Friday, September 30, 2011

Rage by Jackie Morse Kessler YP FIC KESSLER


 “The day Melissa Miller killed her cat, she met the Angel of Death.  Except he was no angel-and he wasn’t there for the cat.”

Melissa “Missy” Miller cuts herself to drown out the other pain.  The pain of loneliness, sadness, and humiliation are way worse than the pain of her blade.  But when she cuts too deep and meets Death he has a job for her: War.  She takes her blade and uses it for a sword, able to take her rage and ignite in others.  Will she be able to keep from turning the sword on herself?

This is the sequel to Kessler’s Hunger, which takes an anorexic and makes her into Famine.  That was a very good book, but I liked Rage even better.  It takes a realistic look at self harm and depression and twists things by adding a supernatural element.  This works because Kessler keeps us invested in Missy’s pain and believe her transformation into War.  This is an unflinching and tough read.  Missy goes through enormous pain and the scenes of cutting are detailed and possibly triggering for someone that actually has issues with self harm.  However, for people interested in knowing more about cutting and want something very different this is a unique and satisfying winner.  For more books about self-harm try Scars by C.A. Rainfield (YP FIC RAINFIEL) or Cut by Patricia McCormick (YP FIC MCCORMIC).  

For non-fiction you can check out:
Inside a cutter's mind : understanding and helping those who self-injure 616.8582 CLARK
Cutting : understanding and overcoming self-mutilation616.8582 LEVENKRO
Helping teens who cut : understanding and ending self-injury 618.928582 HOLLANDE

1 800 273-TALK (8255)

1 comment:

Unknown said...

I found your article when I was googling books. There is an updated list of self harm help books on the Cutting Depression website... http://www.cuttingdepression.net/books-about-self-harm/