A review by colourbandit
Little Scratch by Rebecca Watson

challenging emotional sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Little Scratch was a really unique book, both in terms of writing style, a constant stream of consciousness inside the narrator’s head through one day, and actual layout, with lots of single word lines and repetitions, etc. It took me a while to get used to with the interruptions in the middle of sentences, and lack of chapters and punctuation, but after a while, the choice to write in this way made a huge amount of sense to me. It was just like my experience of how thoughts happen in my head, with constant interruptions and merging thoughts, so it was a really great choice.

It dealt with some intense and hugely complex issues ranging from self harm and sexual abuse, providing a really poignant example of how significantly these issues influence a person’s life at all hours of the day. It was very hard to read at times, being so all consuming, but a vital look into these issues and just how difficult it can be to speak to others about them, even those you love and are closest to.

I really appreciated the time I spent reading this book and would highly recommend, giving caution to those who are sensitive to issues surrounding self harm and sexual abuse as the descriptions could be fairly graphic and upsetting at times.

Thank you to NetGalley for very kindly sending me an advance copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
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