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Sliding on the Edge
Scarred. Scared. Alone. Can sixteen-year-old Shawna Stone overcome her inner suffering and transcend the past?
Shawna has spent the first sixteen years of her life in Las Vegas and learned to handle anything from a Las Vegas hustle to skipping out on the rent. Damaged inside and out, she's survived with a tough, hardened attitude. When her mother abandons her, with only a bus ticket and the name and number of stranger to call, this troubled , desperate teen finds herself on a California horse ranch with Kay Stone, the steely, youngish grandmother she's never known.
Kay overwhelms Shawna with rules and daily barn chores, and Shawna baffles Kay with her foul-mouthed anger and shrugging indifference to everything--except the maltreated horse on the ranch next door. But it's worse than even Kay suspects: Shawna's driven to cut herself by Monster, that strange voice inside her head. Kay struggles to keep the ranch going and fears that unless she helps this girl, she could lose her last living family member.
As this unlikely pair struggles to co-exist, will they overcome their suffering and transcend the past?
Shawna has spent the first sixteen years of her life in Las Vegas and learned to handle anything from a Las Vegas hustle to skipping out on the rent. Damaged inside and out, she's survived with a tough, hardened attitude. When her mother abandons her, with only a bus ticket and the name and number of stranger to call, this troubled , desperate teen finds herself on a California horse ranch with Kay Stone, the steely, youngish grandmother she's never known.
Kay overwhelms Shawna with rules and daily barn chores, and Shawna baffles Kay with her foul-mouthed anger and shrugging indifference to everything--except the maltreated horse on the ranch next door. But it's worse than even Kay suspects: Shawna's driven to cut herself by Monster, that strange voice inside her head. Kay struggles to keep the ranch going and fears that unless she helps this girl, she could lose her last living family member.
As this unlikely pair struggles to co-exist, will they overcome their suffering and transcend the past?
268 pages, Hardcover
First published April 23, 2009
6 people are currently reading
386 people want to read
About the author
C. Lee McKenzie
24 books419 followers
I’ve moved to Substack and dropped my WordPress blog. Quelle liberté! You can see all of my work on Amazon, and I'd love to connect with you on and Instagram, too!In my other life--the one before I began writing for publication--I was a teacher and administrator at California State University, San Jose. My field of Linguistics and intercultural communication has carried me to a lot of places in the world to explore different cultures and languages. I can say, “Where’s the toilet?” and “I’m lost!” in at least five languages and two dialects. Go ahead. Pat me on the back.
My idea of a perfect day is one or all of the following: starting a new novel, finishing writing a blockbuster novel, hiking on a misty morning trail in the Santa Cruz Mountains, saying Namaste after a great yoga practice, sipping a cappuccino at a bustling café, reading in front of a fire with snow outside, swimming in an ocean someplace.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
December 21, 2016
3.5 STARS
Shawna is a sixteen-year-old girl whose mother just split. Now she has to live with a grandmother she doesn't know. Every moment is far from what she's used to, and she struggles within herself. She doesn't talk unless she's yelling. She always has a bad attitude. And she cuts her ankle to relieve her pain.
By the middle of the book, I really got into the characters. I got teary-eyed and held my breath at certain parts. The only thing that disappointed me was the abrupt end. I expected 3-4 more chapters but all of a sudden there's an epilogue. I felt as though the climax and exciting parts were left out. *spoilers* I wanted to be with them when they got the horses back, wanted to hear the conversation between Shawna and Casey, and wanted to feel the happiness when Kay received guardianship of Shawna.
Regardless, this is a a great story for teens.
Contains trigger topics: suicide, cutting, overdose
Shawna is a sixteen-year-old girl whose mother just split. Now she has to live with a grandmother she doesn't know. Every moment is far from what she's used to, and she struggles within herself. She doesn't talk unless she's yelling. She always has a bad attitude. And she cuts her ankle to relieve her pain.
By the middle of the book, I really got into the characters. I got teary-eyed and held my breath at certain parts. The only thing that disappointed me was the abrupt end. I expected 3-4 more chapters but all of a sudden there's an epilogue. I felt as though the climax and exciting parts were left out. *spoilers* I wanted to be with them when they got the horses back, wanted to hear the conversation between Shawna and Casey, and wanted to feel the happiness when Kay received guardianship of Shawna.
Regardless, this is a a great story for teens.
Contains trigger topics: suicide, cutting, overdose
July 6, 2011
Wow! This book took me by surprise because the flawed main character is trying to fight the Monster. This is the most proactive book on cutting I've read in all my time reading YA. The book wasn't driven by the cutting either which makes it more plausible since the few cutters I've known have kept their secret while living what appear to be normal lives.
