Cut

Rating:
Summary: The Best Book So Far...
Review: I was searching for a good soul-searching book. Not exactly what I found but that doesn't mean Cut isn't a good book. I have read many books about teenage girls cutting themselves, but this book is deeper than skin. It's about the world going on around her, and not her. I have cut myself twice, I got help and now I realize how poorly written many books about "cutting" are. But this one isn't the "average-joe" book. Read it and enjoy!

Rating:
Summary: Not Enough Feeling
Review: This book is a deppressing, but intresting quick read. Cut tells the story of a girl, Callie, who is at a treatment facility Sea Pines (or Sick Minds as the teens call it) because of cutting herself. This book tackles serious, and important issues evident in teens today, but it was a dissapointment. The book did not get into Callie's real feelings, so it came across very superficial. It seemed as though it was being written by parents warning there kids of what could happen to them. I was hoping to gain a deeper understanding from this book, as I know of too many teens who inflict themselves with injury. I would reccomend this book to high school age and up, as it presents serious issues in very graphic ways. This book maneged to keep me wanting more, even though it lacked Callie's deep thoughts. In cocnclusion, this is okay, but not as insigtful as I had hoped.

Rating:
Summary: Cut by Patricia McCormick
Review: In the short novel "Cut," the author, Patricia McCormick focuses on fifteen year old Callie. Callie, having dealt with many emotional problems decides to engage in self-injury. In the beginning of the book, Patricia McCormick gives one description of Callie's conditions, "Callie cuts herself. Never too deep, and never enough to die, just enough to feel the pain." After Callie's habits are discovered by a school nurse, Callie's parents then decide to send her to a residential teenage treatment facility known as Sea Pines. Or as many of the patients had nicknamed it "Sick Minds." When Callie first enters Sea Pines she remains to be very mute. She seems to be fearful of what the other patients might think of her, always assuming that no will be able to understand the reasoning behind her self-infliction habits. It is because of this, Callie refuses to entrust any of her feeling. This story is written in First person narrative, giving us, the reader a sense of how it might feel to be in Callie's position. The problems Callie faces and her relationship with her family are all discussed throughout the book. As the book progresses Callie soon finds someone she will soon entrust her feelings to. This gives Callie a sense of hope, knowing that there is help for her and they're not trying to harm her, as she thought in the beginning of the novel.

I was mainly interested in this book only because one year ago one of my closest friends decided to engage herself in self-infliction. It wasn't that serious, but I was still very much watchful of her actions at the time. In fact I was very worried for her. Callie's conditions as compared to my friends is much more serious. But by reading this book it really gave me an idea of why someone might engage themselves into this type of action. It gives us a sense of what goes on in their minds. It's a bit frightening but at the same time opens your eyes to what's around you. In fact, this habit of self infliction is said to supposedly ease emotional stress, as Callie had said in the book. But we all know there are better ways to pursue ease and peacefulness of mind. Basically I saw this book at a real eye opener and it's good because for many people they might not even take such an action, such as self-injury into consideration. Most people will just pass it on as if it'll go away the next day. But what people don't know is that self infliction is much more serious than we actually realize. Cutting yourself once will most probably lead to more and more. Soon enough you'll be getting deeper and deeper, as Callie did in the novel. Overall I think this book was really good. I honestly enjoyed reading it.

Rating:
Summary: This is the real stuff
Review: I've never felt as compelled to write about a book as I do with this one. As someone who used to self-inflict cuts and bruises as a coping mechanism, this book rang true. The description of the loneliness, fear, and confusion that Callie feels echoed thoughts I'd had when I was her age. Not only that, but the underlying feelings of all the girls at Sea Pines were like looking in a mirror.

Everyone that's ever felt depressed, alone, or confused by their own feelings should read this. McCormick does a beautiful job with a very tough and scary topic.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: I am a eighth grader in a small middle school. I read this in about three days. The way the author writes her words make it easy to read and easy to imagine. This book shows how teens can go to extremes due to family, or any other problems. The main character "Callie" is a great example of how teens with health issues, can be portraied. The world in the book can be easily compared to the real world. A world with problems and insecurities that everyone faces. The author, shows detail in the way she writes. When she tells about the enviroment, and the emotions the girls in the book, it gives you a feeling inside, a feeling that you know what they're going through.

Rating:
Summary: Doesn't even scratch the surface
Review: Although this isn't a boring story, if you are looking to discover more about the way the mind of a 'cutter' works or understand it any way this book will not help you. At no point does the book confront the inner workings of Callie's mind, it simply narrates the happenings of her life at 'sick minds' from a somewhat impartial point of view. In my opinion it didn't scratch the surface of this issue at all. If you are a stranger to the idea of self mutilation then you may find this book informative and interesting, but to someone familiar with the topic it comes accross as a story that glosses over what is really going on.

Rating:
Summary: I recomend it for older teens
Review: This book was very good in my opinion. It explains how a girl started an obsession of cutting herself.
The story is set in a rehab-like facility.
It gives you a glimpse of what it would be like to be in her shoes.
I like the way it was written because it keeps the reader involved in the story.
I think older teens would appreciate the story more. Also I would not find it to be appropriate for anybody under the age of 14 mostly because its a little graphic in nature.

Rating:
Summary: Too graphic for young children
Review: I don't know what I was expecting when I picked up "Cut", but I'm glad I didn't expect anything. This novel passes out many ideas of problems that could influence children and teens.

Rating:
Summary: Slow at first...but bloomed into a wonderful book
Review: This book has no age group. It's a good book for anyone. Makes us look at the other side of thing....to understand why people think they need to harm theirselves...

Rating:
Summary: Disappointed with content
Review: this book may be a good read for a young teen but i felt it was simplistic and superficial. As a mother of a self injurer, I was looking for some insite and understanding. There are books on the market with much deeper understanding and accuracy of the dynamics of this complicated and heart breaking phenomenon. It was an easy read and i read it in a couple of hours but it really only sctatches the surface