A Scar like a River

by Lisa Graff

A coming-of-age story about Fallon Little, a thirteen-year-old with a mysterious scar on her face—and a big secret she feels pressured to keep—by bestselling author Lisa Graff.

Everyone assumes that the day Fallon got the awful scar across her face must have been the worst day of her life. But when Uncle Geebie dies, his funeral starts a cascade of events that force Fallon to confront the big and small tragedies she has lived through, all of which feel worse than Scar Day. Her best friends Trent and Darcy are crushing on each other and feel more distant than ever, the school play in which Fallon is cast as the lead is spiraling out of control, and her Mom’s grief has her in despair. Still, none of these things compare to the worst day of her life—not even close.

Through unflinching prose and with a pitch-perfect voice, Lisa Graff explores the power of confronting the past as a way to heal in the present.

Genres: Middle Grade, Abuse, Realistic Fiction, Mental Health, Audiobook, Young Adult, Fiction

400 pages, Hardcover

First published February 3, 2026

About the author

Lisa Graff is the critically acclaimed and award-winning author of the National Book Award nominee A Tangle of Knots, as well as Lost in the Sun, Absolutely Almost, Double Dog Dare, Umbrella Summer, The Life and Crimes of Bernetta Wallflower, The Thing About Georgie and Sophie Simon Solves Them All. Originally from California, she lived for many years in New York City and now makes her home just outside of Philadelphia.

Reviews

[Emily Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lisa Graff’s A Scar Like a River is a deeply moving middle-grade novel that handles a complex web of plotlines with remarkable skill. At its center is Fallon, a young girl whose life is defined by the physical scar on her face and the heavy, unspoken secrets behind it. Graff does an amazing job of putting the reader directly in Fallon's shoes as she navigates her mother’s undiagnosed illness, auditions for a school play that challenges her beliefs, and the shifting dynamics of her friendships.

The story truly excels in its depiction of the messy reality of trauma. While adult readers might anticipate the "secrets" Fallon is harboring, it doesn't make her journey any less heartbreaking. Graff explores heavy themes—sexual assault, gaslighting, and accountability—alongside the typical middle-grade struggles of navigating best friendships and family dynamics. The way everything unravels following her uncle's death feels authentic and painfully real.

Fallon is an exceptionally well-drawn protagonist. Her relationship with her rival-turned-friend, Stella, is a highlight, as is the normalization of therapy within her loving family dynamic. However, potential readers and caregivers should be aware of the book's content. The book is clear about the sexual abuse Fallon suffered at age five. Though the description isn't overly graphic, it doesn't skirt the details of how her abuser manipulated her.

This book absolutely needs a trigger warning, but its existence is vital. It addresses the reality that children can keep secrets even in "good" environments and emphasizes that they need time to process before speaking out. This is a title that will stick with me; it’s a powerful tool for building empathy and could be a crucial way to start difficult but necessary conversations with young people.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Beth Given · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first thing anyone notices about thirteen-year-old Fallon Little is the scar across her face. But she's kept her scar story to herself since she was five ... and that's not the only secret she's keeping. When her uncle dies, it feels like things in Fallon life start spiraling out of control. Her mom is dealing with chronic illness, her despised Aunt Lune moves in, her best friends start crushing on each other and leaving her out, and the middle school play (which Fallon's starring in!) is in danger of being canceled. Fallon learns to speak up and speak out about the things she cares about -- and maybe that means giving voice to some secrets she's been hiding for a long, long time.

I guess this book is a follow-up to Lost in the Sun, published over a decade ago; there were some paragraphs explaining some plot points to that book that felt a little out-of-place in this one. I didn't read that one first (I plan to change that soon!), but this novel stands alone.

The writing in this book was excellent. I loved Fallon as a character; I loved her authentic voice. Her humor shines through, even while dealing with difficult topics.

I did this one partially on audio and the narration was really, really good -- but then my Libby hold expired so I finished it via ebook.


Content warning for violence toward a child and sexual assault of a child.
There is a scene that is brief but still descriptive about the sexual assault. I think that scene is just the right length so that young readers are clear about happened. Too many children are victims of sexual assault. This book could give a child both the vocabulary and courage to tell a trusted adult about their own trauma.

[Mar 🧡🤍🩷 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a hard read but beautifully told, and the difficult subjects are handled with all the appropriate care and seriousness that they deserve. Fallon is a well written character whose voice feels so real and vivid that I had to see the book aside a few times just to catch my breath.

I often wonder what I would have felt if I’d read books like this when I was the target audience. When I was Fallon’s age my trauma was already buried so deep that I’d convinced myself that it never happened in the first place. It wasn’t until I was in my twenties that I acknowledged to myself that I was sexually assaulted as a young child and that it had significantly impacted my life in ways I had persistently ignored.
Fighting Words by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley was one of the books that helped me the most in facing what was done to me.
Books like these two are hard but so necessary. I’m glad I read this one and I hope it helps others too.

