About Scars -
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.
Falling in love during tragedy -
When you feel alone in your pain, everything is harder. But when you find someone who can hear you, who understands and who truly cares about you, the pain lessens. Where once it might have felt too hard to get through, with someone who really cares about you and hears you, you can start to feel like you can get through, and maybe things really will get better. It can be a friend who gives you that, a therapist, a teacher, a lover. In Scars, I gave Kendra all of those people because she needed them. Sharing your pain makes a real healing and positive difference.
But you have to be able to reach out and to talk to someone. It doesn’t have to be verbal speech—it can be through writing or art or another form of communication. But you do have to trust, just a little bit, and reach out and show what’s going on. It can feel so scary to, so hard, especially when you’ve been hurt many times—but then, when you reach out and you find someone you can truly trust, it makes such a huge, healing difference. And there are so many more ways to reach out to others now who will really get it—email, chat, the social networks, finding groups and websites where other people understand, even if you can’t find someone in person who can. Though a hug, a warm smile, an understanding look can mean a lot. I’m grateful to have had some good people in my life who care about me; that helped me put some good people in Kendra’s life, too.
Scars debuted in March, 2011 from WestSide books. For more info on Cheryl and her other books, visit: http://www.cherylrainfield.com.
Here are some resources about self-harm. If you cut yourself, please know that there is help available!
Reasons Not To Hurt Yourself: http://www.cherylrainfield.com/freebies/reasons-not-to-hurt-yourself-handout.pdf
Alternatives To Self-Harm: http://www.cherylrainfield.com/freebies/alternatives-to-self-harm.pdf
How To Stop Self-Harming: http://www.cherylrainfield.com/freebies/how-to-stop-self-harm.pdf
Helpful Responses to Someone Who's Self-Harmed: http://www.cherylrainfield.com/freebies/helpful-responses-some1-self-harmed.pdf
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