When a hot new student arrives, Rae can't believe she is the one he picks to date. But Nathan's good looks and charm can't hide his troubled dark side, reminding Rae of her abusive stepfather, Dean. Dean's aggression and controlling nature are intensifying, leaving Rae frustrated and scared, pouring her thoughts into her poetry journal and taking solace in her job at a flower shop and the unexpected connections she makes there. Schroeder uses Rae's strength, compassion, and self-assuredness to sketch a path away from the cycle of domestic violence, one where Rae stands her ground, ends things with Nathan despite his needs and threats, and discovers a new, healthier, more fulfilling relationship. Interspersed with the narrative are Rae's poems, including the anonymous ones she submits to the school paper, starting a poetry revolution. Rae finally steps out of the shadows, claiming her experiences in print, which leads others to do the same. Though the initial chapters may feel predictable, this is a sensitively told story of the transformative power of poetry, random kindness, and love.--Booth, Heather Copyright 2010 Booklist

Seventeen-year-old Rae tries to steer clear of her abusive stepfather, and she's generally hesitant to get close to anyone--until Nathan, who exhibits textbook red flags that suggest his potential for danger, the extent of which is soon revealed. Told in both prose and (somewhat cheesy) poems, this is a suspenseful yet sensitive exploration of dangerous relationships--family included. (c) Copyright 2013. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Gr 9 Up-Rae's life may not be easy, but she has close friends, a job she loves, and some savings to help her escape someday. Sure, she has to deal with her distant mother and verbally abusive stepfather, but she's able to separate herself from the reality she shares with her friends. Then she meets Nathan, whose affection quickly turns stifling and even frightening. At just about the same time, her stepdad loses his job, starts stealing her paychecks, and begins a downward spiral. Rae's narrative is punctuated by entries in her poetry journal. Alongside the story of Rae's increasingly troubled home and rapidly derailing love life runs a narrative in which her English teacher appeals to students to submit poetry for the school newspaper. Rae asks to submit poems anonymously and starts a "poetry revolution," with anonymous selections pouring out of the woodwork. It is only toward the end of the story that she begins to see the value of being forthright about the uglier parts of her life. Rae is a well-drawn, strong-willed heroine, and her blossoming relationship with a homeschooled neighbor adds a sweetness and depth to the story. Some other characters (her friends, her mother) feel a little thinner. The biggest disappointment is the book's cover, which shows a passionate, rain-drenched kiss between what one can only assume is Rae and Nathan. It feels misleading as that relationship does not define the story. Still, readers looking for a quick read about a strong teen who finds her voice will not be disappointed.-Jill Heritage Maza, Montclair Kimberley Academy, Montclair, NJ (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Abuse victim Rae, now on the brink of death, recounts the events that led her to such circumstances. Trying to fit in, Rae never lets on that money is tight, that her stepfather is cruel and narcissistic, and that her mother turns a blind eye to his atrocities. When handsome Nathan Sharp arrives at her school, she accepts his offer of a date. Immediately, it is clear that Nathan isn't quite right, with his extreme neediness and intensely possessive behavior. Rae is achingly slow to pick up on these blatant red flags, but that seems understandable, taking into account her home life. There, her stepfather's abuse escalates as he loses his job and begins to dabble in shady enterprises. Through all of this darkness, Rae finds solace in writing poetry, which she shares anonymously in the school paper, and comfort with Leo, the shy, kind boy who works at the coffee shop. Important issues are examined, but the plot threads are many, and some seemingly important ones fizzle out dully, and the resolution of Nathan and Rae's relationship is far too tidy. Many of the elements of contemporary realistic fiction are present and accounted forpoetry, abuse, love triangleshowever, this ends up reading like a not-as-romantic version of Gayle Forman's If I Stay (2009). (Fiction. 13 up)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.