A review by jaynamihalick
My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell

4.0

Wow. This book was difficult for me to read - this was the first book I’ve read that truly gives justice to this type of situation and gives as much detail as it does into this incredibly prevalent issue. I wouldn’t even say I enjoyed this book: I found myself dreading the next page, needing to finish the story even though it was so difficult to get through. This book allowed me a perspective in the mind of a victim of sexual abuse victim, and made you see how warped views can become from grooming. The graphic scenes made me sick to my stomach, and at times frustrated, but mostly upset for all of the people who undergo this abuse across the world. This is a subject that is not spoken about enough, and I think this book did an excellent job of bringing attention to that, especially through the references to the appropriation of sexualizing children in modern culture. I also appreciated the hopeful feeling I got at the end of this book. Such a heartbreaking and important read, and although incredibly graphic and sickening, it made me think and reconsider my surroundings like no book has before.