Kendra has been sexually abused for much of her life and copes with flashes of memory by self-harming. As she realizes she is queer and develops a relationship with her friend Meghan, she faces homophobia and familiar rejection.
Publisher’s Description:
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.
Genre: Contemporary
Representation:
Gender:
Cis girls: Kendra
Sexual Orientation:
Lesbian/Queer: Kendra
Romantic Orientation:
Not explicitly addressed.
Race/Ethnicity:
White: Kendra
Religion:
Christian: Kendra
Trigger Warnings:
Kendra has been sexually assaulted by a man she can’t remember before the book starts. She has flashbacks and copes by self harming.