[Holly Wagner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read wearing the hat of an elementary school librarian. And this heart wrenching story of sexual abuse seems directed to a more middle school reader who is confronting middle school dramas like your best friends starting a more than friends relationship. At the same time, the truth is that elementary students are being sexually abused. Confronting that abuse is extremely difficult. If reading a book like this could help them, shouldn’t it be available to them?

Beautiful and compelling told, this is an extraordinary piece. Much like Fighting Words by Brubaker Bradley, it is powerfully written. If Fighting Words is on elementary library shelves maybe Scar Like a River should be too. But on the whole this book seems more middle school than Fighting Words.

[Jeni Enjaian · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Actual rating: 4.75 stars)
This is a heavy yet beautiful read. Graff's narrative treads with care through difficult, traumatic topics creating a beautiful and real main character. Fallon has three secrets that she gradually reveals throughout the narrative. These terrible things happen to precious children like Fallon all too often. Graff showed the consequences of this trauma while also existing as a middle school girl in a delicate balance that I have not seen in many, if any, other middle grade books. I highly recommend this.

[Ann Haefele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this might be Lisa Graff’s best book yet. She chose a very serious topic (childhood sexual abuse) but managed to insert a lot of light hearted moments. Fallon is 13 when the book begins and the abuse happened when she was 5. She has tucked it away and never told her family about it. She is just going about normal middle school life when some events come together that ignites a storm within her. This story should encourage youth to speak up about traumas that might have left them scarred and help them heal along the way. My favorite quote of the book was on page 337. “Because the first step in healing, I realized, was to find someone to listen. Sometimes that was the hardest part.” A quote by author Sarah Weeks on the back of the book jacket is perfect. “Quirky, funny, timely, and deeply moving.”

[Wendy MacKnight · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so fortunate to receive an advance reader’s copy of this novel and read it in one day. The compelling story perfectly demonstrates the toll that keeping secrets has on us. Fallon Little is a wonderfully complex and creative character, and I especially loved her various friendships. And while she is self-aware and kind with her friends - until multiple stresses create fissures - she isn’t as kind as she is with herself. Graff does a wonderful job of dealing with a sensitive subject, and nicely balances Fallon’s pain with regular middle school drama. The story is riveting and moving and beautifully written. Bravo.

[Sab Ay · Rating 5 out of 5]

fallon little, my beloved :,)


genre: contemporary/coming-of-age
recommended age: 11+

tw’s:
graphic
chronic illness
gaslighting
sexual tr4uma

moderate
vomit
death
grief

mild
p3dophilia
sexual assau1t
!ncest

[Lacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Scar Like a River delves into heavy topics but reads like the early-teen novel it’s supposed to be. The main character’s voice comes thru as genuine and authentic to a young teen, with grit and emotional perspectives developed from surviving multiple kinds of trauma. There were pieces of the book that were hard for me to gut through—times in which the main character’s worldview grated on my nerves. Looking back, though, that irritation likely came from how close some of that immature perspective hit to my lived and observed experience of youth. While the theme of sexual abuse was weighty, it did open the door for some discussion in my house with my own 6th and 7th graders. As part of book discussion, it became possible to raise awareness and broaden their understanding of how trauma can manifest in a way that didn’t feel forced, preachy, or awkward. I know too many women who have experienced trauma similar to what Fallon and others share in her story. Their responses and healing are as varied as they are. I appreciate that this book reflects the complexity of all of that. Still, while I feel this book was well written and has definite value, I do feel that it could be triggering to some—lancing open wounds—which seems like an unnecessary risk to take in order to absorb a work of fiction. In short, this is a story very worth reading for those who have the healthy capacity to digest it. Hats off to the author for delivering such a vulnerable story in such a balanced and honest way.

[Lonna Pierce · Rating 3 out of 5]

Powerful. Realistic. Revelatory. But it’s a difficult book to read due to the internal and external turmoil of her facial scar and the dark secrets Fallon has kept festering inside. (Her uncle abused her sexually at age five, and when enraged, also cut her face.) Many surgeries later, no one knows about this, so when he dies, the funeral brings everything to a head for Fallon.She’s a gifted singer, wise, funny, quirky, and loves her parents (Mom has chronic fatigue syndrome.) and best friends, Trent and Kaia. But when triggered, absolutely everything falls apart. She finally finds release and relief in group therapy, and is able to talk about the monster everyone thought was a fine fellow. She pictures her scar like a river: the memories can be smooth sailing or as horrific as drowning in a whirlpool. Still, Fallon learns SHE is in charge of making the river go where she wants, and feeling what she wants to feel. After 386 fraught pages, she feels free at last to “tilt towards joy.”

