Faking Normal by Courtney C. Stevens

"An edgy, realistic debut novel praised by the New York Times bestselling author of Between Shades of Gray, Ruta Sepetys, as “a beautiful reminder that amid our broken pieces we can truly find ourselves.”

Alexi Littrell hasn’t told anyone what happened to her over the summer by her backyard pool. Instead, she hides in her closet, counts the slats in the air vent, and compulsively scratches the back of her neck, trying to make the outside hurt more than the inside does—and deal with the trauma.

When Bodee Lennox—“the Kool-Aid Kid”—moves in with the Littrells after a family tragedy, Alexi discovers an unlikely friend in this quiet, awkward boy who has secrets of his own. As their friendship grows, Alexi gives him the strength to deal with his past, and Bodee helps her summon the courage to find her voice and speak up about the rape that has changed the course of her life." (overview provided by Barnes and Noble.)

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I picked up a copy of Faking Normal after coming across the blurb on EpicReads, and didn't put the book back down until  I finished it that night. From the very first pages of Faking Normal,  I was invested in Alexi. I wanted to know exactly what happened to her and who was responsible for her pain. The pain Alexi struggles with is so apparent to the reader that it's almost depressing how much it seems others don't see it. There are a few times when her friends mention a change in her behavior and attitude, but her parents and sister seem a little oblivious. The only one in the book who truly notices how much pain Alexi is in is Bodee, a boy whose mother is murdered by his father shortly before the story begins.

What I love about Faking Normal is how accurately Courtney C, Stevens portrays small town southern America. Set in Rickman, Tennessee, the highlight of the town are the high school football games and some of the football players have a pretty significant role in the book. Alexi's best friends, Heather and Liz date football players (Collie and Ray), Alexi is asked out by 2 different football players (Dane and Hayden), and Alexi's sister Kayla is dating/engaged to the high school football coach, Craig Tanner. 

Alexi's story is complicated. She doesn't want to tell anyone about what happened, not just because she's embarrassed and ashamed, but because she doesn't want to hurt someone who means so much to her and would be devastated if the truth ever came out. At one point, I thought I knew who Alexi's rapist was and when it was finally revealed, I had to double check that I read the correct name-- something that Bodee had to do as well when he found out the who. AMAZING twist. I loved how that reveal occurs.

Faking Normal  is an amazing book about trying to heal after trauma and how you can't do it on your own. I love this book. Another amazing review of Faking Normal can be found here by Teen Librarian's Toolbox.

When Jeff Comes Home by Cathrine Atkins

Jeff Hart was always his father's pride and joy. When his brother or sister wanted something from their dad, they knew if Jeff asked it would happen. Then one day, the unthinkable happened, while at a rest stop with his family, Jeff is forced into a waiting van at knife-point. From that terrifying moment on, Jeff's life is forever changed.

Two-and-a-half years later, Jeff's abductor, Ray, drops him off at his childhood home. Once inside the door, Jeff and his family begin the difficult journey of recovering from such traumatic years. Jeff has to get used to no longer being used as a sexual outlet for an older man, not being hit or his mind messed with and readjust to being a part of a family and society in general.

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This book is definantly a difficult one to read. Jeff's story is a hard one to hear and one can only be greatful that they have never had to endure the torment and torture Jeff had to endure-- to never have to go through the things Jeff did to survive.

Bait by Alex Sanchez

In this new novel by Alex Sanchez, we are introduced to Diego MacMann, a troubled teenage boy who is meeting his new probation officer for the first time-- right before his court date. Besides having a temper, Diego appears to be a model student, a hard worker and great big brother. But Diego is hiding a few secrets underneath his anger. With the help of Mr. Vidas, his probation officer, Diego begins to deal with the source of his anger and begins to allow himself to trust and rely on other people.

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I have read some of Alex Sanchez's other books and must say that with this one, once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down. I felt myself falling into Diego's despair at points and understanding his anger at others. With each page I turned, I felt myself wanting to wrap Diego up in the hug I felt he desperately needed at the time.

I have to admit, I didn't like some of the things the mother in the book put Diego through. I didn't like the way the mother constantly lied to make things seem better instead of actually dealing with the truth. I felt that she needed to grow up and deal with things instead of placing the blame elsewhere.

All in all, I must say I really liked this book. I really liked the growth Diego had to accomplish in the book and I really liked the way Alex Sanchez used the ocean and sharks throughout the novel.

Impossible by Nancy Werlin

Lucy Scarborough has a hideous family secret. The women in her family are all cursed to become pregnant at age 17, give birth at 18 and then slip into madness. And unfortunately, Lucy is not an exception. While visits from her birth mother are sporadic, they are filled with trouble and strife, and a weird old folksong.

Lucy's journey begins with an ill-fated prom date ending in her being raped to conceiving her child (even after taking emergency contraception). Once her mother's journal is found by her friend Zach pieces begin to fall into place and the folksong takes on a new haunting and horrible meaning. . .

Lucy has to figure out the song and how to perform the tasks that are in it, all before her baby is born. If she doesn't, she and her unborn daughter will be forced to follow the footsteps of the other women in their family history.

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Let me just say this: I LOVED this story. I found myself researching Scarborough Fair and The Elfin Knight to try to piece the puzzle together at the same time Lucy, Zach and their family tried to. I know for one, I will never be able to listen to Scarborough Fair the same way again. I never realized how haunting that song could be.

Series Round-up: True Life from Hamilton High Series by Marilyn Reynolds

Telling is the book that started it all for me. I believe it was the first YA book I read and It is definitely the one I remember the best. Cassie was a typical 12 year old girl. She fought with her mom, was annoyed by her brother and loved hanging out with her friends and her cousin, Lisa. When a new family moved into the neighborhood, all that changed. Soon, the new family became a big part of Cassie's life, she hung out with them, helped around the house and even babysat their children. Then the father of the children she sits for begins molesting her, Cassie turns to her cousin instead of an adult. Cassie and Lisa soon learn to trust in the adults in their family and healing can begin.



