A review by tate_francis
Scarlett’s Secret: A real-life short story by Casey Watson by Casey Watson

emotional sad fast-paced

4.0

Tw: Child abuse, Sexual abuse

 I have read close to a hundred memoirs in my twenty-one years of life - many of which discuss themes of child abuse and sexual assault - so believe me when I say that this was an especially difficult read. Whilst short and not particularly graphic, the lived realities of the two main children within this book are startlingly horrific. Very few pages expressed their ordeal but it was enough to break my, already dismantled, heart. 

I would suggest you enter this short story with caution and, whilst books of this nature are important in allowing for education and the demolition of rape culture, prioritise your mental wellbeing. 

As this book is so short, I don’t want to be too revealing on the narrative itself (I recommend that the synopsis be as much as you know prior to beginning) but I will say that it is written concisely and with much thought. The author allowed for a true account without doing her readers a disservice. The writing style mimics an oral rendition, as if we are friends or colleagues being allowed a conversation, without feeling too informal or insensitive to the content. It was fast-paced and easy to read. Being just under 50 pages long, I read it in its entirety in one sitting (and I am a particularly slow reader). 

Having finished not so long ago, I can already tell that this book, all it had to say, will linger. I will think of these girls, and the masses like them, often. Unfortunately, this book isn’t a record of something that is incredibly rare, the experiences of these girls aren’t too unique, but I wish to be as open as I can to other’s experiences and do my part in allowing those around me to heal. So whilst tragic, I do not (at all) regret my digestion of this text and I would recommend this book - and the author, Casey Watson - to all those who read with purpose. 
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