See the full review at my blog Ampersand Princess: [...]Overall Rating: 5 StarsThis book isn’t something you are going to enjoy. No. This is a book that unwinds you, tears you, rips you apart and leaves you open to pain—to your own and to hers. This is a masterpiece, delicately and expertly written that will hit you hard with painful emotions and self-reflection. I highly highly highly recommend this book for in it you will experience a catharsis. However, this collection deals with abuse and loss so it is not for the faint of heart.I knew I was going to love and hate this book, not by the first page, but by the dedication. I haven’t even started the book at the paint and it was already clear that this book would be an emotional rollercoaster and make me remember things about my past that I would much rather forget."for the boy who lived.thank you for inspiring me to bethe girl who survived.you may have a lightning boltto show for itbut my body is alightning storm."I knew from this dedication that Amanda Lovelace was two things: a wordsmith & a fighter. Which from my experience one hell of a combination. This collection took me longer to read than I originally thought. Not because it was boring to read, quite the opposite. I soaked up her words like a sponge. I had to read each page several times because each time I read a line I discovered something new about the story and something new about myself.I usually don’t annotate my books. I am the type of person who keeps her books organized, clean, and in great condition so I avoid writing in books unless absolutely necessary (or in school). However, in the case of this book, I couldn’t not read it without adding little sticky notes that either helps me understand her story or a revelation about mine.I will be honest, I wasn’t abused the way the narrator was in the book. My family is alive and well and I’ve had a pretty good life so far. I am an only child and still learning about the world and how I play my part. For the most part, I am very different than the person in this book. But the feelings she goes through, the feelings of loss and pain and suffering and loneliness—I’ve experienced all of it and the way she describes it is like a shot in the heart.To put it simply, I was severely bullied in middle school. But no stories are that simple. Not hers and not mine. I was a transfer student, a shy girl who didn’t speak up much, but an excellent student. I had unknowingly entered a lion’s den. For reasons I could never understand, I was ostracized and ignored and an outcast. My whole grade (which consisted of less than fifty students) collectively decided to make sure I knew that I was not like them. So I spent my three years of middle school being harassed by whispers and rumors.One time, a girl who sat in front of me switched our names and I ended up with her low score and she ended up with my high grade. That was when I stopped using pencils. Vicious rumors spread like wildfire about my parents and who I was. I never stood up for myself. They made me believe my voice was worthless and that I was worthless. I got death threats in my locker saying that I should kill myself and how the world was better without me. I threw the anonymous letters away and never said a thing."silencehasalwaysbeenmyloudestscream."I turned to reading and books and found myself in fantasy worlds during middle school. I had no friends, no one to turn to or trust. I felt utterly and completely alone. At one point, a boy in my grade faked being friends with me so he could pull a nasty prank and record it and show all of his friends. I was humiliated. I never showed my tears to anyone. All that could comfort me was the words found in fantasy books."when i hadno friendsi reached insidemy belovedbooks& sculpted someout of12 pttimes new roman.– & it was almost good enough."The collection is a source of inspiration and a comfort. You are not alone, no matter how alone you feel. That your feelings and experiences… others have them too. And that’s why I highly highly recommend this book. To people who feel as if they have no voice, aren’t being heard, or believe they are worthless. You. Are. Not. Worthless. And this book will teach you and show you and prove to you that you are worth it. You are not alone. And that you can find happiness even if you feel trapped in darkness. She is one story—a story that will undoubtedly inspire you to continue even when you can’t see a light and you feel lost.What’s more is that her words come to life in a way I have never seen. They dance across the page and you can see the image she is describing as you are reading it. When I read her work, I have a sudden urge to draw (even though I am not that great at it) because the image is right there, clearer than day.I honestly will say that this is one of those books that you just have to read before you die. Did you like it? Let me know in the comments of any other books that are like this one!–& Princess