the writing is a bit dull.
The book is about a girl named Emily, who gets accused of a crime she did not commit. Forced into terrifying situations, Emily learns about the cruelties of the world. She also learns about hope.
In my opinion, this book was very rushed at the beginning and very drawn out towards the end, which made it feel unbalanced. The writing was not very descriptive, and the absence of description made it hard to imagine the story in my mind, not letting me feel immersed in Emily’s world. The author tells us about one event, then the next, then the next, etc. We learn that Emily has lived in many places but we never get a sense of what those places are like. As my English teacher would say, the book needs more show and less tell. Also, in this story, Emily’s parents abandon and turn against her; but the author provides no explanation of why this happened, so I was left feeling confused.
I am not of Christian faith and I understand that this book relates heavily to Christianity, so that could have been one reason why I did not connect with it.
The plot of this book is intense and shows how unfair people in authority can be. I greatly respect the work of the author, Mark Mansfield, and am glad he wrote a novel based on his experiences as a foster carer.
theresidentbookworm's review
3.0
First off, I'd like to say thank you to Goodreads' First-reads and Mark Mansfield for a copy of Scars Run Deep. Due to my hectic senior year, I have been unable to really get into it until today.
Emily's story is one that will move anyone with a heart, and it is not always an easy one to read. This poor girl has hurdle after hurdle thrown in her path, and sometimes it seems like it is just not possible for her to have a good life. Of course, Emily is not one to bury her head in the same. She keeps going no matter what, and I couldn't help but root for her as the novel continued. If I'm speaking about the story and just the story, I'd give Scars Run Deep four stars. Emily's story, while a tad cliched and cheesy at some points, had genuine emotion infused into it. You can't help but want to feel something once you're done with Scars Run Deep.
Sadly, Scars Run Deep has several structural and developmental problems I can't ignore. Mansfield shows more often than he tells, and it almost feels like you're reading Emily's file rather than watching her story unfold. None of the characters are given much in the way of development. Even Emily, the main character, feels like a stranger to the reader until much later in the story. There just wasn't enough time spent fleshing the characters out and making them feel alive. I guess that problem could also be attributed to the fact that this is a short novel. Some much is crammed into the plot in a short time that you lose the opportunity for that important character development. I also feel like several of the plot points were skimmed over. I was never clear on the details of the fire, and many things felt rushed to me. Andy and Emily's relationship hit me out of the blue, and I think that the prologue was misleading. It would've been better if it had been Emily meeting with Rick or one of her parents and having to tell that story. Or even having her tell it to a grown Lara. Having Emily tell the story to Andy takes you out of present time for a little bit and then pops you awkwardly back in for a few more chapters. On a completely unrelated side note, I hated Emily's parents. Enough said. Another problem for me is that Mansfield's writing style isn't really much of a style. The words themselves aren't lyrical or smooth, and it reads like someone who is not sure how to tell their story. There isn't anything that sets Scars Run Deep apart stylistically.
Despite the flaws I have pointed out, I did like Scars Run Deep. It wasn't a perfect novel by any means, but it also was not one I regret reading. Emily's story is a moving one, and I desperately wanted to see how her story would end. I also loved how Mansfield brought God into the story. (It maybe could've been done a little more smoothly, but I'm not complaining.) If nothing else, this novel will definitely make you grateful for the blessings in your life. For me, I thought of the things I have and the people I love.
P.S. Thank you, Mr. Mansfield, for the note inside my copy! I appreciated it!
Emily's story is one that will move anyone with a heart, and it is not always an easy one to read. This poor girl has hurdle after hurdle thrown in her path, and sometimes it seems like it is just not possible for her to have a good life. Of course, Emily is not one to bury her head in the same. She keeps going no matter what, and I couldn't help but root for her as the novel continued. If I'm speaking about the story and just the story, I'd give Scars Run Deep four stars. Emily's story, while a tad cliched and cheesy at some points, had genuine emotion infused into it. You can't help but want to feel something once you're done with Scars Run Deep.
Sadly, Scars Run Deep has several structural and developmental problems I can't ignore. Mansfield shows more often than he tells, and it almost feels like you're reading Emily's file rather than watching her story unfold. None of the characters are given much in the way of development. Even Emily, the main character, feels like a stranger to the reader until much later in the story. There just wasn't enough time spent fleshing the characters out and making them feel alive. I guess that problem could also be attributed to the fact that this is a short novel. Some much is crammed into the plot in a short time that you lose the opportunity for that important character development. I also feel like several of the plot points were skimmed over. I was never clear on the details of the fire, and many things felt rushed to me. Andy and Emily's relationship hit me out of the blue, and I think that the prologue was misleading. It would've been better if it had been Emily meeting with Rick or one of her parents and having to tell that story. Or even having her tell it to a grown Lara. Having Emily tell the story to Andy takes you out of present time for a little bit and then pops you awkwardly back in for a few more chapters. On a completely unrelated side note, I hated Emily's parents. Enough said. Another problem for me is that Mansfield's writing style isn't really much of a style. The words themselves aren't lyrical or smooth, and it reads like someone who is not sure how to tell their story. There isn't anything that sets Scars Run Deep apart stylistically.
Despite the flaws I have pointed out, I did like Scars Run Deep. It wasn't a perfect novel by any means, but it also was not one I regret reading. Emily's story is a moving one, and I desperately wanted to see how her story would end. I also loved how Mansfield brought God into the story. (It maybe could've been done a little more smoothly, but I'm not complaining.) If nothing else, this novel will definitely make you grateful for the blessings in your life. For me, I thought of the things I have and the people I love.
P.S. Thank you, Mr. Mansfield, for the note inside my copy! I appreciated it!
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