RaveWhite Wall Review... drew me in with its unique illustrations and heart-wrenching story ... beautifully designed ... This is by no means an easy graphic memoir to get through; it’s disturbing. However, its story resonated with me and I found myself on a rollercoaster of emotions throughout. The illustrations added an extra layer of depth as we weren’t only able to read the words of Carrington’s abuse, but we could see it. It either makes us sympathize with her or have the strong urge to punch a wall due to the oblivious adults around her. The art style and layout of the illustrations add a unique touch to the way the story was told, and I particularly love the way that Carrington portrays her present self. Anytime she’s talking directly to the readers, she’s sitting at a table as if in an interview. This adds personality to the memoir as well as breaking up the intense story ... may not give us the outcome that we want, but it makes a statement about the awful system that’s in place for anyone who wants to charge their abuser. Her experience in doing so should be about healing and getting justice, but Carrington is subjected to more trauma and suffering because she isn’t being listened to. This system does more harm than good in Carrington’s situation, and she drives that point home through the depiction of her struggles ... may be a resource for Carrington’s own healing, but it’s also a resource for other survivors. This powerful and emotional story shines light on the horrific truth of childhood sexual abuse while also acting as an immensely useful tool for other survivors. In 2022, self-awareness, acknowledging and eventually healing from past traumas are important. Opening up and offering that vulnerability, though it feels challenging, can be as easy as feeling kinship through books or videos when talking feels too difficult. There isn’t just one way to acknowledge the pain we have bottled inside. For Carrington, she offers vulnerability by sharing her trauma through this graphic memoir, peeling back the layers of her own trauma to provide the confidence someone needs to shed light on their trauma, too. As more people share their stories, more people will learn that they aren’t alone. Knowing that sexual abuse happens more often than we think, I hope this memoir is able to reach the people that need it.
