Bruises

Judith is 12 years old but unlike most girls her age finds it difficult to enjoy her life. She is a battered child who blames herself for her mother's constant physical abuse. Michael, one of her classmates, has recently suffered emotional abuse at the hands of his severely critical father. When Michael befriends Judith, he is able to slowly, cautiously lead her toward self-confidence and take his own tentative steps toward forgiving his newly repentant father. With a driving sense of drama, the two youngsters' stories unfold toward hopeful, but not sugarcoated, resolutions. Anke de Vries delivers a loving, honest, and sharply insightful portrayal of an all-too-common family problem that is often sensationalized or ignored. This frank and moving story has been chosen as an American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults and a New York Public Library Best Book for the Teen Age.