An intensely powerful account of a teen, bullied for her port-wine stain, who must summon her personal strength to survive abduction and horrific abuse at the hands of a deranged killer
Sixteen-year-old Sarah Meadows longs for “normal.” Born with a port wine-stain covering half her face, she has been plagued by stares, giggles, bullying, and disgust all her life. But when she’s abducted on the way home from school, Sarah is forced to uncover the courage she never knew she had, become a hero rather than a victim, and learn to look beyond her face to find the beauty and strength she has inside. It’s that—or succumb to a killer.
“A teen beaten down by peer bullying finds inner strength when she is abducted and held against her will…Sarah’s determination to stay alive and escape will resonate with readers, and they will cheer her efforts to overcome her underdog status.”—Kirkus Reviews
Fifteen-year-old Kendra 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.
“Scars is a brave novel, a read-in-one-sitting-except-when-you-have-to-put-it-down-to-breathe novel.”—Ellen Hopkins, National Book Award nominee and New York Times bestselling author
