Jackie Morse Kessler

Sixteen-year-old Missy copes with being an outcast at school and stress at home by cutting herself with a razor blade, until Death chooses her as one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, War, and offers her a new blade.

Rage

Monicap

Again, good book. I can definitely identify with this book more than Hunger, because while I do not have an eating disorder, I am a cutter, so I can totally understand where Missy is coming from when she explains why she cuts, because those are my reasons, too. 
Now, I have never cut nearly as badly as Missy did in this book, and I don’t think, even if I was chosen to be War, go as far as she did, but then again, I don’t know. All I know is that throughout this book, Death kept saying, “Words have power, but so do actions,” which is so true. I cut because people use words like bitch, idiot and psycho to tear me down, and missy cut when people used words like cutterslut and freak to tear her down. 
But actions can be powerful, too. People can use those words to tear you down, but you don’t have to give in. that’s what I’ve been working on for the past year or so. Not giving in. Some days it’s harder than others, but I try. 
also, I'm not sure Missy fully appreciates... well, et me explain: Yeah, her sister is a bitch, her ex-boyfriend is a complete asshat, and she her and best friend haven't really spoken for years (but that's kinda her fault) but the thing is, they all NOTICED she was a cutter. to this point, people only know that I cut when I tell them. I'm not as bad as Missy is, but I'm better at hiding it, and the one thing I really, really wish is that people would be able to tell I'm not fine, even though I act like I am. Seriously, NO ONE is as happy as I pretend to be all the time, and SOMEONE should notice, but no one ever does. Unless I tell them. I wish that would see I'm a cutter before It ell them, because that would mean they're seeing ME not the wall I put up that's disguised as a person.
just my thoughts on that, of course. 
because I don't want to end this review talking about myself cutting, I'm going to say that one thing I really love about this series, though, is that it is NOT the standard, cookie-cutter girl-meets-vampire story!

Christian Huss

"Thou art war. Go thee out unto the world."
"Rage" continues the Riders of the Apocalypse series. It is the second book, but did not have much of a connection to the first, besides a fairly similar plot line.
Here's a short synopsis of the story:
Missy Miller is portrayed as a strange and misunderstood teen in high school. She always wears black and is thus automatically labeled as the goth and emo chick. She also harbors a secret-she is a cutter. Through the drawing of her own blood with a small blade, Missy finds a way to release a deeper pain and anger that she keeps under lock and key within her heart. She does try to remain strong and attempts to withhold her urge to cut. This strength abandons her when her ex-boyfriend, Adam, pulls a horrific trick on her at a party so that he can win a bet. This degrading experience and exposure of her secret causes Missy to attempt suicide. Death soon arrives and gives her the choice of death or to pick up the mantle of War. Missy chooses to live and is endowed with War's sword, becoming the newest incarnation of the Red Rider. Throughout the rest of the book, Missy continues to struggle with her own hidden demons and what it truly means to be War and accepting oneself.
I always enjoyed the fact that Jackie Morse Kessler brought forth legitimate problems that teens face everyday into her writing, especially bullying and an inner struggle with oneself. Her characters also have a wonderful inner strength that shows that even when others tear them down, they are trying to pick themselves up and push forward. Even when they are mercilessly hassled and told they are nothing, they keep moving forward. Of course these characters have their setbacks, but there is still something admiral about them, especially Missy, who eventually accepts herself for who she is and won't allow her past, or what others think of her, to define her. Besides, in the words of Death, "Your past is meaningless and your future is waiting to be defined."

Cortnie

WOW! Let me start off by saying if you're squeamish, you don't want to read this book. Haha. It's very detailed and it's so... entrancing. All of these books take a look into the lives of teens suffering from certain afflictions, and rage follows a girl who self-harms. She uses it as her escape. Being heavily bullied has led her to feel angry and hate herself, and becoming a Rider gave her power over people. In the end, she has to make a big decision. It's so worth it to read these books, because they give insight into things we might not understand.

Rage

Reviews