Shawna's reluctance to get to know her grandmother in terms of protecting herself from more hurt and in light of the stories her mother told her.
Although the book is told in two voices I think the voices are separated enough by age and perception that a lower reader could read it. I would suggest pointing out prior to the reading that Shawna is the granddaughter and Kay is the grandma.
I'd love to know what students think.
Shawna's reluctance to get to know her grandmother in terms of protecting herself from more hurt and in light of the stories her mother told her.
Although the book is told in two voices I think the voices are separated enough by age and perception that a lower reader could read it. I would suggest pointing out prior to the reading that Shawna is the granddaughter and Kay is the grandma.
I'd love to know what students think.
May 1, 2013
I really enjoyed this book and was a little sad to close the cover and say good-bye to Shawna and Kay. I found the dual perspective between the grandma and the granddaughter was insightful and showed how the two characters were more similar than not...but neither could see it. It was their mutual love for horses that helps them bridge their gaps.
August 19, 2017
What a timely topic.Teen suicide is hurtling toward epidemic proportions in our society. I applaud the author for opening up a conversation about this very tough subject . Shawna, the 16-year-old, who must deal with this monster in her life is portrayed as a tough, hard-edged girl who has had noone who really cared about her in her life. Her grandmother, Kay, has guilt she must deal with and no idea how to handle or love a girl like Shawna. Ms McKenzie kept these characters true to their character throughout and I loved the development of each one of them. I did not like, however, the changes in point of view. It jarred me as I moved from one chapter to another. Shawna told her story in first person in her chapters and Kay's story was in third person. I had a difficult time adjusting to this style of storytelling. I wanted the story to go on, but it ended, and I wasn't ready to say good bye to Shawna and Kay. Perhaps there is a sequel to this book?
December 4, 2017
Sixteen-year-old, Shawna Stone, is abandoned by her mother, an addicted gambler. Her options are to roam the streets of Las Vegas, or find her grandmother, Kay. She opts for the latter. As she tries to build her life in her grandmother's home, she is haunted by her past and the inner monster that urges her to cut and even end her life.
Told in alternating points of view, Sliding on the Edge, gives an inside look on what it is like to be the troubled teenager, and what it is like to live with one. Ms. McKenzie tackles a very tough topic, but she does it in a way that imparts hope––that love, a strong family, and good friends can make a difference. A compelling, well-written read recommended for teens and adults.
Told in alternating points of view, Sliding on the Edge, gives an inside look on what it is like to be the troubled teenager, and what it is like to live with one. Ms. McKenzie tackles a very tough topic, but she does it in a way that imparts hope––that love, a strong family, and good friends can make a difference. A compelling, well-written read recommended for teens and adults.
May 22, 2017
The damage we do in the heat of the moment can change lives forever and Sliding on the Edge by C. Lee McKenzie is a prime example of that. Lie’s, half-truths, fear, and mistrust all play a role for sixteen-year-old Shawna, and her grandmother, Kay Stone when they finally meet.
A great read for any pre-teen or teenager struggling with dysfunction or not. Empathy can go a long way when it comes to understanding that we all have secrets and that a person’s life, like the cover of a book, cannot be judged by what’s seen on the outside.
Recommended for all readers.
A great read for any pre-teen or teenager struggling with dysfunction or not. Empathy can go a long way when it comes to understanding that we all have secrets and that a person’s life, like the cover of a book, cannot be judged by what’s seen on the outside.
Recommended for all readers.
December 24, 2016
Shawna is a tough sixteen year old, at least on the outside. She is capable of surviving the streets of Las Vegas and the abusive boyfriends of her narcissistic mother. When her mother flees town with her newest lover, on the day the rent is due, Shawna wakes to a bus ticket, a $100 bill and a note to go to her grandmothers in Central California. There, she will be where her mother can find her when she gets her life back together. Having never met her grandmother, Shawna reluctantly decides to take the trip. Having been disappointed all her life, Shawna has developed a protective facade that pushes others away. In a similar way, her grandmother Kay also has a habit of pushing people away. The two leading characters in the story have sad memories that each must deal with. But Shawna issues are deeper. Having pushed everyone away, she deals with her deep pain by giving into the “Monster” and cutting herself with a razor blade. Shawna and Kay need the other. Kay, by taking care of Shawna, is able to finally put aside the tragedies of her past as Shawna, with the help of her grandmother and an old horse, learns to trust. The book is told from the point-of-view of both characters: Kay and Shawna.