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a heavy, but well written story about a middle grade girl and how she is dealing with both the physical and emotional scars life has dealt her. It's written for a younger audience, but I would say it needs to be a more mature younger audience. Assault and sexual assault are prominent topics, including descriptive accounts of both. While I thought it was beautifully written in many ways and I enjoyed watching Fallon grow, it was a lot heavier than I think I mentally wanted to deal with at the time and I found myself anxious for it to be over.

[Lisa Ball · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very deep, sometimes hard book which Graff handled very thoughtfully. Even with the difficult content there were many funny parts of the book. This could definitely be triggering for some readers. Mature middle school readers could handle this.

[B Croz · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5?

[Harmony Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW that's all I have to say.

[Angee]

This one was heavy. It should definitely include trigger warnings and, in my opinion, should lean toward older middle grade and up.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 - will come back to rerank it after I've read more books for the new round of Mock Printz committee, this is my first read of the new cycle. I devoured this in a day. Mainly because I have a HUGE STACK of books to read in the midst of my busiest portion of the year (cries) and so much to do, but I'd recommend trying to read all of this at once too to get the full experience. I gotta say, I have never read a J FIC book that talks about childhood sexual abuse, so I don't really have anything to compare it to in its age range, and I think this is an underrepresented topic written about for this age range, so props to Graff! Covers sexual assault, physical/sexual/emotional abuse, speaking up when you see injustice, navigating relationships while coming of age, and learning how to heal and find joy in life while dealing with trauma.

Thirteen-year-old scar-on-her-face Fallon Little has three secrets. After her uncle dies, her buried trauma resurfaces and she struggles with navigating it, going to therapy and considering telling someone who will listen. At the same time, she gets the lead role in a play that carries themes she refuses to support, so she speaks out against it and as a result gets the play canceled. Her best friends Trent and Kaia start dating and she feels left out, but she begins to make friends with Stella, her old rival, after they both discover they share something in common: having experienced sexual assault. Fallon navigates family dynamics with her aunt (who shut down her concerns when Fallon told her as a child) and telling her parents the truth about her scar and her experiences. Though things appear to come crashing down with the play, friendships, and family relationships, Fallon learns and grows and is joyfully supported by her loved ones in the end.

Story: I can see this being like a childhood sexual abuse version of Speak for middle-grade/young YA readers. Its portrayal of the effects of sexual assault on a young person is important to showcase to readers of all ages, especially for pre-teens and young teens. There was a lot going on - protesting the play, struggles with her chronically ill mom, difficulty with her aunt, navigating her trauma and uncle's death, friendship drama, therapy - but that's life. But it felt like a lot to fit into one story, and the book was a tad lengthy in my opinion - I wish some parts could have been condensed. The story felt realistic in the circumstances, character decisions, and outcomes. The writing was clear and easy to read. The plot flowed naturally at a consistent pace. I cried when Fallon confronts her aunt yelling that she knew and that had happened to her aunt too, and then again when her dad talks to her about her sexual assault. I really appreciated that while there were a lot of heavy topics in this work, they were all covered carefully without gratuitous detail, AND there were so many moments of joy and silliness - getting the lead in the school play, watching movies with friends, teaching her dog to dance, putting on a fantastic skit with Kaia, and singing on the field trip to the aquarium. 
 
Voice: It was an adjustment for me to read this middle-grade/young YA book and get used to the youngness of the voice. Fallon is thirteen and in seventh grade. Her voice definitely reflects that. She has a sense of humor, is a bit dramatic at times/huffy/quick to anger, feels the unfairness of things strongly, isn't afraid to use her voice and speak her mind and hold to her convictions, and uses sarcasm/side remarks in paratheses often. Her voice is clear and consistent throughout the work.
 
Style: Uses a lot of paratheses, which works well to show the early teenage year angst, sarcasm, and dry sense of humor. The repetition of certain items throughout the book was excellent. The opening pages were so good! Especially with the details about her scar, visiting the river with family, and how like the river her scar is hiding secrets. She wraps up the book in a similar fashion, talking about how rivers can be always changing and how memories are not just one thing or one feeling. You can tilt some memories a certain way, and she decides to tilt towards joy, choosing joy as she moves forward in life. I like the stylistic choice of continually referring to secrets, both in the section divisions, chapter headers, and chapter text. The repeated use of the phrases that haunt her ("You're fine, Fallon. Nothing happened. Go back to sleep.") and the lights blinking helped readers to feel and connect with her trauma responses and see how it affects her life. I also loved how the author tied in Fallon's interest in spotting movie continuity inconsistencies and connected it to how Fallon learns people are inconsistent, changing, and multiple-things-at-once in real life.
 
Setting: Clear setting in her small town. Nothing confusing about it. Felt consistent throughout the work.
 
