To be sure, this book could easily have been a 4-star. But for me, it was very angsty and really nothing I understand. I'm sure there are many teens out there who can relate to the book of cutting, homelessness, drug use, etc. But I was totally out of my element. So with that in mind, here is my review.
I felt like the cutting was definitely not expressed as a cool thing, but rather as a real, yet dangerous, coping mechanism. The shock of having a horrible family life, which also was dangerous, but realistic, was portrayed well. And the homelessness, having to survive in clans was probably not out of reach to believe in. The drug use was more than disconcerting as several students probably could relate. The promiscuity isn't out of the believable stage, either. So, I guess I felt like, in this book, to have all of these things happening is, like, wow. If something bad could happen in the book, it did. One bad situation or decision led to another, and I get that, but I stated before, I wonder if this is worst case or most realistic case.
I do know that I have students who are eating up the book, so there has to be merit in there for sure. And I "enjoyed" (is that the appropriate word"?) the book. And it definitely impacted me about what an easy life I have had and often don't realize.