I found myself deeply pained by the events of Shawna’s past. No child should ever have to deal with a mother who used her daughter in her schemes to obtain what she wanted in life. As we read the stories, we learn the two had worked together as petty criminals on the streets of Vegas. Moving to Central California, where she surprises her grandmother, Shawna finds herself in a strange new world. This is the world of horse farms and high schools where girls have sleep-overs. It takes a lot of patience but by the end of the book, after she realizes she doesn’t want to go back to her mother, things are looking up for Shawna.
I have often enjoyed the young adult works, especially the works of Gary Paulsen and Gary Schmidt. However, they write stories about teenage boys. Reading about a teenage girl, in a book written for girls is a little different. I was curious to learn what goes on in someone’s mind that causes them to cut themselves. As a book of fiction, this is not a handbook about the practice and how to stop it. But I can see how one can come so jaded about life that they resort to such drastic measures to battle the pain.
Ironically, I read two books about teenage girls last month. The other, which was also very good, was Anthony Doerr’s All the Light We Cannot See, which is about a French girl who is blind during the Nazi occupation along with a young soldier in Hitler’s army. It, too, was a good read and I would recommend them both.
I found myself deeply pained by the events of Shawna’s past. No child should ever have to deal with a mother who used her daughter in her schemes to obtain what she wanted in life. As we read the stories, we learn the two had worked together as petty criminals on the streets of Vegas. Moving to Central California, where she surprises her grandmother, Shawna finds herself in a strange new world. This is the world of horse farms and high schools where girls have sleep-overs. It takes a lot of patience but by the end of the book, after she realizes she doesn’t want to go back to her mother, things are looking up for Shawna.
I have often enjoyed the young adult works, especially the works of Gary Paulsen and Gary Schmidt. However, they write stories about teenage boys. Reading about a teenage girl, in a book written for girls is a little different. I was curious to learn what goes on in someone’s mind that causes them to cut themselves. As a book of fiction, this is not a handbook about the practice and how to stop it. But I can see how one can come so jaded about life that they resort to such drastic measures to battle the pain.
Ironically, I read two books about teenage girls last month. The other, which was also very good, was Anthony Doerr’s All the Light We Cannot See, which is about a French girl who is blind during the Nazi occupation along with a young soldier in Hitler’s army. It, too, was a good read and I would recommend them both.
December 16, 2009
Complete/full review here: http://thebookpixie.blogspot.com/2009...
Author Interview here: http://thebookpixie.blogspot.com/2009...
Review
Sliding on the Edge is the emotional, powerful debut novel of author C. Lee McKenzie.
To say that Shawna is troubled would be a serious understatement. She is haunted and struggles daily with the demons inside her caused from a disastrous home life. To make matters worse, there is Monster. The voice inside her head cutting her down, reminding her of all the bad things in her life, and in turn, making Shawna turn to a razor blade for comfort. Shawna is a very genuine and believable character. Despite her hard and bitter exterior, I could really feel her grief and pain, and found myself desperately hoping she'd have a happy ending.
Kay, Shawna's grandmother, has demons of her own to battle, having been through some hard times of her own. She is so lonely, that is, until Shawna comes along. Kay is somewhat cold and stern but she has definitely met her match in Shawna. She is thrust out of her comfort zone and it doesn't take her long to realize that she is in over her head. I thought Kay was very realistic and well developed. She was exactly how I would have expected a woman in her situation to be.
Kenny is Kay's right-hand man and is there to help her when she needs him. Then there is Casey, the Sunday boy who has taken an interest in Shawna but is having a very hard time getting her to open up. I really liked Casey and sure wish he had been in the book more.
C. Lee McKenzie tackles some very difficult topics, such as abandonment, suicide, cutting, and depression, that a lot of authors wouldn't dare write about. I think she did a wonderful job writing Sliding on the Edge and everything was very well portrayed. I loved the alternating perspectives and how Shawna's was told in first person and Kay's, in third person. This made me feel an even closer bond to Shawna but I still got to hear Kay's side of the story. I was so glad this book had the ending it did and everything seemed very well tied up. I must say, I can easily see this being made into a movie, particularly from Hallmark or Lifetime.
Sliding on the Edge is a gripping and genuine novel that will touch your heart. I would highly recommend this to not only young adults, but to adults as well. I'm really glad to have this book in my personal library.
Author Interview here: http://thebookpixie.blogspot.com/2009...
Review
Sliding on the Edge is the emotional, powerful debut novel of author C. Lee McKenzie.
