Twelve-year-old Brenda lives in a working-class suburb of Detroit, Michigan. She’s a good student, popular, and her leadership qualities are obvious. She plays sports, loves to dance, is active with her church youth group, and is a counselor at youth camps.

On the surface, Brenda is socially, emotionally, and spiritually healthy. On the inside, she’s hiding an ugly secret. Brenda is a survivor of rape. Readers of all ages will find themselves drawn into the portrait of this girl’s pain and how she heals, both emotionally and spiritually. Her story is educational and engaging.

I was hooked … The story … addresses the struggles that one who has experienced sexual abuse goes through. From the moment I started the book, I couldn’t put it down. (It) is captivating and really pulls at the heartstrings. This is a hard topic to discuss, but this book does an excellent job addressing it. I think this would be a great teaching tool as it really does emphasize that a victim of sexual, or even emotional abuse is not at fault. - Angelique Korbecki, B.A., Olivet College

Hopefully, group discussions of this novel will motivate action plans designed to reduce abuse; will initiate examining perceptions of sexuality; and more importantly, will explore what a healthy and ethical sexual self might look like.

I am kind to those who are kind; I am also kind to those who are unkind. Thus, there is an increase in kindness. - Lao Tzu