Brought up in an abusive home with an alcoholic father and a mother who is suffering from mental illness, 15-year-old Mara must learn to deal with her aggressive, violent outbursts. Luckily she has the support of her teacher, Mrs. Sidler, who can see Mara's potential for good. This was a well-written, captivating book. You can really feel Mara's pain and want to reach into the book to help her. Despite her aggression, Mara is a strong character with a will to better herself. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it as a grade 8 or high school level read. Some language issues and subject matter may not be suitable for elementary students. ( )

Sometimes 15-year-old Mara loses control. She strikes out at people, then runs. Often, she can't recall what she's done. She knows losing control is dangerous, but she also feels that somehow the rage protects her, making her invincible.

Then she meets Tibor, a sweet guy who's not put off by her attitude or her messed-up home life. There's also a teacher at school who sees a better future than Mara's ever imagined for herself. The teacher even gets Mara a volunteer job in a preschool.

But the anger is never far away. The day Mara spots Tibor on his motorcycle with another girl, the rage takes over. Mara tracks the girl down and beats her senseless.

Horrified, Mara finally seeks help for her behavior. But salvation isn't that simple. The injured girl is Tibor's sister. Devastated by the news, but determined to make amends, Mara takes her first steps toward a life free of violence.

Filled with raw emotion and unflinching honesty, Red Rage is a vivid portrait of one teen lost in a vortex of her own violence. ( )