To say that Shawna is troubled would be a serious understatement. She is haunted and struggles daily with the demons inside her caused from a disastrous home life. To make matters worse, there is Monster. The voice inside her head cutting her down, reminding her of all the bad things in her life, and in turn, making Shawna turn to a razor blade for comfort. Shawna is a very genuine and believable character. Despite her hard and bitter exterior, I could really feel her grief and pain, and found myself desperately hoping she'd have a happy ending.
Kay, Shawna's grandmother, has demons of her own to battle, having been through some hard times of her own. She is so lonely, that is, until Shawna comes along. Kay is somewhat cold and stern but she has definitely met her match in Shawna. She is thrust out of her comfort zone and it doesn't take her long to realize that she is in over her head. I thought Kay was very realistic and well developed. She was exactly how I would have expected a woman in her situation to be.
Kenny is Kay's right-hand man and is there to help her when she needs him. Then there is Casey, the Sunday boy who has taken an interest in Shawna but is having a very hard time getting her to open up. I really liked Casey and sure wish he had been in the book more.
C. Lee McKenzie tackles some very difficult topics, such as abandonment, suicide, cutting, and depression, that a lot of authors wouldn't dare write about. I think she did a wonderful job writing Sliding on the Edge and everything was very well portrayed. I loved the alternating perspectives and how Shawna's was told in first person and Kay's, in third person. This made me feel an even closer bond to Shawna but I still got to hear Kay's side of the story. I was so glad this book had the ending it did and everything seemed very well tied up. I must say, I can easily see this being made into a movie, particularly from Hallmark or Lifetime.
Sliding on the Edge is a gripping and genuine novel that will touch your heart. I would highly recommend this to not only young adults, but to adults as well. I'm really glad to have this book in my personal library.
September 16, 2017
The novel switches between Shawna and Kay's POV. I really enjoyed reading Shawna's chapters more than Kay's. I thought Shawna had a genuine voice, even if she did have a bit of an attitude. Shawna's thoughts and behavior were completely understandable, though, considering how her life had been and how her mother treated her. Her mother was a very selfish woman, putting her own needs ahead of her daughter's every time, and verbally (sometimes even physically) abusing Shawna. I thought the relationship between Shawna and her mother was one of the most interesting aspects of the novel and I would have liked the author to explore Shawna's feelings about her mother more than she did. There was so much going on there, but it was barely touched on. Instead, the novel focuses mainly on the new realtionship between Shawna and her grandmother Kay.
Kay was such an enigma to me. I didn't really have her figured out until I had nearly finished the book, and even then she didn't quite grow on me. Kay had a lot of problems herself and I believe she may have been even more messed up than Shawna. But even though I could understand Kay's reasons for her withdrawal and depression and could tell that she did truly care about Shawna when I was reading from her POV, I didn't like how Kay remained so cold and distant on the outside. She didn't ever show any love or concern for Shawna for months after Shawna moved in, yet she was confused as to why Shawna never warmed up to her or the ranch.
I thought the novel ended too abruptly and I would have liked more closure. I still had a lot of questions about Shawna, and I was disappointed that the book ended right when Shawna and Kay started to actually get along and open up to one another. Honestly, with how complicated both Shawna and Kay's lives were, this book could have been twice as long. I thought it was a good read though. Well-written and thought-provoking.
*I won this book from Goodreads giveaways
Kay was such an enigma to me. I didn't really have her figured out until I had nearly finished the book, and even then she didn't quite grow on me. Kay had a lot of problems herself and I believe she may have been even more messed up than Shawna. But even though I could understand Kay's reasons for her withdrawal and depression and could tell that she did truly care about Shawna when I was reading from her POV, I didn't like how Kay remained so cold and distant on the outside. She didn't ever show any love or concern for Shawna for months after Shawna moved in, yet she was confused as to why Shawna never warmed up to her or the ranch.
I thought the novel ended too abruptly and I would have liked more closure. I still had a lot of questions about Shawna, and I was disappointed that the book ended right when Shawna and Kay started to actually get along and open up to one another. Honestly, with how complicated both Shawna and Kay's lives were, this book could have been twice as long. I thought it was a good read though. Well-written and thought-provoking.
*I won this book from Goodreads giveaways
April 28, 2010
Sliding on the Edge is an emotional and edgy story of one girl’s journey to recovery. Shawna is a tough girl, she has to be to survive some of America’s roughest cities. When her mom leaves her alone in Las Vegas with only a hundred bucks to buy a bus ticket and a phone number, Shawna soon finds herself on a Californian horse ranch living with a grandmother she never knew existed. Besides her problematic anger issues and rough exterior, Shawna turns to cutting herself when a she can’t handle the pressure any longer.
With the help of a mistreated horse, the truth, and a some friends, Shawna learns that hurting herself will not make the anger and pain she feels go away.
