Look Inside
 

Book Information

  • Series: Lorimer SideStreets
  • Imprint: James Lorimer & Company Ltd., Publishers
  • Publication Date: 12 February 2016
  • Copyright Year: 2016
  • ISBN: 9781459410954
  • Page Count: 176
  • Dimensions: 5.3" x 7.5"
  • Interest ages: 14-18
  • Reading level: Grade 3

Purchasing Information

Paperback
9781459410954
$12.95 CAD

Available

Also Available From
Digital (ePub)
9781459410961
$12.99 CAD

Cutter Boy

by Cristy Watson

All Travis wants is a slice of life

Bullied at school and ignored at home, Travis has a secret: cutting himself with a razor blade is the only thing that lets him control the pain in his life and find some peace. When he becomes friends with Chyvonne, a new girl at school, he doesn't know how to get close to her without revealing his secret and making himself even more vulnerable. Spending time with Chyvonne spurs Travis to try to discover why his mother can't seem to face his very existence. It's only when he learns about the art form of paper cutting that he realizes there might be other ways to make himself feel adrenalin-fueled and in control.

Although self-harm through cutting is a problem usually associated with teenage girls, many young men are involved in different sorts of self-injury. This story explores a teenager's motivations for cutting and the options for overcoming the need to self-injure.

About the Author

Cristy Watson

CRISTY WATSON is passionate about teaching and writing. She loves living near the beach in White Rock, B.C., where she hosts an Open Mic at her local coffee shop. She is the award-winning author of three hi/lo novels -- Benched, Living Rough and On Cue -- published by Orca.

Reviews

"Thoughtful and provoking without insulting high schoolers with babyish language."
Elaine Paparonis,, Educator
"Wow! Simple language and short chapters make the emotional impact of this book all the more powerful. I liked that it took on a tough issue in a real way, and that while the ending was hopeful, it didn't try to tie up all the loose ends."
Gillian Wiseman,, Librarian
"With well developed characters and a fast moving plot, Cutter Boy tackles the very current teenage problems of bullying, fitting, in, and self mutilation head on in a caring, realistic manner. This book should appeal to middle and high school students. Its low reading level (3.1) makes it accessible to a wide range of students. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Cutter Boy to students."
Judy Gottschalk,, Educator

Subjects (BISAC)

JUVENILE FICTION / Family / Parents, JUVENILE FICTION / Social Themes / Bullying

Similar Titles

  • Gone Bad

    Lesley Choyce
    A story about youth and violence from one of Canada's most popular YA authors.
    Chosen as one of Resource Links' Year's Best for 2011
    $9.95, Paperback
    Interest ages: 14-18
    Reading level: Grade 3

  • Strange Beauty

    Lori Weber

    There are some things a teen can take for granted, or so Penny thinks. Beautiful girls get all the breaks. An eccentric old woman is going to be the target of every kid in the 'hood. But what if things are not all they seem?

    $9.95, Paperback
    Interest ages: 14-18
    Reading level: Grade 3

  • Scab

    Robert Rayner
    There's only a split second to decide: Get the shot that's going to make you famous, or save the girl.
    $9.95, Paperback
    Interest ages: 14-18
    Reading level: Grade 3

  • Stalked

    Christine Hart
    Stalked explores an issue seldom talked about and not commonly reported: Sexual harassment of teen girls in the workplace.
    $9.95, Paperback
    Interest ages: 14-18
    Reading level: Grade 5
Shopping Cart
Scroll to Top