In Shut Up, Marilyn Reynolds takes a story similar to Telling but chooses to bring to light that boys can be molested also. In this book, a ten year old boy is the victim of his mother's boyfriend. He withdraws from everyone until his older brother walks in on molestation. From that moment on, brother and brother work to stay together and finally get the help they need.

Erica was a model student. She got good grades, kept a steady job, but her boyfriend was not a good influence to her. At one point in the book a police officer warns Erica that "If she lays down with dogs, she's going to get fleas . . ." Erica ignores the warnings until her boyfriends friend rapes her and her boyfriend does nothing to stop it from happening.

Teen Pregnancy from the guy point of view. Jeff didn't mean to get his girlfriend pregnant. When the girlfriend decides to keep the baby, Jeff has to step up and be the man he has become and help take care of their daughter.

In Detour for Emmy, Emmy is a straight A student, lead soprano in choir and an all around good girl who happens to get pregnant. Emmy has to deal with the disappointment of adults, the abandonment of her boyfriend and the constant stares that accompany her growing belly.
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Marilyn Reynolds really knows how to make a story so gripping that you don't want to put the book down until you have read the final word. Her True Life from Hamilton High series is emotionally gripping and wondrful. One thing that I LOVE about the series is the parents usually try to help and in the cases of molestation and rape, always believe their child.

Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott

"I am the living dead girl because I am to weak to die." Alice, who really isn't named Alice, lives those words. Abducted by a sociopath when she was 10, Alice is a survivor in every sense of the word. Her sadistic keeper Ray likes his girls young and once they get "old" (around 15) they have to leave and he finds a new Alice.

Our Alice is 15 now, and she awaits the day of her death with eager anticipation. She longs for Ray's knife to rip through her body, but Ray has other ideas. Before he will let Alice go, she has to find her replacement. Alice has to find the next girl, the one Ray will name Annabel, and train her for Ray's twisted needs. The question is, when Annabel gets there, will Alice finally be released to her family or will her death come as she hopes. . .

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This book is AMAZING! Elizabeth Scott has done a masterful job keeping the suspence growing with this novel. As I read each page, I found myself hoping that she could get away. The book jacket says it all Living Dead Girl really is unlike any I have read before and I doubt I will ever read one like it again. Living Dead Girl made me think. At times Alice seemed really cold and vicious, but then I stopped to think, if I was in her place, would I react the same way? Would I be so desperate to be safe again that I would willingly find a replacement? Would I be different from Alice?

This book will make you think and it will take you out of your comfort zone, but that is what any great work of fiction will do.

Safe by Susan Shaw

When thirteen-year-old Tracy, whose mother died when she was three years old, is raped and beaten on the last day of school, all her feelings of security disappear and she does not know how to cope with the fear and dread that engulf her.
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I absolutely loved this book. The attack on Tracy is not graphically detailed, but the emotions and trauma she feels after are very vivid. You can feel the anxiety she has when left alone, the desire to cling to her father and the despair she lives in now that she can no longer feel her mother's presence. Tracy has a long road ahead of her, one that she will not have to walk alone. Her father refuses to allow her to wallow in fear and pity. Tracy also finds comfort in her weekly piano lessons, lessons she used to dread and attempt to get out of, now bring her peace and help her find a new life. Tracy's expreience in the orange car causes her to try to pull away from her friends and it almost succeeds. A frightening event will bring her back to her friends, her father and even back to the mother she lost so many years before.

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson (Platinum Edition)

Melinda Sordino has a terrible secret. Something happened to her at a summer party and when she tried to report it, she became the school outcast. All of her "friends" turned their backs on her, the adults in her life effectively ignore her and everyone else simply stops "listening". So, Melinda stops speaking. When everyone seems to turn a deaf ear, when everyone seems to stop caring, one teacher reaches out to her-- her art teacher, Mr. Freeman. Eventually, Melinda finds strength inside of her to defend herself and tell her secret, even when her best friend initially refuses to believe her.

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Laurie Halse Anderson's Speak is a haunting tale of isolation-- self-imposed or otherwise-- and the desire to have someone notice and care about the hell one girl was dealing with. Melinda is a believable character to whom girls or victims in general can relate. (Let's face it, this can happen to boys too, read Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson's Target for a boy's perspective.)

I found it DEVASTATING that most of the adults in Melinda's life were too busy to care about what was happening to her, including her own parents. The adults in her life simply chalked her moodiness, silence and general apathy to being an angtsy teenage girl. I did rally behind Mr. Freeman when he attempted to reach out to Melinda through Art. Kudos to him for that!

One of my favorite aspects of this book has to be that Melinda finds her courage and strength from a poster of Maya Angelou-- a woman who shares a similar frightening experience. Though Melinda doesn't know her personally, she is able to harness strength and find her voice again. And this time when she Speaks, someone finally listens.

Target by Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson is a genius with this short novel.
Grady is your typical highschool junior. Crushing on a girl in his group of friends, hanging out and just being a guy. Then one night his life is completly changed when two men attack him.
Grady's life falls apart. He stops talking, going to school and eating. His parents are nervous and don't know what to do and his friends are pushed away.
The next school year arrives, and Grady starts going to a new school across town to avoid the people who knew him "before". Grady tries to keep his secret but one nosy high school reporter is determined to make his life more miserable by finding out his secret.
I absolutley love this book. It takes a subject matter that we don't always associate with boys and shows that tragic events affect them just as they do girls.