Overview

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.

Review

• Starred Review Whatever their life experience, teens will be on the edge of their seats, rooting for Kendra to unravel the mystery that shadows her life. This is one heck of a good book! --School Library Journal

Emotions ring true in this raw and honest thriller survivor story. --Publishers Weekly

...Rainfield writes with great empathy and compassion as she tells Kendra s story. Kendra s pain is palpable....It is clear that Rainfield has firsthand knowledge of these topics, and she handles them deftly... --Voice of Youth Advocates

From the Author

When I wrote SCARS, I wrote the book I needed as a teen and could never find. I drew on my abuse and trauma experience to write SCARS and bring an insider perspective; like Kendra, I'm a sexual abuse survivor, I used self-harm (and art) to cope, and I'm queer. I know how alone I felt, and how blamed--and when you're in pain, feeling alone and blamed can make the pain so much worse.

I still get reader letters every week telling me how SCARS helped readers know they're not alone; feel understood for the very first time; talk about their own self-harm, sexual abuse, or being queer; get help; stop cutting or want to stop; and a few have even told me that it helped them not want to kill themselves. I also hear from people who've never had any of those experiences before, who let me know that they understand self-harm now (and aren't so judgmental about it any more). I am grateful for all the reader letters that come in, and I try to answer them all (though it can take me a while).

It's my own arm on the cover of SCARS.

About the Author

Cheryl Rainfield writes edgy, realistic teen fiction as well as paranormal fantasy for teens. She lives in Toronto, Canada.