Review : Cut
Cut by Patricia McCormick
Pages : 151
Genre : YA, fiction
Stand Alone
My Rating : 
What it’s about, from the author’s website :
Fifteen-year-old Callie isn’t speaking to anyone, not even her therapist at Sea Pines, the residential treatment facility: where her parents sent her after discovering she cuts herself. As her story unfolds, Callie reluctantly becomes involved with the other guests at Sea Pines, other young woman struggling with problems of their own. Although their issues are different from hers, Callie is drawn into the group, finds her voice, and gradually, confronts the family trauma that triggered her destructive behavior.
My Thoughts :
I was really glad to be invited to join the tour to celebrate the 10 years anniversary of Cut‘s release. In the past years since I started blogging, I had seen Cut around many times, and had been really curious about it. Cutting is an issue that, it seems to me, we are only beginning to talk about – compared to depression, suicide, anorexia, etc, which are all issues that, despite that fact, we still don’t talk about enough. But even more than those, self-harming is something I personally have a hard time to understand, so I welcome any literature that could inform me on the subject.
Cut did that, in a way, as Callie’s story was one I could relate to, even though I have never had to deal with such a destructive issue. Cut is a really short book in terms of pages, but it wasn’t short in terms of content, and Callie’s progression through the pages felt extremely realistic.
At first Callie is very cold and distant, to the reader but also to her therapist. But as she opens up through the pages, it becomes easier to understand her and like her more. I felt for her, enough that I got teary eyed a couple of times, and I was rooting for her. I loved how the author let hope transpired through the words in a very subtle way : Callie’s story isn’t finished when we leave her, but she’s definitely on the right path.
I also loved that Cut felt so actual. It’s true, 10 years isn’t a long time generally speaking; but in a market saturated with YA novels that use words and brands that are “in” now and will be “out” two years from now, it’s nice to read a novel that easily stood the test of time, and will probably stay actual for many more years. McCormick deserves a lot of credit for writing a novel that was very to the point, while also presenting characters and issues with nuances.
I really enjoyed this one, and I think it would be a great read for both YA readers and people interested in such issues. I can also imagine many discussions around this book, which is always a great point for me.
Lear more by visiting the Facebook page of This is Teen, and stay tuned, as I’ll have 2 copies to give away in the coming 24 hours! 🙂
This is a book I keep replacing on my shelves in my classroom due to how worn it becomes through each school year. Had no clue it was the 10 year anniversary.
Cutting is such a misunderstood issue, I think. Too many people see it as kids trying to get attention, but for many, it is a very real thing that becomes their way of coping with the world. I’m not much of a YA reader, but because one of my good friends was a cutter, I may have to read this. Thanks for the review!
Self harming behavior is hard to understand when you don’t do it, but I thought this book did a great job of giving readers a glimpse of why young people might find the need for a release like that. Great review!
i’ve seen this book around a lot and i had no idea it was already out for ten years. i thought it was recently published since it kept coming up on blogs.
I also don’t understand much about cutting, and the subject does make me a little uncomfortable. I think it would be good for me to read this book and try to gain a little exposure to the issue. Thanks for the great review!
I am interested because I used to know someone who did this long ago when I was in college. Right after he started, he dropped out and I never heard from again. At the time, I wondered about it and later on, I saw articles about other people doing it. Thank you so much reviewing this book. I am glad to know that the main character was on the right path by the end of the book. That makes me want to read it even more.
CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com
I think we all knew someone growing up who did (or still does)this. Another one of humans tragic quirks 🙁
I enjoyed your review.
I’d like to read this book. I like books that can help others who haven’t been in that situation realise what it’s like to feel depressed or suicidal. I went through a horrible bout of depression that lasted for years. I’d self harm and even attempted suicide. I’ve come out of it so much better now but I think it’s hard for people who haven’t been through that to understand it. A lot of people seem to think that self harm is brought about as a way of seeking attention.
I really liked your review, Kay. I’ll have to check this one out.