Accuracy: Discusses the difficulty of having facial/physical scars, navigating what people think, and beauty standards in society. Fallon displays multiple natural responses to her sexual assault - triggers (Christmas lights, Christmas), avoidance (her "robot brain" after being triggered, doing things on autopilot, avoiding conversations), numbness (not remembering things, sitting in the same spot for hours), anger (breaking the Christmas lights on someone’s house because it reminds her of the night she was assaulted, yelling at Lune and her mom, throwing snowballs at her uncle’s door), guilt (maybe it was her fault, she should have told her parents), and fear (throwing up, chest is tight at the memories). I enjoyed the diversity in responses to trauma shown in the book - her father quietly speaks with her about how he hates he didn't protect her and see it as the adult, her mom screams/throws things at her uncle's door and takes Fallon out for time together frequently, her aunt avoids her trauma initially but defended Fallon as a child even if Fallon didn't see it and then apologizes to teenage Fallon while trying to better herself and restart their aunt/niece relationship. I appreciated the inclusion that people who have been sexually assaulted commonly have the response of denying/avoiding sexual assault because of what that would mean for them, but we get to see the aunt did stand up for Fallon in the way she knew how. I liked how we saw the devastation of Fallon having told an adult who she thought would help her (her aunt) and the betrayal of not being helped, especially since readers are often told to tell a trusted adult. I like that it shows that if the first adult doesn't listen, you can find another adult to listen until someone hears you and addresses the wrong. The portrayal of Fallon's anger throughout the book was a clear theme, and we see her grow as a character in recognizing and using her anger. She and readers learn to understand through the consequences of the play that the results of your actions may lead to things you did not intend, and you have to learn to live with those results. It also teaches readers the importance of using their voices but also in thinking through strategically how to use them and to offer concrete plans of action for change. 
 
Characters: I liked that Fallon was a fallible protagonist - she storms off in anger, she ignores her friends and struggles to figure out if she's mad at them, she avoids her trauma, she protests the school play and gets it shut down by her actions and says she didn't know that would happen. She's not perfect. Liked the friendship tension with Trent/Kaia dating and the relevant struggle we often feel in feeling left behind when two of your closest friends date. Appreciated the interesting relationships Fallon had with rival-turned-friend Stella and villain-turned-maybe-ok-aunt Lune. She has supportive and loving parents and positive interactions with teachers at school. Black character (Kaia). Open discussion of potentially not being straight but not getting with anyone romantically at the end. Chronic illness (Mom, chronic fatigue syndrome). Pedophile (Uncle Geebie). 
 
Theme: The book showcases to readers how they can learn to handle sexual assault and trauma - finding someone who will listen, being ready and able to share their story, and finding ways to heal (therapy, loved ones, different actions). The theme is also that there is joy in life and moving forward, and while there are painful memories mixed with good and bad, you can choose to tilt some and see them with joy, if you want. There is healing after sexual assault. You can choose how to think about things, where you want to go, and how you want to feel.
 
Illustrations: The cover is fitting - a silhouette of a girl with a river flowing behind her and swirls of gold tracing around the book like the scar on her face, with butterflies flying. There are butterflies inside the book illustrated as chapter divisions.
 
Design (including format, organization, etc.): OK MY BIGGEST GRIPE IS HERE - I liked that there was a content note stating that the work included physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, but the placement of the note was NOT good (it's located on top of all the book cataloging publication information, but what normal reader reads that fine print???? hello?????). I appreciated the division of the book into 3 parts -  her 3 biggest secrets - and how each chapter was short and aptly named. I liked how the three biggest secrets were revealed in the chapters labeled as such (her three biggest secrets were 1) her uncle sexually assaulted her when she was five, 2) she told her aunt who didn’t do anything about it, and 3) her uncle gave her her facial scar).

Appreciated the author’s note answering if the story is based on her life (no but yes, yes because she was sexually assaulted) and encouraging those who have experienced sexual assault to reach out to someone with resources included. 

No profanity/cursing (heck and mentions of a word that rhymes with witch). Mention of knife slashing a face but not violently described. No explicit sex detail. Sexual assault briefly described without being too graphic. Childhood sexual abuse. Fallon mentions considering both male/female romantic interests but does not choose either. Contains physical, sexual, and emotional abuse.

"Because the first step in healing, I realized, was to find someone to listen. Sometimes that was the hardest part." (337)

" 'But maybe the lesson isn't that you shouldn't speak up when you see injustice,' Dad went on...'Maybe the lesson is, now that you know that matches set fires, you need to be more careful where and when you light them.'" (349)

[Alix Pera · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️ Extremely engaging and an emotional ride.

[Storrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me screaming, cringing, and almost crying!

This is a heart wrenching story, about a young girl Fallon little. She has a scar across her face from her uncle, her uncle has always had mental health issues and did many things to her and her aunt that was horrid. And she has never told anyone. But as she has many other challenges about life coming of age, and friend drama, she needs to try to over come it.


This was one of my favorite books ever, and I loved the plot, and how it was written. Very well done Lisa Graff!😊

[Mel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent telling of a hard story.

[Betsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was a kid, my best friend loved difficult books. This was utterly baffling to me. For the most part they had previously liked a lot of what I liked. The Baby-Sitters Club series. Trixie Belden titles. Roald Dahl’s The Witches. But on occasion they’d seek out more realistic, darker fare. J.T. by Jane Wagner, for example. For my part, I was the kid who avoided Julie of the Wolves and Island of the Blue Dolphins like the plague because I sensed that they were too serious for me (and don’t even TALK to me about Bridge to Terabithia!). Had A Scar Like a River fallen into our laps, my friend would have devoured it in a single setting. I would not. I would have taken one look and figured it was a story here that might not gel with my preferences. Kids are incredible self-selectors. They know what they generally can and cannot handle. Of course, for all that Graff has written the most serious book of her career, she still has the incredible ability to fill the book with good jokes and real humor. This is not an easy read, but by god it may be one of the best.

Fallon doesn’t talk about how she got the scar on her face. It happened years ago when she was just five-years-old, but no matter how much her parents asked, she never said who did it. Now she’s thirteen and her Uncle Geebie has just died in a car accident. Little does Fallon suspect that the funeral will be the catalyst that sets everything off. Her Aunt Lune, for example, with whom she has never seen eye-to-eye, is coming to live with her family. And then her two best friends Trent and Kaia start to become a lot more than just friends with one another. And all that could be fine, if it weren’t for the secrets Fallon’s been sitting on all these years. Not just one secret. Three. She’s determined never to tell them to anyone, but sometimes secrets like these have a way of coming to light, whether you intend them to or not.

There's a lot to admire about this book. For example, how Graff chooses to parcel out her information is a masterclass in timing. No one in their right mind would call this book a mystery, but reading through these pages you have to be somewhat in awe of how information is disseminated to the reader. You have to be sympathetic to Fallon, even when her actions don’t yet make a lot of sense to the reader. She’s seemingly making bad choices and you’re in the dark as much as other people. Graff is also sort of counting on you to forget that there’s more than one secret Fallon is hiding. The fact that her uncle scarred her face when she was young is such a big and horrific act (one that's revealed relatively early) that it probably never even occurs to the average reader that there might be even more to the story. Personally, I didn’t expect the final secrets to come out when they did. It’s around pages 290 or 291 that everything really comes to a head. That’s about 100 pages before the end of the story, which is a generous portion to leave for the reader. At first I was shocked, but I came to really appreciate the extra time. This isn’t the kind of story that you can wrap up in a hurry or anything.

Sexual abuse, like the kind that this book contains, does show up in children’s middle grade fiction periodically. I’ve seen it in a range of different books, to varying degrees of description. To those who would declare that it is never necessary in any book for younger readers, one may merely point out that considering the sheer number of kids who live through such experiences, information is always important (and Graff takes care to provide help and support in the back of her book). Understanding that books like A Scar Like a River exist not to exploit the topic but inform and fill a need, this title was pretty straightforward, but not violent in its description of what Fallon experiences (the violence comes more in the form of a knife to the face later). There is no mistake that what Fallon experiences is abusive, and I thought Graff took a deft hand to what had to be an almost impossible scene to write. What particularly impressed me, too, was the sexual abuse survivor support group that Fallon manages to find for herself. It’s a little messy, like actual groups can be, but still begins to heal that wound Fallon has carried solo for so wrong. All told, I suppose that this is a book destined for middle school libraries. But, as I mentioned before, what happens to Fallon happens and has happened to younger kids all the time. It’s a book that could do a lot of good when it finds the right audience. An excellent accompaniment to Kimberly Brubaker Bradley's Fighting Words.

There’s a moment near the end of the book when Fallon’s mom tells her daughter that, “Every time life throws something awful your way – and it sure has thrown you some awful stuff – you change, of course, but you just get better.” But Fallon isn’t some saintly little do-gooder without a flaw. She's strong and obtuse. Capable of great love and great blind spots. Now imagine having to write such a character. Oh, and make her funny too. It’s the humor of the book that is so tricky and, also, so necessary. Sometimes an author just works themselves up to the book of a lifetime and you are lucky enough to watch that happen in real time. That’s pretty much what we have here. The kids that get to read this book for the first time are lucky too. A necessary story that hits all the right marks.

[Ashley Gordon · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first thing anyone notices about 13 year old Fallon is her scar. There’s no hiding it. But what Fallon is hiding are secrets surrounding Scar Day and some days before. It’s been 8 years, but these secrets start to come to the surface as the middle school theatre prepares for the spring musical, Fallon’s friend dynamic shifts, and her family experiences an untimely death.

The main character is in therapy while she uncovers repressed memories. The actual descriptions of her experiences are not graphic and the specifics are mostly limited to one page. The tough parts are integrated into the normal school life of a middle school student.

I HATE that there have to be books about children experiencing sexual abuse, but if there is a child or teen needing this book, I hope they find it. 💔

Thanks to NetGalley and Little Brown Books for Young Readers for the ARC!