Sliding on the Edge’s characters are very real and you get to read two different perspectives: Shawna’s and Kay’s. I believe teens can relate and learn from Shawna and her grandmother as they discover how to accept and face their problems.
Overall, Sliding on the Edge is a touching and vivid message of pain, sadness, and hope by debut author C. Lee McKenzie. Wether you’re looking for something edgy or experiencing problems like Shawna, this book is great for teens and would be a great addition to any YA library collection. Hope to see more from McKenzie!
~C. Lee McKenzie is a native of California and has been a university lecturer and administrator. She has written and published various non-fiction articles, edited university newspapers, and short stories. Sliding on the Edge is her first novel for Young Adults.~
|Age Group: YA, ages 14+|Content: Language, sensuality, and cutting|
|Recommend? Yes|
Courtesy of booksandliteratureforteens.blogspot.com
With the help of a mistreated horse, the truth, and a some friends, Shawna learns that hurting herself will not make the anger and pain she feels go away.
Sliding on the Edge’s characters are very real and you get to read two different perspectives: Shawna’s and Kay’s. I believe teens can relate and learn from Shawna and her grandmother as they discover how to accept and face their problems.
Overall, Sliding on the Edge is a touching and vivid message of pain, sadness, and hope by debut author C. Lee McKenzie. Wether you’re looking for something edgy or experiencing problems like Shawna, this book is great for teens and would be a great addition to any YA library collection. Hope to see more from McKenzie!
~C. Lee McKenzie is a native of California and has been a university lecturer and administrator. She has written and published various non-fiction articles, edited university newspapers, and short stories. Sliding on the Edge is her first novel for Young Adults.~
|Age Group: YA, ages 14+|Content: Language, sensuality, and cutting|
|Recommend? Yes|
Courtesy of booksandliteratureforteens.blogspot.com
January 14, 2014
A well-constructed story, which is engaging and poignant.
The characters are real and multi-dimensional, and I was caught up in the relationship between Kay and Shawna. As the story progressed, I was eager to find out what would happen next.
Sixteen-year-old Shawna and sixty-year-old Kay both had monsters to confront and deal with. The difference is that the monster of a conflicted teen, who has to deal with "cutting" problems, will appear larger and more menacing. A sixty year old can more-or-less keep the monster in check. As much as Shawna struggled to make sense of her roller coaster existence, Kay also struggled with issues that she had shut away in a mental drawer. But, as we all know, the monster will come along and rear its ugly head, at some stage or another... Shawna's arrival unlocked the door and provided the opportunity for Kay to confront it.
The alternating POV drew me into the story, tugged at my heartstrings, and I was in-the-moment, rooting for the two characters. I experienced the range of emotions; the heartache, the doubt, and the relief when finally the light at the end of the tunnel came into view.
It's a known fact that animals have a special way of touching peoples' lives. Equine therapy helps people focus on making strides for a better quality of life. The idea of horses as healers who can touch troubled souls, is on the rise in popular culture. In this story, horses play a significant role in the healing process, both internally for each character on the individual healing journey, as well as between Shawna and her grandmother.
The characters are real and multi-dimensional, and I was caught up in the relationship between Kay and Shawna. As the story progressed, I was eager to find out what would happen next.
Sixteen-year-old Shawna and sixty-year-old Kay both had monsters to confront and deal with. The difference is that the monster of a conflicted teen, who has to deal with "cutting" problems, will appear larger and more menacing. A sixty year old can more-or-less keep the monster in check. As much as Shawna struggled to make sense of her roller coaster existence, Kay also struggled with issues that she had shut away in a mental drawer. But, as we all know, the monster will come along and rear its ugly head, at some stage or another... Shawna's arrival unlocked the door and provided the opportunity for Kay to confront it.
The alternating POV drew me into the story, tugged at my heartstrings, and I was in-the-moment, rooting for the two characters. I experienced the range of emotions; the heartache, the doubt, and the relief when finally the light at the end of the tunnel came into view.
It's a known fact that animals have a special way of touching peoples' lives. Equine therapy helps people focus on making strides for a better quality of life. The idea of horses as healers who can touch troubled souls, is on the rise in popular culture. In this story, horses play a significant role in the healing process, both internally for each character on the individual healing journey, as well as between Shawna and her grandmother.
August 24, 2013
Sliding on the Edge by C. Lee McKenzie
Shawna Stone a 16 year old girl from Las Vegas leads a rough life with her mother. Then one day she wakes up to find a note from her Mother with a name Kay Stone, and a phone number and $100.00. Shawna makes the trip to Northern California to her grandmothers (Kay) horse ranch. She struggles to fit into the new life style.
