Cut

By Patricia McCormick, Push, 176 pages

“You lean forward, place a box of tissues in front of me, and your black leather chair groans like a living thing.”

Cut by Patricia McCormick is a novel that sheds light on the very real problem of cutting. Callie is a teen girl who begins cutting herself and is admitted to a residential treatment facility. When she is first admitted she doesn’t speak to anyone. As the book progresses Callie develops relationships with the other patients. Not all of the patients are like her, there are girls with eating disorders, a girl who are depressed, and then, after Callie has been there awhile, one other girl arrives who also cuts. There are multiple catalysts that affect Callie and how she sees herself. One of these catalysts triggers her to start talking again.

The reader learns more of Callie’s home life and frustration and emotional neglect that she experiences. The novel is ultimately how Callie chooses to become active in treatment, and it started with her finding her voice. Once she begins talking and knows that she is being heard, her healing begins. The author provides raw emotions throughout the story and depicts her behavior and thought processes in an authentic manner. The characters are very well developed and each one plays a role. The ending was satisfying, though this reviewer wished the book hadn’t ended and wanted to keep reading.

Jina Oravetz