A goal of mine is to write more succinctly. Ok. So. Here's where I take my first stab at it.
I heard about this book from Voracious Readers Only and was immediately drawn to it - the cover, the description, and even the books that were suggested as similar peaked my interest. Oddly, I hadn't even read the books that were suggested as similar, however, as a high school teacher, I have an interest in mental health issues, particularly when talking about teenagers.
22 Scars by C.M. North (2017)
SUMMARY
This book follows multiple characters and the relationships between them. The main character, Amy, is a young teenage girl who is struggling with mental health issues and participates in self-harming behaviours. Additionally, the book also follows some other unnamed characters and their journey together, known only by their pronouns.
THOUGHTS & REVIEW
North's use of language is really beautiful. It's not the most lyrical piece of literature I've ever read, but honestly, I was really impressed and drawn into the writing. His use of descriptive language and relatively short but powerfully punctuated sentences make this book one that grabs you and immerses you.
The relationship between Amy and her father made me uncomfortable and I'm pretty sure that this was intentional. Without those feelings of anger towards Amy's father, those feelings of intense frustration and anger and sickness make you feel for the characters - all of this going to show what a wonderful writer North is because he is able to bring that emotion out in you. His characters aren't two-dimensional - they're real, they're tangible, and they're right there in front of you.
The book alternates between following two different stories. Just as I was getting really into one of the stories, it would switch to follow another set of characters. Each time, I learned more and more about the characters and kept wondering why they were being placed together side by side. It made for an interesting and engaging read. I looked for parallels and tried to find clues as to why North would place them together like this.
TEXT-TO-TEXT CONNECTION
Voracious Readers Only suggested similar stories to this as 13 Reasons Why, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, All The Bright Places, and Girl, Interrupted.
Before I read 22 Scars, I read 13 Reasons Why because as a high school teacher, yes, I heard about the book after the Netflix series was released. I read that 13 Reasons Why was being banned and forbidden to speak about in many high schools. I read some reviews that said that it glorified suicide. In my opinion? Yes, it does. (As a side note, I got increasingly disgusted with each subsequent season and then finally gave up after the first or second episode of the fourth season).
22 Scars is absolutely nothing like 13 Reasons Why, and in fact, that is insulting to 22 Scars. While I did appreciate the voices in 13 Reasons Why, the only similarity between these two stories is the idea of mental health issues. But 22 Scars goes so much deeper than 13 Reasons Why, which is more of a mysterious drama with little substance. 22 Scars makes you feel the characters' emotions. There is a stark difference between these novels.
As for the other novels... well, I've seen the movie, Girl, Interrupted (pretty great acting done by Winona Ryder and Angelina Jolie) and I have The Perks of Being a Wallflower on my bookshelf as part of my TBR pile.
FINAL THOUGHTS
You should buy this book. Seriously, buy it, support the author, read it, and enjoy his beautiful writing. This may be an uncomfortable read, and you may not like it because it's not a fun or easy or happy story, but it is the reality of so many people. While you may have the option to not have to deal with something that makes you sad like this, know that not everyone has that same choice.
We read to expand our horizons. We read to learn. We read to meet new characters, to interact with them, to learn from them, to go on a journey with them, and to see their perspective of their life's journey. Well... that's why I read. If that's why you read, you should get this book.
TEACHER THOUGHTS
It would really depend on the age and group of my students, but I would not be against bringing this book into the classroom. There is a lot here that you could definitely use in the classroom. Some people would definitely say that this book wouldn't be appropriate for young adults, and it might not be, but it also is the reality of some students. If it's inappropriate for them to read it, then it should be inappropriate for them to live it. And if it is inappropriate for them to live it, then shouldn't you learn more about it so that you can help to get kids out of situations like that?
If you are a teacher, then you really should read this book. Like, right now.
RATING
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