By: Patricia Mccormick Publisher: Push Average Rating: Binding: Paperback Label: Push Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 160 Publication Date: February 01, 2002 Reading Level: Young Adult
Product Description: Fifteen-year-old Callie isn't speaking to anybody, not even to her therapist at Sea Pines, the "residential treatment facility" where her parents and doctor sent her after discovering that she cuts herself. As her story unfolds, Callie reluctantly become involved with the other "guests" at Sea Pines -- finding her voice and confronting the trauma that triggered her behavior.
Amazon.com Review: Burdened with the pressure of believing she is responsible for her brother's illness, 15-year-old Callie begins a course of self-destruction that leads to her being admitted to Sea Pines, a psychiatric hospital the "guests" refer to as Sick Minds. Although initially she refuses to speak, her individual and group therapy sessions trigger memories and insights. Slowly, she begins emerging from her miserable silence, ultimately understanding the role her dysfunctional family played in her brother's health crisis.
Patricia McCormick's first novel is authentic and deeply moving. Callie suffers from a less familiar teen problem--she cuts herself to relieve her inner frustrations and guilt. The hope and hard-won progress that comes at the conclusion of the novel is believable and heartening for any teen reader who feels alone in her (or his) angst. Along with Laurie Halse Anderson's Speak and E.L. Konigsburg's Silent to the Bone, McCormick's Cut expertly tackles an unusual response to harrowing adolescent trouble. (Ages 14 and older) --Emilie Coulter
Well written, but lacking... something. This was a good book in the way that it was well written. She writes with ease that makes your eyes fly over the words of the page at a good rate, and it doesn't clutter itself up with pretentious words. I liked the main character Callie, but her reasons for cutting do not seem justified. I also would have liked to see a little bit more information about the other girls in the hospital with her. It seemed like one could go on so many different ways with them. For a first novel, not bad. For me spending my money on it, I'm not impressed.
Okay, but not the best This book's popularity is mainly based on the fact it was a semi-good novel about self-harm when it has become more common, and alientated teenagers flock to anything that will make them feel understood. Any parents should know that this book does NOT glorify self harm in any way, and if your kid believes that this book does so, they are too impressionable and a little stupid. This book is narrated by a self-harmer and since it is in the voice of a self-harmer she is obviously addicted to the act and fantasizes about hurting herself and thinks it will make her feel better because that is HOW self harmers think. This is extremely similar to how a drug addict would talk about their drug of choice and how they think it will make them feel better. If you have a very impressionable, naive kid don't let them read it. But if you have a smart kid that is aware of mental illnesses and twisted thought processes this is fine. For teens interested in this, it's ok. It's def blown out of proportion and like I said it's popular because it was published at the right time when the demand was high. If you are a self-harmer it might be good to relate to, but you can tell that the the woman writing it never actually experienced self-harm herself. Crosses by Shelley Stoher is better, but nearly unheard of because it was written years ago when self-harm was still rare. The Luckiest Girl in the World by Steven Levenkron is also pretty good.
Insightful As it's written from a 'cutter's' perspective, I was hoping for a little more insight. But it was interesting and taught me a lot about some of the deep psychological problems girls can get into.
Cuts to the bone. Cut by Patricia McCormick is a quick and brilliant book that deals with a teenage girl named Callie who cuts herself whenever she feels depressed or overwhelmed. I read this book about six years ago and I still think about this harrowing piece of teen literature since. The main character refuses to talk to her therapist since she cannot cut, the only power she has left is her refusal to communicate. Callie is a very bright, sensitive girl but her pain is so deep-rooted and that's why she is a cutter. Great book for young girls to read, I highly recommend this page turner, enjoy!
An ok take on cutting This book was an interesting read. It held my interest, and was entertaining. It wasn't a bad book. I liked the story line. The only thing that made me give this book three stars instead of five is that I think people who do cut could write a more truthful story. This story is not based on first hand experience. Having gone through cutting, I know that a person who knows firsthand how a "cutter" feels could write a more in depth and captivating story. This, of course, is not the author's fault. A good book by a person who did their research. I liked it.
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