Cut by Patricia McCormick is a very real, heartfelt story about a young girl in a rehabilitation facility that the "guests" dub "Sick Minds." She refuses to talk to her counselor, to any of the other "guests," or her parents.
It is written inside Callie's head; she thinks as if she is speaking to her counselor. Slowly, this is how we as readers discover why she doesn't speak to anyone about anything, and why she began cutting herself. When she witnesses another of the "guests," who is there with an eating disorder, throwing up what she eats, she doesn't tell anyone. This girl eventually gets so sick she is sent to the emergency ward, and Callie's guilt brings her out of her silence. She finally begins to share her story with her counselor and develop relationships with the others.
Cut was certainly an eye-opener to me; I consider it one of my "challenge" books. I didn't really enjoy it, but I read it to expand my knowledge. I've never been exposed to anything like Callie's story, and it was a serious crash into reality for me. I'm not sure I'd recommend it to anyone, just because the subject is a sensitive one, but it is certainly an eye-opener, and any teen surrounded by or at least exposed this situation should read it to gain a better understanding of the possible reasons why.
1 comment:
I'm interested in the part where she narrates it, inside her head, as if she is speaking to her counselor. Just another slightly different way to approach -and, subsequently, talk about with kids - issues of point of view, and narration. (Even though I know you said you would not teach it...)
I was just struck by this particular element, given my current interest in narration/point of vew, characters "writing" their own story, or, in this case, speaking it. which adds a whole other layer of audience...
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