Win a signed copy of Scars! Details at the end of this post.

Chapter One

“Someone is following me.” I gulp air, trying to breathe.

Carolyn leans forward, her face worried. “What makes you say that?” There’s a hesitation in her voice that stings me.

“You don’t believe me!” I spit the words out at her, then look away, twisting my hands together to keep them from trembling.

“I didn’t say that. I don’t know enough about this yet to know what to believe. Why don’t you tell me about it?”

So you can go tell my parents?

But she won’t; I know she won’t. Client-therapist confidentiality and all that. And I trust Carolyn; I really do. But does she trust me?

I run my tongue over my dry lips. It almost doesn’t seem real, now that I’m sitting here in her air-conditioned office. But I didn’t imagine it. I couldn’t have.

“I hear footsteps behind me when I’m out walking alone. Heavy footsteps that stop when I stop and start when I start.”

Excerpt © 2010 Cheryl Rainfield

About the book:

Kendra, fifteen, hasn’t felt safe since she began to recall devastating memories of childhood sexual abuse, especially because she still can’t remember the most important detail– her abuser’s identity. Frightened, Kendra believes someone is always watching and following her, leaving menacing messages only she understands. If she lets her guard down even for a minute, it could cost Kendra her life. To relieve the pressure, Kendra cuts; aside from her brilliantly expressive artwork, it’s her only way of coping. Since her own mother is too self-absorbed to hear her cries for help, Kendra finds support in others instead: from her therapist and her art teacher, from Sandy, the close family friend who encourages her artwork, and from Meghan, the classmate who’s becoming a friend and maybe more. But the truth about Kendra’s abuse is just waiting to explode, with startling unforeseen consequences. Scars is the unforgettable story of one girl’s frightening path to the truth.

What people are saying:

“Scars is a brave novel, a read-in-one-sitting-except-when-you-have-to-put-it-down-to-breathe novel.” — Ellen Hopkins, author of Burned, a National Book Award nominee and an ALA Best Book for Young Adults, and Glass, an ALA Top Ten Book for Young Adults

“Scars is a painful and well told story, obviously written with the heart’s blood of the author. It could prove to be a life-saver for other young victims of abuse and self-harm.” — Lois Duncan, Margaret A. Edwards Award-winning author of Killing Mr. Griffin and I Know What You Did Last Summer

“Scars is the ‘must’ read for any teen. I couldn’t put it down.” — Gail Giles, author of Right Behind You, a 2009 ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers

“Rainfield’s gripping, chillingly honest account of an abused teen’s fight to survive her history, and its consequent self-harm, is written with such compassion and empathy that this is ultimately a story of hope.” — Wendy Orr, author of Peeling the Onion

Released: March 2010 by WestSide Books

About the author:

Cheryl Rainfield writes realistic edgy fiction for teens, fantasy for children, and some nonfiction articles for adults. She edits and critiques children’s and teen fiction, and on her website she reviews a wide variety of children’s and YA books. In addition to writing, Cheryl is also a talented artist. She lives in Toronto with her dog Willow and cat Amazon.

Win a copy:

Cheryl has been kind enough to contribute a signed copy of Scars and some Scars bookmarks for a giveaway!

To enter simply leave a comment on this post.

For extra entries, become a  member of First Page Panda by clicking “Join this site” (+1 entry) or link to this contest on Twitter, Facebook, etc. (+1 entry per each link). Please list your extra entries in the comments.

The contest is open worldwide and will end at midnight EST on November 29th.

Good luck!


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