From the author of the critically acclaimed, LOOKING FOR JJ, shortlisted for the Whitbread Prize in 2004 and the Carnegie Medal in 2005.
My name is Stacey Woods and I was raped.
Stacey is the victim of a terrible sexual attack. She does not feel able to go to the police, or talk about it to anybody other than her best friend, Patrice. Patrice, outraged, when she cannot persuade her to go to the police, encourages Stacey to write everything down. This is Stacey's story.
A tautly told and important book, perfect for readers of Asking for It by Louise O'Neill.
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[My name is Stacey Woods and I was raped]***
(Hot Key Books, 3 November 2016, 184 pages, paperback, copy from @AmazonUK via #AmazonVine)
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I loved this book, despite or perhaps because of its subject matter. YA fiction is at its best when it tackles big, series issues and doesn't preach or judge. No Virgin is a stunning example of how relevant and important YA fiction can be. I disliked Asking for It because of a choice the main character makes, encouraged by her family. Thankfully, the author chooses a different direction here. This is such a short book but it tackles issues that are much bigger than the sum of its parts. The book is narrated by Stacey, telling the story of her rape, the events that led up to the worst night of her life and the choices she makes afterward. My heart was in my throat much of the time reading this. No Virgin is a brave, terribly sad book.
