cut to the chase

WILLOW by Julia Hoban (Dial, 2009) is the story of a teen whose parents are killed in a car accident, an accident that occurred while she was driving the car. Willow now lives with her brother and sister-in-law and niece. While she appears relatively all right on the surface, Willow is hiding a dark secret: she cuts herself. Enter Guy, a fellow student at her high school who discovers Willow's secret and wants to tell someone about it. Willow persuades Guy to keep her secret and he agrees. However, Willow has to make a promise that she will call Guy if she feels the need to injure herself. An interesting take here where the cutting is known and that there is someone trying to intercede.

Cutting is something that affects many teens. Patricia McCormick's CUT and Laurie Halse Anderson's WINTERGIRLS both deal with this issue, too.