Bitter End by Jennifer Brown

According to data posted on the website of the Washington State Attorney General, relationship violence is the number one cause of injury to women ages 15-44. Seventy percent of severe or fatal injuries occur when a woman seeks to end an abusive relationship. In a 2005 survey, one in five teenagers (ages 13-18) reported feeling threatened by violence when attempting to break up with an abusive partner. Thirteen percent of teenage girls reported being hit by their partner. (Survey: Love is Not Abuse) Various studies have shown that the frequency of domestic and relationship violence has increased during the recent economic downturn.

In the Bitter End, Alex tells her story of her life before Cole--losing her mother at an early age, being emotionally distant from her father, feeling like a loser at school. When sports star and overall great guy Cole Cozen transfers to Alex's high school, she becomes his English tutor to help him get caught up. Over time, their relationship deepens. Cole is romantic, thoughtful and cool, and he makes her feel special and understands her. Then the abuse starts--just a painful squeeze or a push at first, followed by remorse and loving attention. Then there is the increasing awareness that he is following her and making accusations about her relationship with her friends, Bethany and Zack. Part of Alex knows she's in trouble, but another part doesn't want to lose Cole when he is at his most affectionate.

Brown tells of Alex's struggles in a realistic and sympathetic way. Alex has friends, but cannot bring herself to tell what is happening, especially since she thinks it is her own fault. Fear, isolation, self-doubt are all part of an abuse victim's profile. (Only 33% of abused teens report on their abuse to a friend (ibid).) Alex's two friends try to help, but Alex snubs them. The tension mounts as Alex moves closer to making a choice and dealing with the consequences.

This is a moving and informative account of dealing with dating violence. Recommended.

The Kissing Game by Aidan Chambers

Entries in this collection range from brief, cleverly written exchanges of letters between student and administrator in "Expulsion" to a more expansive story of a teen tortured by paralyzing shyness in "The Kissing Game." Some of the teens confront mystifying events, such as the ancient tower that only Martin can see in "The Tower" and a naive young man's unexpected exposure to the sex trade in "Sanctuary." Chambers can sketch a character (or a lack of character) with a few lines of dialog in "Something to Tell You" and "up For It." Some of his stories show the humor in everyday exchanges and life's random events, while others leave the reader incredibly sad. Overall, this is a very satisfying read.