Girl in Pieces by Kathleen Glasgow Book Analysis

SHORT SUMMARY

Girl In Pieces  by Kathleen Glasgow is a piece of literature about a girl's journey to finding happiness in recovery. Charlie is a 17- year- old girl who struggles with self -harm. This story shows how difficult recovery can be, but why it's always worth it. Charlie has been suffering with trauma her whole life. After her father drowns himself, her best friend cuts herself so deep, which results in losing  so much blood, she's basically brain dead, and her mother throws Charlie out of the house after being falsely accused of  doing drugs. Charlie felt like she had nothing left. She doesn't feel anything anymore and feels as if the only thing she deserved to feel was pain. Days later, Charlie wakes up in a psych ward with no clue how she got there and doesn't remember much of what happens, but sees she's covered in bandages and realizes what's going on. Throughout Charlie's recovery, she learns that in order to be happy you must not let the twists and turns of life throw you off track. 

Girl In Pieces demonstrates how complicated Recovery can be and how it really is possible to do anything if you set your mind to it. Oftentimes the book makes you feel trapped and scared, but with a turn of a page you could be smiling from ear to ear. This Book takes you on a journey with this young girl and how she went from a weak child to a strong young woman. None of the successes could have happened without the friends she made and how they helped her be a better version of herself.

CONNECTIONS

Thankfully, I can't relate to this character very much. One of the few ways we are alike is oftentimes I feel trapped with my own emotions and don't know what to do. Charlie and I are also alike because of our incapability to know what to do in tough situations. I also commonly feel like I'm the one to blame in situations that I had no control over and couldn't have done anything about. Sometimes similar to Charlie, when I'm struggling with things, I pretend not to care about it, but I  just beat myself up about it after. Another thing we have in common is that we both struggle with commitment. Charlie struggles with commitment to her recovery at first; where I struggle is with making commitments to school, sports, and family.

Unfortunately, I know people who have struggled with similar things that this is nothing to joke about. Sometimes they feel like they don't matter and that the only solution to things is punishing yourself for your actions, often others actions, and sometimes just because they can. I find that with most people that self-harm they do because it's one of the few things they feel like they can control. For example, you can't control the outcome of a situation, but you can decide to punish yourself if it ends poorly. In the end, the only effects that come out of this are negative and I feel so much pain for everyone who can relate to this.

REVEIW

As someone who doesn't enjoy reading very much, I could say with confidence this book thoroughly  entertained me. Whether it was the crying, the suspense, or the laughter. I enjoyed every second of it. If you're looking for an emotional book that makes you feel a huge spectrum of emotions, this book is for you. Overall If I had to choose something to change, I would say the beginning moves a little slowly. Even with the slow beginning, the book pulls you in from the first chapter. Another critique I have for the author is maybe to put a slight warning somewhere at the beginning of the book. The book gets into very deep details about blood and it could be very triggering for many young teens.

Although Girl in Pieces is about a young girl, I would not say that this book is for kids. It contains very sensitive and gory topics that made me squirm in my seat a little. I enjoyed this book because there is never a dull moment. Every page is filled with something new. You could be crying hysterically, and with a turn of the page those tears of sadness turn into tears of joy. If I were to give Girl In Pieces a review, it would be five stars for sure.