Cut

Cut

Patricia McCormick

160 pgs

Push (2002)

Subject Matter: cutting, abuse, psychiatric hospital, self-injury, self-mutilation, emo, depression, body image

Callie has been submitted to a psychiatric clinic because she insists on cutting herself. Callie believes she is responsible for her brother's illness and tries to cut away her frustration and guilt. She explains the routines of the clinic and keeps tabs on everyone who is admitted and what their problems are. The anorexic girls who sometimes have to be fed through a tube and how the abused guests cope with their pasts. Callie refuses to speak to anyone and is caught in a twist as to what she wants to talk about and what she should talk about.

Review: This book described a psychiatric clinic very well but did not discuss the issue of cutting as thoroughly as I would have hoped. It was a very shallow introduction to self-mutilation and could have been a story of any body image problem.

You have been warned: Callie uses some language and there are some parts that are rather graphic, not for someone who is shy of blood.