Biography Review: Cut; By Cathy Glass

rate } ♠♠♠♠♠
genre } non-fiction | biography | abuse 
release day }  April 2009
acquired } 04th August 2008
publisher } Harper Element 
format } paperback
isbn } 9780007280971
pages } 310 pages
source } bought
age group } 15+
interests } If you like reading The child call IT, (well not enjoy, you know what I mean)  
awards } -

Cut: The True Story Of An Abandoned, Abused Little Girl Who Was Desperate To Be Part Of A Family
by Cathy Glass

The author of "Damaged "tells the story of the Dawn, a sweet and seemingly well-balanced girl whose outward appearance masks a traumatic childhood of suffering at the hands of the very people who should have cared for her. Dawn was the first girl Cathy Glass ever fostered. Sweet and seemingly well balanced girl, Dawn's outward appearance masked a traumatic childhood so awful, that even she could not remember it. During the first night, Cathy awoke to see Dawn looming above Cathy's baby's cot, her eyes staring and blank. She sleepwalks--which Cathy learns is often a manifestation in disturbed children. It becomes a regular and frightening occurrence, and Cathy is horrified to find Dawn lighting a match while mumbling it's not my fault in her sleep one night. Cathy discovers Dawn is playing truant from school, and struggling to make friends. More worryingly she finds her room empty one night, and her pillow covered in blood. Dawn has been self-harming in order to release the pain of her past. When Dawn attempts suicide, Cathy realizes that she needs more help than she can give. Dawn's mother eventually confides in her that Dawn was sent away to live with relatives in Ireland between the ages of 5 and 9, and Cathy soon realizes that the horrors Dawn was exposed to during this time have left her a very disturbed little girl.

My 2 Cents
To be honest, It took me a while to finish this book. In fact, it took me to finish reading 5 books to actually finish reading this book. It’s a good biography, I can’t deny that, but, it’s hard to sit and read through this in just one go. But in my defense, It was a very busy few months for me at work and such.

I have to forewarn you, it’s a bit graphic. It’s a bout a child of the age of 13 who had problem with cutting. Cathy Glass and her husband adopted this child, and it’s a struggle to read about this polite child with a dark side yet has a need to rebel hard. What really perked my ears up reading this is wanting to know what happened during her missing years before living with Cathy. I wanted to know what happened to cause her behavior.

Personally this was a bit of an emotional read. Once I actually settle down and actually read this (finally getting time to settle down and read), it was a page turner. The child on the cover is just perfect. It screamed, “Help me please…” It also help me with my work, since I am working with students Dawn’s age, Empathy-wise.

The down side of this book was that, at the end, I wanted more. I Want to know what happened next, Follow up. But I was kept hanging. But it did open the door for me to check out her other books.

Library-wise. I guess I could say The older students (seniors) would enjoy reading this book. But I’m tempted to try it with our middle graders students. But with caution I guess, because the middle graders are easily influence to suggestion. Otherwise, it’s up to the parents.