[Maura · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have very mixed feelings about A Scar Like a River, which I read as an audiobook thanks to an advanced listener copy (ALC) for educators from Libro.fm. On many levels, it was an engaging and worthwhile read. One aspect that was really troubling to me, though, was the negative and stigmatizing portrayal of a central character with mental illness. Even more troubling is a lack of information and resources for young readers about the very weighty issues in the book.

As one of the rare middle grade books that features a character who is a victim of childhood sexual abuse (CSA), A Scar Like a River represents one of the few times a young reader may get to read about a child who survives CSA. The perpetrator in this case is a mentally ill uncle. His diagnosis is not specified, but he is portrayed as a very well-liked, funny, engaging uncle who would disappear every once in a while for months at a time, and then return and be accepted back into his friend group and family as if nothing had happened. As it turns out, he is also a pedophile who molested the main character on two occasions and violently slashed her face when she was 5 years old.

Readers meet this character only in the main character's recollections, as he dies in an accident at the very beginning of the book. The uncle is a shadowy, terrifying, murky figure, particularly in the main character's memories of the terrible attack that resulted in catastrophic damage to her face, followed by many, many surgeries. His funeral features nothing but fond recollections of him and no mention of his struggles with mental illness.

As someone who lives through mental illness and who has close family members who have died from mental illness, representation of mentally ill characters in children's literature is very important to me, and it is really unfortunate and unnecessary that the perpetrator of abuse and crime in this novel is portrayed as having mental illness. Many young readers will have no prior exposure to a main character with mental illness, and this portrayal does nothing to expand understanding of mental illness; in fact, it contributes only to the negative, inaccurate, and stigmatizing stereotype of mentally ill people as violent and dangerous.

People with mental illness are far more likely to be victims of violence than perpetrators of it. Perpetrators of crimes of pedophilia are not more likely to have bipolar illness or schizophrenia (either of which might fit some of the descriptions of the uncle's behavior). Why the author chose to make the "bad guy" a person with mental illness is really difficult for me to understand, as she clearly works hard to destigmatize the process of therapy for trauma recovery later in the book.

If the perpetrator of such violent crimes has an illness that could affect his judgment or ability to understand the nature of his actions, it makes is culpability for the crimes less clear. This is such a complicated concept for even adults to fathom, and the complexity of it is certainly not simple for readers 8-12 to understand. Since the uncle's diagnosis is not disclosed, explained, or contextualized, labeling him as mentally ill with no further context or explanation feels entirely gratuitous and unnecessary.

While the depiction of the main character's trauma and confusion seemed realistically rendered, and the dark moments are sprinkled with enough lightheartedness to keep the book from sinking from its own weight entirely, I found the book overall to be really bogged down from so many heavy storylines that were incompletely resolved or depicted, from the friend who discloses being propositioned by an adult to her mother's chronic illness, the fight over outdated and damaging tropes in a school play, and the complicated presence of the aunt whose failure to protect and gaslighting of the main character exacerbated the pain of her abuse exponentially but turned out to be an abuse victim herself.

The review in School Library Journal compares Scar Like a River to Fighting Words by Kimberly Brubaker Bradely, but I think Scar suffers terribly in comparison to such a carefully crafted book, one in which every word felt carefully placed in consciousness of potentially finding the readers who needed to know they were not alone as CSA victims and that help was available. The Author's Note in Fighting Words is in itself a masterpiece, carefully and kindly addressing its readers and providing ideas for how to find help for one's self or a friend. In contrast, the audiobook of A Scar Like a River had no author's note, no resources for more information about sexual abuse, child abuse, help for PTSD, or any of the very weighty and very adult topics that, sadly, too many children are forced to endure.

