Catherine Atkins

A real mix of feelings reading this book. Jeff's emotions are expressed beautifully throughout and I was left in no doubt of the incredible journey he would undertake in order to recover from his ordeal. On the other hand I found his home life and background characters completely unrealistic. I could understand if it was set in the 1960s/70s but it was written in 1999! I cannot believe he could come home, destroy vital evidence and refuse to engage with the police. No physical exam? no therapist straight away? His stepmother fades away into the background almost entirely and it's never explained why his father doesn't seem to like his other two children very much, it's all a bit frustrating. As a novel about PTSD, recovery and sexual abuse it's very successful but the lack of believable characters (apart from Jeff) and situations really let it down.… (más)

Susan is overweight, self-conscious and the butt of jokes. She is caught vandalizing a classmate's truck and ordered to participate in a weekly counseling class. Also in the class is a popular jock, a cheerleader, a gay, a punker and Susan's primary tormentor, Kale. Counselor Mr. Duffy generates discussion to get the kids to know each other and talk about things. Susan develops a friendship with gay Brendan and a tenuous but growing understanding of the others. She also is dealing with her mother's death from cancer and the distance that's grown between her, her father and brother Tom. She finds more confidence to stand up for herself in and out of the counseling class.… (más)