Annotation: Tony, Vanessa, and Connor are all teens who have attempted suicide. All three end up at Aspen Springs, a psychiatric hospital, where their lives intersect and form bonds.
Topics: Suicide, Queer Theory, Interpersonal relations, Depression, Special victims
Thematic Statement: Depression and Bipolar Disorder can be treated and maintained. Life can be cut short if not for the interventions of loved ones; the second chance at a better life.
Range of Appeal: I would say this book should be read by mature students in high school starting at around 16 or 17 years old due to the graphic nature. Teen suicide and depression is the main topic, but a lot of other mature factors are discussed.
Plot: Tony overdosed on pills; Vanessa cut so deep it sent her to the ER; Connor pointed the bullet to his heart and shot. These three teens are sent to Aspen Springs in order to heal and give life a new start. As they interact with each other, they learn the deepest, darkest secrets of each other’s past, portraying many issues that teens deal with. Tony believes he is a homosexual, but only because he was sexually abused by his mother’s boyfriend when he was eight; he did something to this man that sent him to juvie for the next 6 years and after he lived on the streets, selling anything he could, even his body, to get high. He ends up falling in love with Vanessa, and vice versa. Vanessa’s mother had a bad case of Bi Polar disorder and schizophrenia, which she believes rubbed off on her, leaving her cutting herself to hide the pain inside. Connor is the ultimate overachiever- but only because his parents expect no less of him or his competitive twin sister; he was never loved or kissed by his mother, so his caretaker, Leona, taught him how to please a woman when he was 12. Now he can only think about being with older women, and is depressed to the point of suicide when his English teacher breaks off their sexual relationship. Now, at Aspen Springs, they have a chance to face their demons and build new relationships for the future. But right when they’re almost done with the program, Connor is surprisingly the one that can’t quite face his past, and ends his life for good.
Evaluation: This book can be extremely helpful for teens who are suffering from a plethora of different aspects of life, including depression, bi polar disorder, self injury (cutting), abandoned parents, parents serving over-seas, questioning sexuality, and much more. Although I have not attempted suicide or had nearly as many issues as these teens, I could still definitely relate to these characters. Also, the format of this book is different from most novels because the style of writing is in the form of poetic verse, and each voice has a different style. I know a lot of teens who have issues with having parents with unrealistic expectations and focus on their image rather than love; I have also had experience with people who cut, and there are many teens out there that have been sexually assaulted. This book can help those teens realize that they don’t have to end their lives in order to move on from depressing issues. It can also show them that they aren’t the only ones with these issues, and that building bonds and relationships with others can be extremely helpful. This book can also be analyzed with Queer Theory as Tony’s sexuality is questioned by himself and others, and he ends up realizing he may not actually be gay because he’s never been in love or made love before.
Thought Questions: How does the poetic verse style affect the book as a whole? Whose style did you prefer or relate to the most? How did you expect the book would end? Did you think the characters that survived were the ones that were most likely to survive? How do you think Tony and Vanessa manage after they are let out of Aspen Springs?
Connection and Reasons: This is the first book of Ellen Hopkins I have read, but her other books, Crank, Burned, and Identical are in the same verse style. Identical is about the lives of two identical twin girls, so the issue of being a twin could be studied further. Cut by Patricia McCormack is a novel that also deals with the issue of cutting, a common coping mechanism among teens.
Topics: Suicide, Queer Theory, Interpersonal relations, Depression, Special victims
Thematic Statement: Depression and Bipolar Disorder can be treated and maintained. Life can be cut short if not for the interventions of loved ones; the second chance at a better life.
Range of Appeal: I would say this book should be read by mature students in high school starting at around 16 or 17 years old due to the graphic nature. Teen suicide and depression is the main topic, but a lot of other mature factors are discussed.
Plot: Tony overdosed on pills; Vanessa cut so deep it sent her to the ER; Connor pointed the bullet to his heart and shot. These three teens are sent to Aspen Springs in order to heal and give life a new start. As they interact with each other, they learn the deepest, darkest secrets of each other’s past, portraying many issues that teens deal with. Tony believes he is a homosexual, but only because he was sexually abused by his mother’s boyfriend when he was eight; he did something to this man that sent him to juvie for the next 6 years and after he lived on the streets, selling anything he could, even his body, to get high. He ends up falling in love with Vanessa, and vice versa. Vanessa’s mother had a bad case of Bi Polar disorder and schizophrenia, which she believes rubbed off on her, leaving her cutting herself to hide the pain inside. Connor is the ultimate overachiever- but only because his parents expect no less of him or his competitive twin sister; he was never loved or kissed by his mother, so his caretaker, Leona, taught him how to please a woman when he was 12. Now he can only think about being with older women, and is depressed to the point of suicide when his English teacher breaks off their sexual relationship. Now, at Aspen Springs, they have a chance to face their demons and build new relationships for the future. But right when they’re almost done with the program, Connor is surprisingly the one that can’t quite face his past, and ends his life for good.
Evaluation: This book can be extremely helpful for teens who are suffering from a plethora of different aspects of life, including depression, bi polar disorder, self injury (cutting), abandoned parents, parents serving over-seas, questioning sexuality, and much more. Although I have not attempted suicide or had nearly as many issues as these teens, I could still definitely relate to these characters. Also, the format of this book is different from most novels because the style of writing is in the form of poetic verse, and each voice has a different style. I know a lot of teens who have issues with having parents with unrealistic expectations and focus on their image rather than love; I have also had experience with people who cut, and there are many teens out there that have been sexually assaulted. This book can help those teens realize that they don’t have to end their lives in order to move on from depressing issues. It can also show them that they aren’t the only ones with these issues, and that building bonds and relationships with others can be extremely helpful. This book can also be analyzed with Queer Theory as Tony’s sexuality is questioned by himself and others, and he ends up realizing he may not actually be gay because he’s never been in love or made love before.
Thought Questions: How does the poetic verse style affect the book as a whole? Whose style did you prefer or relate to the most? How did you expect the book would end? Did you think the characters that survived were the ones that were most likely to survive? How do you think Tony and Vanessa manage after they are let out of Aspen Springs?
Connection and Reasons: This is the first book of Ellen Hopkins I have read, but her other books, Crank, Burned, and Identical are in the same verse style. Identical is about the lives of two identical twin girls, so the issue of being a twin could be studied further. Cut by Patricia McCormack is a novel that also deals with the issue of cutting, a common coping mechanism among teens.