''Cut'' is a 2000 novel by Patricia McCormick, targeted at young adults. In 2002 it was named one of the ALA's "Best Books for Young Adults" for that year.

Plot

Fifteen-year-old Callie McPherson of

Mississauga Mississauga ( ), historically known as Toronto Township, is a city in the Canadian province of Ontario. It is situated on the shores of Lake Ontario in the Regional Municipality of Peel, adjoining the western border of Toronto. With a popul ...

isn't speaking to anybody, not even to her therapist at Sea Pines (nicknamed "Sick Minds"), the residential treatment facility where her parents and doctor sent her after discovering that she self-harms. At some point, Callie does begin speaking to her therapist/doctor, and she helps Callie understand why she self-harms. As her story unfolds, Callie reluctantly becomes involved with the other "guests" at Sea Pines—finding her voice and confronting the trauma that triggered her behavior. Callie gets better with the help of Sydney (her roommate), Debbie, Becca, Tara, Amanda, and Tiffany. Through support from her family, guests, and therapist she soon learns why she cuts herself.

Reception

Critical reception for ''Cut'' was overwhelmingly positive, with

Kirkus Reviews ''Kirkus Reviews'' (or ''Kirkus Media'') is an American book review magazine founded in 1933 by Virginia Kirkus (1893–1980). The magazine is headquartered in New York City. ''Kirkus Reviews'' confers the annual Kirkus Prize to authors of fic ...

calling the book "a thoughtful look at teenage mental illness and recovery".

Booklist ''Booklist'' is a publication of the American Library Association that provides critical reviews of books and audiovisual materials for all ages. ''Booklist''s primary audience consists of libraries, educators, and booksellers. The magazine is av ...

praised McCormick's depiction of Callie, saying that she was an "exceptional character study".

Publishers Weekly ''Publishers Weekly'' (''PW'') is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers, and literary agents. Published continuously since 1872, it has carried the tagline, "The International News Magazine of B ...

positively reviewed both the paperback and audio versions, writing that the book "sympathetically and authentically renders the difficulties of giving voice to a very real sense of harm and powerlessness" as well as praising

Clea Lewis Clea Lewis (born July 19, 1965) is an American actress, best known for her television role as Ellen's annoying friend, Audrey Penney in Ellen DeGeneres' sitcom ''Ellen''. Personal life Lewis was born in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, to a writer ...

for her narration.

Awards

''Cut'' received the following accolades: * Lincoln Award Nominee (2005) * Selected Audiobooks for Young Adults (2002) * Best Books for Young Adults (2002) * Audiobooks for Young Adults (2002) * Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers (2001)

Challenges

Despite the above, ''Cut'' has frequently been challenged in the United States. According to the American Library Association, the book was the 86th most banned and challenged book in the United States between 2000 and 2009 (86).

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cut 2000 American novels American young adult novels Self-harm in fiction Fictional elective mutes