Charlie Davis is a cutter. Whenever life becomes harrowing, she makes neat little slices on her arms or legs, and somehow that releases some of the tension. Unfortunately, life becomes more than harrowing; it becomes utterly overwhelming, and Charlie goes too far. She spends time in a hospital for girls with problems sim ilar to hers, and some of the staff are helpful. But when the money runs out, Charlie is released into her mother’s custody, which doesn’t work out.

An old friend holds out a lifeline. Could Charlie finally learn how to live a ‘normal’ life, in a new home in another state? She might think she has a good handle on the ways of the world, but Charlie is seriously naive. She hasn’t grasped the severity of her condition and is vulnerable to anyone who can respond to her desperate need to be loved. It’s a long journey before we can finally believe there might be hope for her.

This heart-wrenching, honest and confronting story of an emotionally damaged girl is written with the depth of empathy and understanding that only a fellow sufferer of depression could have. Kathleen Glasgow’s brave vulnerability permeates every page, and she was inspired to write this story after seeing a girl on a bus who had fresh scars on her arms. For all the young people out there who are fighting the same battles as Charlie, Girl in Pieces will show them that they are not alone.

Reviewed by Wendy Noble

Age Guide 15+