Someone To Kiss My Scars
A Teen Thriller
by Brooke Skipstone
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Pub Date Oct 17 2019 | Archive Date Oct 10 2019
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Description
Readers' Favorite International Contest: Silver Medal in Young Adult Thriller
"A powerful, original examination of the nature of memory and the effects of childhood abuse that's framed as a suspense tale. Deeply felt and convincing." -- Kirkus Reviews
Hunter needs to remember. Jazz needs to forget. They need each other to heal in this teen thriller of survivor love.
Hunter's past is a mystery to him, erased by a doctor at the direction of his father. But memories of the secret trauma begin to surface when Hunter sees other people's memories--visions invading his mind with stories of abuse, teen self-mutilation, rape, and forbidden sex.
His best friend Jazz has dark and disturbing memories of her own that she hides behind her sass and wit. Hunter discovers he can rescue the victims, even though he risks adding their suffering to his own.
Hunter and Jazz kiss each other's scars and form a bond of empathy no two teens should ever need.
This book contains scenes of sexual abuse, self-mutilation, and suicide. It should not be read by teens who wish to be shielded from such harsh realities their peers may be enduring alone. Nor by anyone who desires to remain in the dark despite being in a position to shine light. However, those who suffer in private or wish to help those who do--please read this story and share its contents.
Many parts of this book are difficult to read and were very difficult to write. But there is much truth in these pages, some profoundly ugly and some beautiful in its resilience. As one character says, "I have to believe I can still love and be loved. We can't stay broken forever."
And they shouldn't be unknown forever. People need to feel the pain of others.
Advance Praise
"Riveting . . .a beautifully written book. The characters are compelling and their pain authentic. . . hard to put down." — Blueink Review
"Powerful. Original. Deeply felt and convincing." — Kirkus Reviews
Readers' Favorite International Contest: Silver Medal in Young Adult Thriller
"A moving portrait of young lives scarred by severe mental and physical abuse. Skipstone's daring portrayal of her many characters' damaged mental and emotional state is deeply disturbing and chilling. . . Brilliantly brave!" --The Prairies Book Review
"A profoundly emotional dramatic page-turner. It is a courageous look at incest and other forms of sexual abuse. . . A lurid, yet audacious tale." --Authors Reading
A brutal and essential read . . .A fearless novel with a message far deeper than the plot. The intensity of the story . . . is coupled with powerful prose and the reminder that everyone has secrets and scars, urging readers towards empathy, self-examination, and greater kindness." -- Self-Publishing Review
"Brilliant execution from the pen of someone truly skilled with words. With just a few sentences, the reader stands no chance, being pulled deep into the story, with interest piqued and hungering for more until that hunger is satisfied . . . I can only praise the book . . . A perfect balance between descriptions and plotline, emotions and action." -- International Review of Books
"The prose is impeccably good, laced with vivid descriptions that make the reading experience cinematic. . . A gripping, dark, and disturbing coming of age story that is deftly handled with characters that readers will root for and themes that are relevant and strong."--Romuald Dzemo
"Author Brooke Skipstone has created a masterpiece with this traumatic and emotional novel. . . . one of my favorite reads this year."-- Tiffany Ferrell
"A wholly unapologetic, raw look at sexual assault, abuse, aggression, homophobia, self-harm, suicide and all of the terrible things that destroy lives on a daily basis. . . Highly Recommended." -- Jamie Michele
"A taut and lovely story about two tortured young adults who find common ground and mutual acceptance. . . This well-written story addresses social issues of paramount importance. . . Highly recommended."-- Jack Magnus
Available Editions
| ISBN | 9781733148801 |
| PRICE | $2.99 (USD) |
Links
Featured Reviews
Anna C, Reviewer
I wasn't sure if I'd like this, but I'm glad I gave it a try. It's certainly not an easy read but it's written with huge amounts of compassion and empathy. Hunter and Jazz, the two leads, are just lovely: kind and strong despite everything the world has tried to do to them. And alongside the unflinching look at the dark side of human nature, there are some interesting ideas about memory and healing from trauma. Worth reading, but not for the faint-hearted.
Stephanie B, Reviewer
This book took me by surprise in an eye opening way. It didn’t shy away from hard topics (no spoilers) and try to cover up what many teenagers are going through. I like that it was a mystery too, with small pieces of the puzzle getting added chapter by chapter. I will definitely recommend to my kids when they reach high school age because I think it’s vital we all should be exposed to how other are living.
Maria B, Reviewer
This book was a quick read that I really enjoyed. I will be looking for more works by this author. I was drawn in by the title and cover and what I found inside was a great story.
Krissy R, Reviewer
This book brings awareness to sexual abuse in the most unique way. It will very likely make you uncomfortable. It SHOULD make you uncomfortable. If it doesn't, you may be just as awful as the villains in this story.
From the very beginning I was hooked. It was mysterious and I needed to unravel the mystery. It follows two best friends that have been through awful abuse. I think the only way to describe one aspect of this book is magic realism. I was so interested in finding out what exactly was going on. I finished it so quick. I don't really want to say what goes on bc it's a wild ride and I personally hate spoilers. Pick this one up! The only issue I can think of was that the end was a little awkward, but it didn't take away from the book for me.
I really appreciated the authors note at the beginning. She states that these stories shouldn't be covered up. That teens, (or anyone of any age really), shouldn't hide their abuse. Encouraging everyone to speak out, even if it seems like they shouldn't. Ignoring the fact that people get sexually abused every single day doesn't help anyone. Pretending it doesn't happen is another crime in itself. I loved the way she explained it. I didn't expect to stumble upon such a unique book, but i'm super happy I did.
Ria P, Reviewer
I found this book very hard to read but totally worth it, it highlights some really important issues in such a real way and is fantastically written.
Account D, Reviewer
i really enjoyed reading this book, the topics were handled well done and the characters felt like real people.
Neva D, Reviewer
Someone To Kiss My Scars deals with various triggers, such as abuse, sexual trauma, and pedophilia, but it covers these issues in a way that is honest about what teenagers go through every day. It covers these issues because most books targeting teenagers aren't nearly as upfront as they need to be. I did appreciate the trigger warnings at the beginning of Someone to Kiss My Scars, because the warnings gave me time to prepare for what I was reading. I highly recommend reading it!
Readers who liked this book also liked:
Jodi Picoult; Jennifer Finney Boylan
General Fiction (Adult), Literary Fiction, Women's Fiction