Kay is the opposite of Jackie, Shawnas' Mother, she has a rigid routine and strict rules. Shawna is used to being a loner and doing her own thing. Shawna is also haunted by the voices in her head, and her secret cutting.
Kay struggles to understand her only grandchild, and Shawna is not sure what Kay expects from her. As the two coexist in the same home they come to realize they need to overcome the past to have a decent future or severe ties.
A fast paced emotional read. I found myself up late at night wanting to know more. I feel Sliding on the Edge is a great story for Adults as well as young adult readers.
Shawna Stone a 16 year old girl from Las Vegas leads a rough life with her mother. Then one day she wakes up to find a note from her Mother with a name Kay Stone, and a phone number and $100.00. Shawna makes the trip to Northern California to her grandmothers (Kay) horse ranch. She struggles to fit into the new life style.
Kay is the opposite of Jackie, Shawnas' Mother, she has a rigid routine and strict rules. Shawna is used to being a loner and doing her own thing. Shawna is also haunted by the voices in her head, and her secret cutting.
Kay struggles to understand her only grandchild, and Shawna is not sure what Kay expects from her. As the two coexist in the same home they come to realize they need to overcome the past to have a decent future or severe ties.
A fast paced emotional read. I found myself up late at night wanting to know more. I feel Sliding on the Edge is a great story for Adults as well as young adult readers.
May 8, 2012
Although this story is fictional, protagonist Shawna Stone’s story is all too familiar to many teen girls. Neglected by her mother, streetwise 16-year-old Shawna lives in poverty in Las Vegas where she and her mother barely survive by scamming others. When her mother abandons her, Shawna goes to live with a grandmother she’s never met and knows nothing about. Not even whether the woman is her mother’s mother or her father’s mother.
Life on a California horse ranch is a drastic change from the hustle and bustle of Las Vegas, especially with a strict grandmother who makes Shawna do chores and tow the line. The only friendly connection Shawna makes is with an abused horse at the ranch next door.
The grandmother’s difficult circumstances unfold and draw the reader in so we care about her as much as we care about Shawna.
I’m impressed with how well the author handles the difficult subject of teens cutting themselves in order to deal with inner turmoil. I highly recommend this book.
Life on a California horse ranch is a drastic change from the hustle and bustle of Las Vegas, especially with a strict grandmother who makes Shawna do chores and tow the line. The only friendly connection Shawna makes is with an abused horse at the ranch next door.
The grandmother’s difficult circumstances unfold and draw the reader in so we care about her as much as we care about Shawna.
I’m impressed with how well the author handles the difficult subject of teens cutting themselves in order to deal with inner turmoil. I highly recommend this book.
July 9, 2013
Shawna is a tough sixteen year old from Las Vegas. She has to be tough because her mother is irresponsible and endangers her well-being all the time. With her mother drifting along a sea of men and gambling trips, Shawna is on her own with a bus ticket and a phone number.
The number belongs to her grandmother, Kay, who is a stranger to her. Shawna takes the opportunity to go to California to live on Kay's horse ranch. The two are constantly butting heads. Shawna doesn’t feel like she belongs there and Kay isn’t sure she can be a grandmother to her. Shawna’s toughness thaws as she bonds with horses and the people of the small town, but those things might not be enough to save her. She’s been self-mutilating for a while and may explore other ways to hurt herself even more.
The chapters alternate between Shawna and Kay, two people who have a lengthy history of familial pain and miscommunication. They don’t get along at first, but they’re each other’s best remedy. This is a great contemporary YA novel with a lot of heart and two characters who will prove memorable.
The number belongs to her grandmother, Kay, who is a stranger to her. Shawna takes the opportunity to go to California to live on Kay's horse ranch. The two are constantly butting heads. Shawna doesn’t feel like she belongs there and Kay isn’t sure she can be a grandmother to her. Shawna’s toughness thaws as she bonds with horses and the people of the small town, but those things might not be enough to save her. She’s been self-mutilating for a while and may explore other ways to hurt herself even more.
The chapters alternate between Shawna and Kay, two people who have a lengthy history of familial pain and miscommunication. They don’t get along at first, but they’re each other’s best remedy. This is a great contemporary YA novel with a lot of heart and two characters who will prove memorable.
May 19, 2014
Shawnna has a bad life. No. I mean really, really bad. Her mom is the poster girl for how not to be a mother. She’s selfish, unfeeling, and is teaching Shawnna to be a grifter like she is. In a twist of fate, her mother’s wanting to be alone with new boyfriend #65 leads her to palm off her daughter on her grandmother, a woman Shawnna’s never even met. This is Shawnna’s only chance to live a normal life – if she can just keep all the bad habits of the past from taking over and ruining everything.