Despite its very positive professional reviews, I am leaning against adding this book to my upper elementary school library collection and cannot recommend it with any enthusiasm. I am sorry to write that, as statistics would suggest that many, many children are in need of books that give words to what may have happened to them and give a path to getting help for those who don't know who or how to tell. But while Scar depicts the abuse and its aftermath, it provides no information on how to get help or factual content in the form of resources or an author's note. That glaring omission, coupled with the stigmatizing depiction of the violent child molester as a person with mental illness (with no explanatory information or context) makes me unable to recommend the book despite the need for more stories centering CSA survivors.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Fallon Little has two good friends in Cedar Haven, California. Neither Trent nor Kiara care about the significant scar that Fallon has had since she was five years old, but they don't know the secret of how she got it, either. There's a lot going on in Fallon's life, especially since her mother is struggling with the after effects of a virus and can barely get out of bed some days. After Fallon's Uncle Geebie dies, feelings from the past resurface and cause problems, especially when Fallon's Aunt Claire (aka Lune) comes to live with the family to help out. Claire gets a job at the local newspaper. When Fallon auditions for the school production of Hello, Dolly!, she is surprised to win the leading role, since Stella Brymer usually stars in the plays. She even asked the director, Mr. Castiglioni, if her scar won't distract people from her performance, but he assures her that she has talent enough that no one will care. Fallon is in therapy, and is surprised to see Stella at the office. The two talk, and Fallon shares her opinion that the message of Hello, Dolly! is problematic, but Mr. Castiglioni says that play can't be changed. This bothers Fallon, but she's also dealing with doctors who are dismissive of her mother's condition, the fact that Kiara and Trent are dating and haven't told her, and Aunt Claire being around the house. When she finds that Stella is attending a Survivors of Sexual Assault Group, secrets from Fallon's past surface. After she protests the play and writes a letter to the newspaper, she is surprised that her aunt doesn't support her. She finds old news articles of her aunt's and reads them to try to find ammunition to fight her, and finds that her aunt has secrets of her own. These anger Fallon, and she finally decided to tell her parents what really happened in the past.
Strengths: Fallon is dealing with a variety of very serious issues, so it is good to see that she has access to a therapist. Even with her own challenges, it was good to see that she was willing to advocate for her mother at a doctor's appointment! It is also good to see that she has good friends, and that she is involved in school activities. I really enjoyed her developing friendship with Stella, whom she thought was stuck up at first. Aunt Claire's presence in the home was unsettling, and it turns out there was a good reason for that feeling! I really wish that schools would look more critically before they choose plays; our local community children's theater put on Oklahoma several years ago and I was absolutely appalled at how completely inappropriate it was. Surely, there are other plays out there, despite what Mr. Castiglioni says about most plays having some issues of not aging well!
Weaknesses: There is quite a lot going on in this book, and since there is a fairly graphic description of inappropriate touching, this might be a better choice for readers who are in middle school. It's done very sensitively, but you might want to be aware of this if it is in your library.
What I really think: I read this right after Haydu's The Ordinary and Extraordinary Auden Greene, and there are some similarities in those two books; school plays, mothers with debilitating conditions, and being at odds with friends! The two stories will always be connected in my brain! Graff, who deals with a chronic illness of her own, has written a wide variety of middle grade novels. A Scar Like a River is more like her Lost in the Sun than her more upbeat Rewind, and is comparable to Brubaker Bradley's Fighting Words.

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lisa Graff (A Tangle of Knots, The Thing About Georgie, Almost Absolutely, Umbrella Summer…) has a gift for writing books that tug on the heartstrings of readers and help them experience significant life events through the safety of fictional novels. Some of her topics include disfigurement, bullying, death, loss, self-image and in A Scar Like a River, she introduces Fallon, a girl with a visible facial scar and secrets she has kept buried for years.

Fallon is in the 7th grade, is blessed with parents who love her, two best friends and a talent for performing, a seemingly great life even after enduring a vicious attack when she was only five. But she has been burying not only the identity of the person who sliced her face but the fact that her attacker sexually abused her around the same time. Using Fallon’s casting in the role of Dolly in her school’s performance of “Hello, Dolly,” Graff crafts a story that begins to reveal fractures in her relationship with an aunt, her deep friendship and sharing of part of her secrets with best friend Trent, and brings her to counseling office where she discovers a new friend who just may be able to help her finally share the truth.

Graff’s ability to weave so many threads together and gently reveal the depth of Fallon’s wounds is, once again, powerful and in a school friendship setting that is highly relatable to middle grade readers. The author’s note indicates that she did a great deal of research and used sensitivity readers in areas of abuse and those who cope with disfigurement leading to my belief that Fallon’s feelings are valid for many with similar experiences. She incorporates counseling in a non-judgmental way that is likely to encourage others, both victims of abuse or violent crime and others who have not experienced any, to see it as valuable healing tool. Even those who pick up this Graff book with only entertainment as their intent may gain some insight into those who have had similar trauma or reform attitudes towards the idea of therapy.

Graff’s text is free of profanity and the description of the knife attack is not graphic. However, the description of the “game” her abuser uses to sexually assault her is described clearly. The passage is very brief and not overly graphic but the way Fallon is directed to fondle her abuser is not skirted. Parents, caregivers, librarians, and others should be prepared for questions and should consider the age and maturity of potential readers. Sexual abuse, especially perpetrated by relatives or family member, is a topic that absolutely should be addressed with young people and this title could be the mechanism for prompting that conversation. Other titles would include Silent to the Bone by Konigsburg, Kimberly Brubaker Bradley’s Fighting Words and Maybe He Just Likes You by Barbara Dee.

Thanks for the dARC, Edelweiss and Little, Brown for Young Readers.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fallon has three big secrets. The third-most important is the identity of the man who gave her a massive scar across her face when she was five years old--a scar she's had to live with for seven years. She told that secret to her best friend, Trent, but no one else. The other two secrets are even darker, and no one knows those. And it's not as though the past is the only thing weighing her down. Her mother has been sick and exhausted for months and months, and no doctor has been able to help. Fallon's hated Aunt Lune, her mother's sister, is moving in to help take care of Fallon's mother, and is trying to rule over everything Fallon does. Fallon's best friend Trent, she discovers, is secretly dating her other best friend, Kaia, and Fallon feels left out. Then there's the school musical. Fallon has a great role in "Hello, Dolly," but despises the main character for her gaslighting and manipulation, and no one seems to understand her feelings. Something's got to give, and seventh grade is a rough ride.

