Scars by Cherly Rainfield

Scars by Cherly Rainfield illustrates the sexual abuse trauma of gifted and talented artist, Kendra, her horrifying experience when she was two years old. Kendra struggles with the memories and shadow of her nightmare of being raped by an unknown pedophile that taunts her both internally and externally.  Her relationship with her mother is tense because at a tender age she attempted to tell her mom; however, her mom at the time passed the responsibility of comforting Kendra to her father. Kendra develops a fond relationship with her therapist, Carolyn, Art teacher, Mrs. Archer, and Meghan, and just when she thinks that she’s on her way to opening up slowly, her family notifies her that they can no longer afford her therapy sessions, and that they would have to move to the suburbs. 

Kendra emotionally expresses her true feelings through her drawing. It is through her drawing that she opens up her soul. Kendra’s overcoming fear of being stalked, slow desperation of unearthing the details and identity of her rapist, leads her to secretly cope by cutting herself. Will she find the peace she so desires? Will her parents finally understand what she is truly going through? Will her new relationship with Meghan turn into something more, will she finally feel safe around men; discover who violated her and who’s been leaving things in her schoolbag? Kendra believes and feels that he is watching her, and knows that her art is resurfacing his identity and vicious violation. 

Cheryl Rainfield paints a realistic and vivid description of how some teens are unable to truly cope in a healthy manner. Instead she reveals that cutting or self-inflicted mutilation is a way that teens secretly cope when a traumatic experience sends them to an edge. The author discloses that as part of her own experience she has shared through her book cover jacket her own arms slashed with scars. Here one infers that she has had first-hand experience of also cutting as a teen herself.

This book for me was definitely disturbing to me because as a parent and educator, it frightens me to know that there are teens who cope in this manner. It further allows me to ponder on what indicators or behaviors are most apparent for teens that are in desperation of coping, so help can be immediately provided for teens who are crying for help.

The book is outstanding—“5” because it is well written, and it reveals so much more than what I expected. It would make a great read for high school or on a case by case basis teens in middle school, parents, and educators.