Cut by Patricia McCormick

The book I read is called Cut, by Patricia McCormick. It has 151 pages and was published in 2000. The story is about a 15 year old girl named Callie. Callie has a hard time expressing her feelings, so instead she cuts herself with a razor. She is sent away to a mental home called Sea Pines, but the patients call it Sick Minds. Callie doesn't speak; She doesn't speak to friends, to her family, or to anyone. She hasn't heard her own voice in months.

Callie is in a group with girls who are dealing with similar issues. Her roommate, Sydney, is in the facility treatment center for drug abuse. She is addicted to every drug she's ever tried. Sydney doesn't shut Callie out like everyone else does, she tries to get in her head. She shows real compassion for Callie and her problems, although she doesn't understand them. Ruby is an elderly attendant who works the night-shift at the treatment center. Callie likes her because she is very kind, and dresses like the nurses in old movies, which is comforting. Although Callie doesn't speak to her, she feels very comfortable around her. Ruby doesn't expect her to talk, she is happy doing the talking for both of them. When Callie cut too deep, she ran to Ruby for help. She didn't explain anything, she just showed her the cut. Ruby bandaged her up, and explained to Callie that, no matter what she was feeling, it couldn't be worse than what she was putting herself through.

Each guest must visit a counselor. However, Callie's 55 minutes of counseling is silent time, which she spends counting the stripes on the wallpaper. Slowly, and with time, Callie says a few words at a time, but only to her counselor. She explains to her counselor how her little brother Sam is very sick with asthma, and how her parents focus only on Sam. Although she is talking, she still isn't comfortable enough to talk about her self- mutilation.

Callie's father never comes to visit her at Sick Minds. Her mother sometimes comes, but usually complains about insurance cost for her treatment, and how hard it is for her to come visit because of Sam. Callie really misses her father, and sometimes she imagines him coming to visit, and her introducing him to everyone. But that wish never comes true, because her father