Ms. McKenzie does a fabulous job with the teen character. A perfect voice and in-depth characterization join with a quirky background to form a brilliantly rendered picture of a girl hovering on the edge of sanity and self-destruction. Balancing this roller-coaster of a ride is the stable grandmother. Perhaps a bit staid, but the perfect foil for volatile Shawnna and the only one capable of teaching the girl about love and compassion. These characters will stick with me a long time. Highly recommended!
Ms. McKenzie does a fabulous job with the teen character. A perfect voice and in-depth characterization join with a quirky background to form a brilliantly rendered picture of a girl hovering on the edge of sanity and self-destruction. Balancing this roller-coaster of a ride is the stable grandmother. Perhaps a bit staid, but the perfect foil for volatile Shawnna and the only one capable of teaching the girl about love and compassion. These characters will stick with me a long time. Highly recommended!
February 27, 2011
Characters:
The characters in this book described in one word were: somewhat weird. I felt like at times, they were all as normal as they could be for their character, but then at other parts, it was just... too weird, even for the character. There were only a few main characters, especially towards the beginning, and to be honest, I got bored of them towards the beginning of the book. If the characters hadn't been so boring towards the beginning, I think I would've finished the book quicker than I did.
Plot:
For the most part, I liked the plot. There was just one thing that didn't mix in with everything else: Monster's part of the story. Monster is a thing that comes and tells Shawna that she needs to cut. It just... didn't seem to fit in with the rest of the story, which I did enjoy, except for the slow beginning.
Wow Factor:
Wasn't very wowed.... I thought it would've been better than it was. 3 hearts.
The characters in this book described in one word were: somewhat weird. I felt like at times, they were all as normal as they could be for their character, but then at other parts, it was just... too weird, even for the character. There were only a few main characters, especially towards the beginning, and to be honest, I got bored of them towards the beginning of the book. If the characters hadn't been so boring towards the beginning, I think I would've finished the book quicker than I did.
Plot:
For the most part, I liked the plot. There was just one thing that didn't mix in with everything else: Monster's part of the story. Monster is a thing that comes and tells Shawna that she needs to cut. It just... didn't seem to fit in with the rest of the story, which I did enjoy, except for the slow beginning.
Wow Factor:
Wasn't very wowed.... I thought it would've been better than it was. 3 hearts.
July 19, 2010
I don't usually read contemporary books that deal with tough girls like Shawna (I'm more of a fantasy-type reader), but this book was very well-written. I don't want to give too much away, but I especially enjoyed reading about the relationship with Shawna's (newly discovered) grandmother, Kay, and their struggles to get past their issues to a point where, after years of suffering, they could find a measure of peace. I also really liked the use of animals to help Shawna with the healing process (which sort of gave the story a bit of "magic" after all, so maybe that's why I appreciated it). You can't help but find yourself rooting for Shawna and Kay, and the book's resolution is more than satisfying without being saccharine.
A side note: the book deals with cutting, and has some profanity (not usually my thing), but the difficult subject matter was dealt with very well.
A side note: the book deals with cutting, and has some profanity (not usually my thing), but the difficult subject matter was dealt with very well.
December 23, 2010
Shawna is a troubled girl who has had to build a tough exterior due to how she grew up. Her Mom left her to fend on her own a lot, but when her Mom clears out their apartment with her boyfriend, a note telling Shawna to go to her Grandmother's house, to a complete stranger.
Under Kay (her Grandmother)'s love and structure, Shawna begins to open up. Kay runs a ranch with horses, who helps to open Shawna's heart as well. There is also a farm "hand" with personality and wise advice.
Shawna's journey was painful and raw, but I felt like I could connect with her, understand her reasons for acting the way that she does. I loved seeing her open up to Kay, Kenny and Casey as well as a girl at school, Marta who befriends her. I also love to read about her interactions with the horses. Her journey of healing has much to teach and gain.
Under Kay (her Grandmother)'s love and structure, Shawna begins to open up. Kay runs a ranch with horses, who helps to open Shawna's heart as well. There is also a farm "hand" with personality and wise advice.
Shawna's journey was painful and raw, but I felt like I could connect with her, understand her reasons for acting the way that she does. I loved seeing her open up to Kay, Kenny and Casey as well as a girl at school, Marta who befriends her. I also love to read about her interactions with the horses. Her journey of healing has much to teach and gain.
