Furious Thing

Furious Thing by Jenny Downham (Young Adult Novel)

15-year-old Lexi’s anger is out of control. She does not want to break or throw things, but she just cannot seem to get a grip on her emotions. She has no friends, her grades are bad, and she is always making her stepfather angry. If only Lexi could push down her anger, then perhaps her family (and everyone else) would be happy with her. Is she really the monster her younger sister claims she is, or is the monster outside of her? Someone is shattering her sense of self-worth, and just maybe her rage is justified. This heartbreaking story looks at what it is like to be a teen trapped in a vicious cycle of bullying and emotional abuse by an adult family member, and what it means to find the courage to fight back.

Reviewed by Janie Peters, Wickes Library