Black-eyed Suzie by Susan Shaw

Although I never read Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, I know enough about it to recommend Black-Eyed Suzie if you enjoyed Speak. This novel is another powerful story about facing the hard times in order to find your voice and heal.

Suzie is a young girl who feels trapped in a box and has lost the use of words. All day long all she does is sit curled up on her chair, not speaking or eating, just occasionally crying. Her mother can't stand it and frequently gets angry at Suzie but insists it's just a stage and fights getting her daughter help. Soon Uncle Elliot - her father's boss - comes and takes Suzie to the hospital where she is admitted. The long journey begins as Suzie remembers her mother's temper and violence and learns to trust the doctors and nurses, but she still can't find the words to speak, especially since it means hurting the ones she loves. She also makes friends with fellow patients and enemies with others - only to discover some problems aren't as obvious as you might think. Soon, though, when her sister's life is in danger, Suzie finds her voice and discovers that sometimes the truth hurts, but silence can be even more painful.

I couldn't get into Speak because of the choppy, snapshot format of the novel and while Black-Eyed Suzie is a little bit choppy, I felt as though it created a more fluid, detailed story. I wish it went a little bit more into the lives of the others at the hospital because Suzie's constant silence became somewhat annoying. Maybe if there was more going on around her, the silence wouldn't become so monotonous. For example, Karen finally started to develop and right when it gets good, her story is left hanging. True, some people don't recover, but don't give us a taste and then take it away.

This was a very easy novel to read, therefore making it accessible to everyone. It has a great message and definitely is a novel people should read, especially for teens living in abusive relationships - whether with parents or boyfriend/girlfriend. Silence doesn't solve anything. By not speaking, no one gets the help they need - you're only protecting the abuser and that's not right. Yes, coming out with the truth will hurt, especially if you honestly love the abuser, but in the long run, the truth will be better for everyone.
MMK

Cut by Patricia McCormick

This a a frequently requested novel and I decided to see why it was so popular. A lot of times I don't quite get why people like the popular books (Twilight did nothing for me) but I really enjoyed this book. It was wonderfully written and a powerful story. I can see why teens request it.

Callie is staying at Sea Pines or Sick Minds as the patients call it, because she is a cutter. For the first part of the book she is resistant to treatment. She's not violently resistant, but she just goes through the motions and refuses to talk - therapy sessions are going nowhere. In the meantime, she pays attention to the other patients. Most are on the road to recovery, but some, including Callie, can't kick the habit. One night, after Callie cuts herself and realizes it doesn't have the same affect, she turns to her therapist and finally accepts help. The next part of the novel explores the deeper aspect of Callie's family life and how her mother is focused on her sick brother and her absent father and how that possibly led her to cut. This section also includes the blossoming connections between the patients and their roles in each other's lives, especially when one patient takes a downward spiral. In the end, Callie has to face what it means to honestly get help for herself.

One thing I found interesting about this novel is you can hear Callie telling this story to you. She refers to the therapist in the second person - you - and you (the reader) really feels like she's talking to you. This writing technique really draws in the reader because you've become a part of the story. I didn't exactly like the therapist, however. Maybe she didn't fit my image of a therapist because I didn't really feel like she understood simple things about what Callie was saying. It was almost like she played dumb, but yet it didn't look like she was playing. It might all just be a strategy to allow Callie to do the talking, but I felt that some meaningful advice or interpretation was left out. I wish the father was developed a little bit more. I'm a little lost on his relationship/role in the family. I think I know, but I wish it was clearer. Beyond that, the novel was fantastic. I really became involved with the characters - even though at first it seemed like there were too many people to keep track. I wanted to see them - Callie especially - succeed and get better. And then, of course, it has the hopeful ending that should ideally inspire others in similar situations.

I don't know why teens ask for this book. Maybe they relate to Callie or have just heard it's a good book. Either way, I definitely think it's one that's worth reading.
MMK