April 2, 2011
Sliding on the edge by C.Lee McKenzie – Shawna Stone is 16 years-old.
Shawna’s mom, who’s rather flighty, abandons her in Las Vegas. She leaves the child, who’s become a pretty responsible person - money, a bus ticket to Sacramento, and the phone number of her mother in law, Shawna’s grandmother, Kay. Shawna has never met her grandmother and has heard only her mom's side of the story about her father, who's dead. Shawna has had self abuse and social acceptance issues throughout her life. Kay’s community comes through for the conflicted teen. Shawna, by story’s end, considers reaching out to others. Believable and well written, I was curious about Shawna and wondered if hope and optimism would prevail. The story too emphasized the role of the community in helping conflicted teens. I instantly became involved in the story.
This was a satisfying, good read.
Shawna’s mom, who’s rather flighty, abandons her in Las Vegas. She leaves the child, who’s become a pretty responsible person - money, a bus ticket to Sacramento, and the phone number of her mother in law, Shawna’s grandmother, Kay. Shawna has never met her grandmother and has heard only her mom's side of the story about her father, who's dead. Shawna has had self abuse and social acceptance issues throughout her life. Kay’s community comes through for the conflicted teen. Shawna, by story’s end, considers reaching out to others. Believable and well written, I was curious about Shawna and wondered if hope and optimism would prevail. The story too emphasized the role of the community in helping conflicted teens. I instantly became involved in the story.
This was a satisfying, good read.
June 14, 2009
When her mother abandons her, street hardened teenager, Shawna Stone, is forced to give up her life in Las Vegas and move onto a horse farm with her equally hardened grandmother, Kay Stone. These two have major secrets. A doomed horse, a drifter named Kenny and a handsome farm hand complete the cast. Watching these characters unravel makes for a compelling read, but the real joy comes as they begin to rebuild, proving that even the most battered of humans can find safety and hope through the healing power of love.
February 24, 2011
I absolutely looovve this book. It has drama, love, and excitment. This girl has mom that moved away with her boyfriend. Then she went to her not so old grandmas fell in love with a hooott boy that works on her grandmothers frm and then of course "monster" comes and talks Shawna into cutting her ankles to stop him from annoying her every night ( this girl is not lezbo) now her grandma thinks her last relative (shawna) wants to kill herself. What will happen? I know but you dont ha ha!
October 5, 2011
So glad I won this book through Good Reads and WestSide Books. Thank you.
This is a deep, meaningful and moving story for young or older adults. Shawna has been lied to, taught to steal and treated badly by someone who should have loved, protected and nurtured her. It has left her with an attitude, etc. You really feel for this young girl and what she has and is going through. An eye opening story for sure.
A real to life story and characters. Well written, fast read. Recommended.
This is a deep, meaningful and moving story for young or older adults. Shawna has been lied to, taught to steal and treated badly by someone who should have loved, protected and nurtured her. It has left her with an attitude, etc. You really feel for this young girl and what she has and is going through. An eye opening story for sure.
A real to life story and characters. Well written, fast read. Recommended.
September 9, 2011
This was a really good book. I didn't want to put it down once I started reading it. Shawna is damaged by her mothers life style, she
has no home life. Doesn't even now what its like to be loved and cared for. Her mother dumps her and she goes to live with a grandmother she never knew. Shawna is tormented by her demons and doesn't trust anyone. Don't want to say anymore. Just pick up this book and read it.
has no home life. Doesn't even now what its like to be loved and cared for. Her mother dumps her and she goes to live with a grandmother she never knew. Shawna is tormented by her demons and doesn't trust anyone. Don't want to say anymore. Just pick up this book and read it.
Read
May 21, 2009I really enjoyed this story about a damaged girl finding herself and a sense of family by moving in with the grandmother she doesn't know. Older fans of horse stories will love the setting and the relationships between the characters and their horses.
April 18, 2015
Enjoyed immensely
I enjoyed this book. The author got it right about the monster and secrets and sounded as if she had first hand knowledge and her own monster. I look forward to reading more of her books
I enjoyed this book. The author got it right about the monster and secrets and sounded as if she had first hand knowledge and her own monster. I look forward to reading more of her books
January 5, 2011
Fascinating book about how teens "cut" themselves to help deal with issues. A sweet, sweet ending!
September 4, 2012
I highly recommend this book for anyone
FTC: I received a free copy of this book and was not reimbursed in any other way.
FTC: I received a free copy of this book and was not reimbursed in any other way.
February 21, 2014
It wasn't too bad. I felt it was a little rushed at the end.
August 4, 2009
I really liked this book! It was very engaging and a great, quick read.
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