Rage: A Love Story
by Julie Anne Peters
Available September 8, 2009
Johanna is steadfast, patient, reliable; the go-to girl, the one everyone can count on. But always being there for others can’t give Johanna everything she needs—it can’t give her Reeve Hartt. Reeve is fierce, beautiful, wounded, elusive; a flame that draws Johanna’s fluttering moth. Johanna is determined to get her, against all advice, and to help her, against all reason. But love isn’t always reasonable, right? In the precarious place where attraction and need collide, a teenager experiences the dark side of a first love, and struggles to find her way into a new light.Wow, this book knocked my socks off...and I bet it is a topic that most of us don't really think about. I mean we all know about and have learned about domestic violence in heterosexual relationships but what about gay couples, specifically lesbian couples? Face it, this just isn't something most of us think about or even consider...I know I didn't!
Johanna has had some horrible tragedies in her life, but shes that girl that we look at and say "I don't know how she does it!" She picks herself up and moves on despite the obstacles life has thrown at her. But is she really that tough? Like a lot of teens who think they can handle anything and everything on their own, shes not quite as tough or together as she seems...
When Johanna meets Reeve she falls for her hard and fast. Reeve's life has been the stuff nightmares are made of...and she has the scars to prove it. Johanna is on a mission to save her. When she lashes out physically its not really her fault is it? That's what Johanna believes and she'll risk almost anything to prove her love to Reeve.
This is a wonderfully written book. The vivid prose is true to each character and the author is brutally honest in describing the world of physical violence, drug use and poverty. Nothing is sugar coated here but it only serves to make the story that much better.
Best suite for 14 years and up.
6 comments:
Great review. I agree, this isn't a topic that we often think about. No one would suspect the female spouse of voilence, at least not at first. But it is possible.
Darcy,
Thank you for such a wonderful, thoughtful review. Did you know that domestic violence between same-sex couples is equal to that of straight couples? Lesbian abuse is an even more complex issue because law enforcement officials often blow it off (girls fighting? Pfft). Also, lesbians may not be out to their families, so they don't have a built-in support system.
Girls can be terribly abusive to each other, even if they don't resort to physical violence. I hope this book brings more awareness to the universality of dating abuse.
Julie
awhhh re: to your comment *hugs*
Sounds amazing. I guess we don't think of it much, but I have thought of women being abusive and gay men being abusive, so why not lesbian couples? I read Julie's comment and it's true, girls can be really mean to each other. I want to read this book!!!!
Lauren
Great review! I can't wait to read this. And I really like that cover, especially the eyes.
I have an award for you over at my blog:
http://hookedonyabooks.blogspot.com/2009/09/awardsfor-me.html
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