Girl in Pieces by Kathleen Glasgow

Charlotte (Charlie) Davis, a seventeen-year-old child who has experienced abundant suffering finally feels safe.  She wants to stay forever.  After years of abuse, homelessness, hopelessness, the loss of her best friend, and self-harm to deal with the pain of it all, she is in a facility with a bed and food as opposed to living on the streets of Minnesota.  She feels safe knowing "he" cannot hurt her and grateful to be inside. 

When she is, in fact, forced to leave, a new journey begins that is both awful and hopeful for her.  Settled in a new city far away from "him", Charlie finds a job as the dishwasher at a local restaurant and bar. She begins to find her voice and develops relationships with her co-workers. Will this job be her saving grace or her fall from it?  Maybe both?

This books initially leads the reader to believe that the book will follow Charlie's journey to stay safe from "him".  As the story continues, however, the reader realizes that Charlie's true adversary is herself.  She thinks of herself as broken and unmendable.  The story evokes anger, empathy, pity, and exuberance, engaging the reader along a journey that no one, especially a child, should have to endure.  The onset of emotions is inevitable while reading a story that is so raw.  The authenticity of the writing stems from the author’s point-of-view as Glasgow has experienced similar tribulation as Charlie.  It is both a disturbing and hopeful tale, addressing the horrifying epidemic of self-harm.