Cut

Cut by Patricia McCormick
McCormick, P. (2000). Cut. New York: Scholastic
ISBN: 0439324599

Plot

Callie is placed in a facility called Sea Pines for troubled teens. She is there because she cuts herself. Others are there for drug addiction and eating disorders. Callie is in group therapy with some of these other girls. Callie does not want to speak in group. She allows others to tell their stories instead. Callie narrates her experience with group therapy, her stay in rehab and, through flashbacks, the circumstances that contributed to her becoming self abusive. She speaks directly to her therapist whom she refers to only as "you." She is not making progress in her therapy until a girl named Amanda shows up in group with the same affliction as her own. Amanda's presence is the catalyst for Callie to start facing her problem.

Critical Evaluation

This novel makes for compelling reading. It is powerfully written. The descriptions of the rehab facility bring Callie's situation into sharp focus. The other personalities of the story are seamlessly interwoven into Callie's narrative as are their addictions. The characters are believable. The portrayal of the therapist to whom Callie speaks directly is particularly realistic. There is excellent use of descriptive language. The first scene which describes Callie's experience of cutting herself is marvelous. McCormick is pitch perfect in her depiction of addiction and recovery. The book is paced beautifully.

Readers Annotation

Callie likes to run. She runs cross country at school. She runs home when no one is there. She finds a knife on the table. She cuts herself and feels release. Now her blood runs. But, this gives Callie comfort. Callie is running from herself. Will she be able to turn and face her problems? 

About the Author

Patricia McCormickis a graduate of Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. She has worked as a journalist, contributing to several national publications. She has taught journalism at Columbia and N.Y.U. She spent 3 years researching her first novel, Cut. She is the mother of two and lives in New York City with her husband and son.

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Curriculum Ties: Language Arts, Social Studies

Booktalk Ideas: Understanding addiction

Reading Level: Grade 7+
Interest Level: 7+
Challenge Issues: Self mutilation. The depictions of emotional disorders in this novel are sensitively written.

This book is included because it is a riveting account of addiction and recovery.

Sold

Sold by Patricia McCormick

McCormick, P. (2006). Sold. Hyperion Books: New York

ISBN: 0786851724

Plot

Lakshmi is a 13 year old girl who lives in Nepal. Her family is poor, but she finds happiness in small things like caring for her cucumbers and sharing moments with her mother. Her step father is lazy and distant. One day he tells Lakshmi she must take a job to help support the family. Lakshmi is happy to help. She believes she is going to the city to be a maid. But, to her horror, discovers that she has been sold to a brothel in India. She resists as long as she can, but finally is drugged by Mumtaz, the woman who runs the brothel, and is raped. She puts up with unspeakable degradation and constant threats, but slowly makes friends and learns to survive. One day an American comes to the brothel. He hands her a card. It takes great courage to attempt escape, as beatings dispensed by Mumtaz are cruel and can disfigure one for life. Lakshmi finally gathers her courage and gives the card to a delivery boy who has been kind to her. One day an American comes to the door with the police. Though extremely fearful, Lakshmi comes forward to be rescued. "My name is Lakshmi," she says. "I am from Nepal. I am fourteen years old."

Critical Evaluation

This is one of the most heartbreaking books I have ever read. It is not just the horrifying subject matter, but the poignant manner in which it is told. The juxtaposition of Lakshmi's innocent country life with the harsh brutality of the brothel is breathtaking. The depiction of Lakshmi's cruel fate is told with delicacy, yet there can be no mistake about what has transpired. As usual, McCormick has done her research. Her interviews with women in Nepal and India make her characters believable. This is an important book exposing the human tragedy of the sexual slave trade. It is a remarkable achievement.

Readers Annotation

Lakshmi is a young girl living in poverty with her mother and family in Nepal. Her life may be poor, but it is filled with simple pleasures. One day her lazy stepfather tells her she must take a job to support the family. She is happy to help out. Lakshmi believes she is going to the city to work as a maid. But this is not where she is going. Lakshmi has been sold into sexual slavery. This is her story.

About the Author

Patricia McCormickis a graduate of Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. She has worked as a journalist, contributing to several national publications. She has taught journalism atColumbia and N.Y.U. She spent 3 years researching her first novel, Cut. She is the mother of two and lives in New York City with her husband and son.

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Curriculum Ties: Language Arts, Social Studies

Booktalk Ideas: Global awareness

Reading Level: Grade 7+
Interest Level: Grade 7+
Challenge Issues: Sexual slavery. This book could be easily challenged. Using the subject of children sold into sexual slavery as the basis for a YA novel is highly controversial. I would defend it on the grounds that it is incredibly sensitively written and social awareness.

This book is included because it is an important work dealing with horrible truth for the more than half a million children trafficked into the sex trade annually. It is sensitively written and appropriate for tweens.