The Way I Used to Be
Amber Smith
(Author)
Description
A New York Times bestseller! In the tradition of Speak, this extraordinary debut novel shares the unforgettable story of a young woman as she struggles to find strength in the aftermath of an assault. Eden was always good at being good. Starting high school didn't change who she was. But the night her brother's best friend rapes her, Eden's world capsizes. What was once simple, is now complex. What Eden once loved--who she once loved--she now hates. What she thought she knew to be true, is now lies. Nothing makes sense anymore, and she knows she's supposed to tell someone what happened but she can't. So she buries it instead. And she buries the way she used to be. Told in four parts--freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior year--this provocative debut reveals the deep cuts of trauma. But it also demonstrates one young woman's strength as she navigates the disappointment and unbearable pains of adolescence, of first love and first heartbreak, of friendships broken and rebuilt, and while learning to embrace a power of survival she never knew she had hidden within her heart.Product Details
Price
$19.99
$18.59
Publisher
Margaret K. McElderry Books
Publish Date
March 22, 2016
Pages
384
Dimensions
5.7 X 8.3 X 1.4 inches | 1.0 pounds
Language
English
Type
Hardcover
EAN/UPC
9781481449359
BISAC Categories:
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About the Author
Amber Smith is the New York Times bestselling author of the young adult novels The Way I Used to Be, The Last to Let Go, Something Like Gravity, and The Way I Am Now. An advocate for increased awareness of gendered violence, as well as LGBTQ equality, she writes in the hope that her books can help to foster change and spark dialogue surrounding these issues. She grew up in Buffalo, New York, and now lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, with her wife and their ever-growing family of rescued dogs and cats. You can find her online at AmberSmithAuthor.com.
Reviews
STARRED REVIEW "This is a poignant book that realistically looks at the lasting effects of trauma on love, relationships, and life....Teens will be reminded of Laurie Halse Anderson's Speak. VERDICT An important addition for every collection."-- "School Library Journal"
"A difficult, painful journey, but teens who have experienced rape and abuse will be grateful for this unvarnished and ultimately hopeful portrait. Eden's shell-shocked narrative is an excellent narrative conduit for what Smith has to say."--Booklist "February 1, 2016"
"A heart-twisting, but ultimately hopeful, exploration of how pain can lead to strength." -- "The Boston Globe"
"A poignant and painfully honest survival story about the aftermath of trauma. Amber Smith weaves Eden's narrative with a deft, empathetic touch that doesn't shy away from difficult truths. This is a courageous, necessary, and beautiful book." --Kathleen Glasgow, author of Girl in Pieces, The Agathas, and How to Make Friends With the Dark
"The Way I Used to Be explores the aftermath of sexual assault with a precision and searing honesty that is often terrifying, sometimes eerily beautiful, and always completely true. It is The Hero's Journey through a distorted circus mirror--one girl's quest to turn desperation into courage, to become a survivor instead of a victim. Amber Smith gets it exactly right."--Amy Reed, author of BEAUTIFUL and CLEAN
"Readers will root for her as she gathers the courage, at last, to speak up."-- "B&N Teen blog"
"The Way I Used To Be is an intensely gripping and raw look at secrets, silence, speaking out, and survival in the aftermath of a sexual assault. A must-have for every collection that serves teens."-- "SLJ / Teen Librarian Toolbox"
"Edy's exploration of the meaning of sexuality and intimacy will be thought provoking for teen readers of various experience levels, and this title is likely to find space alongside [Laurie Halse] Anderson's Speak." -- "BCCB"
"This young adult novel is an unflinching look at the struggles of a rape victim to process her trauma and find the strength to rebuild her life." --Laurie Halse Anderson, New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of Speak and Shout
"A difficult, painful journey, but teens who have experienced rape and abuse will be grateful for this unvarnished and ultimately hopeful portrait. Eden's shell-shocked narrative is an excellent narrative conduit for what Smith has to say."--Booklist "February 1, 2016"
"A heart-twisting, but ultimately hopeful, exploration of how pain can lead to strength." -- "The Boston Globe"
"A poignant and painfully honest survival story about the aftermath of trauma. Amber Smith weaves Eden's narrative with a deft, empathetic touch that doesn't shy away from difficult truths. This is a courageous, necessary, and beautiful book." --Kathleen Glasgow, author of Girl in Pieces, The Agathas, and How to Make Friends With the Dark
"The Way I Used to Be explores the aftermath of sexual assault with a precision and searing honesty that is often terrifying, sometimes eerily beautiful, and always completely true. It is The Hero's Journey through a distorted circus mirror--one girl's quest to turn desperation into courage, to become a survivor instead of a victim. Amber Smith gets it exactly right."--Amy Reed, author of BEAUTIFUL and CLEAN
"Readers will root for her as she gathers the courage, at last, to speak up."-- "B&N Teen blog"
"The Way I Used To Be is an intensely gripping and raw look at secrets, silence, speaking out, and survival in the aftermath of a sexual assault. A must-have for every collection that serves teens."-- "SLJ / Teen Librarian Toolbox"
"Edy's exploration of the meaning of sexuality and intimacy will be thought provoking for teen readers of various experience levels, and this title is likely to find space alongside [Laurie Halse] Anderson's Speak." -- "BCCB"
"This young adult novel is an unflinching look at the struggles of a rape victim to process her trauma and find the strength to rebuild her life." --Laurie Halse Anderson, New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of Speak and Shout