This book covers a very sensitive topic, child sexual abuse, so won't be a good read for a lot of kids. The kids who have experienced what Fallon did, though, will welcome it. It stands alongside "Fighting Words" by Bradley and "Dust" by Dusti Bowling, both of which cover the same topic. Not a book to booktalk, but a book to have available. The world-building is great, and I love that someone FINALLY agrees with me about Dolly in "Hello Dolly"! Though through the lens of age, I can also see that Dolly was a powerful woman at a time when there was almost no outlet for women to express power, so I can kind of understand her, if not approve of her. Anyway, the book unfolded at the perfect pace, revealing the secrets one by one, though by the time you reach the main one, readers will already know what it is. I liked the representation of how friendships shift in middle school, a perennial theme in books for this age group, and how the kids were able to resolve it--mostly by Fallon taking responsibility for being a bad friend. It's good to have a role model for how to do that. Also well done is how Fallon comes to terms with the cognitive dissonance of her life--readers will be glad to have a model for that as well. Overall, a really well-written, no holds barred story. Thanks to Libro.FM for a free educator copy of the audiobook.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this e-book as an ARC through NetGalley.

I will begin by saying that I am not the target audience of A Scar Like a River, but I read much middle grade and YA fiction and enjoy it.

Our story revolves around Fallon Little, a middle-schooler who we find out immediately has faced hardship in the form of a large disfiguring facial scar which she received at the hand of someone close to her, although she never told anyone that he was the one who did it.

So begins a heart-wrenching, coming-of-age tale of a young girl who has the biggest heart and equally big secrets. Fortunately, she has some of the greatest friends as well, even if she doesn’t always see it. Trent, who she befriended when he moved to her town just recently and Kaia, whose friendship in theatre camp blossomed when she arrived at Fallon’s middle school. She also discovers a new friendship in the most unexpected of people.

The author did a phenomenal job of capturing the inner thoughts of 13-year-old Fallon through her many challenges, both past and present. Like most teenagers, Fallon gets confused and angry and makes choices from her heart (which she often wears on her sleeve), but is also empathetic and loving and warm and cares deeply for those in her life. She’s flawed in the ways you might expect, but at the same time not stereotypically ….because she belies any stereotype.

After halfway through, I knew I was going to love this book even before all of her secrets had been revealed. The author draws you into Fallon’s world and mind to where you feel her ups and downs along with the story and are pulling for her every step of the way. As is so easy to do, you tend to lean on a “everyone is either good or bad” idea. However, just as in reality, everyone can be both and is usually trying to weigh on the side of good.

The lessons of not judging a book by its cover, learning and understanding your self-worth and owning up to your own missteps were well illustrated, along with the challenges and mistakes along the way. This was artfully done without seeming trite or overwritten. I can really appreciate these lessons as an adult and would have really enjoyed this book as an early teen!

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Because the first step in healing, I realized, was to find someone to listen. Sometimes that was the hardest part.”

I don’t know where to begin with this review. The story is as heartbreaking as you’d expect, but there is also joy to be found in it, and I think that is important. There was something so captivating about Fallon and this story and the myriad of subjects it dealt with. Fallon stressed me out at times — she made some wild choices — but I loved her, and she’s a child, so I can forgive her for it. I also loved her parents and some other adult characters, and I liked how not everyone was as terrible as their first impression. The most central themes were woven into the story well, but at times smaller themes felt a bit like messaging, and that annoyed me, but it didn’t detract from my enjoyment too much. I can’t pinpoint exactly what it was about the last 15% or so of this book that made me love it a little less than I thought I would, but it was only a little less. Maybe the fact that I have read about this same exact friend drama more than once? I don't know. It doesn't really matter. A Scar Like a River was well done and I cared about what was going to happen during every second of it.

Note: Fallon’s sexual abuse is described on page. She remembers her uncle taking off his pants and underwear, showing her “the thing between his legs,” and teaching her to touch/arouse him when she was 5 years old. It is not said or implied that he raped her.. The passage is not overdone, but, when deciding whether to read or share this book, know that it is not only the emotional and mental ramifications of sexual abuse that are present. Additionally, another middle schooler shares that an adult man in the entertainment industry asked her to do things she was not comfortable doing, and when she spoke up, she was fired and told not to be difficult. She is in therapy because of the experience. We also learn that Fallon's aunt was abused as a young girl by her brother, the uncle, and played his "games" for many, many years; these are less explicit.

Thank you to Libro.fm and the publisher for my listening copy!

[Gabrielle Stoller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dare I say that this book should be considered for 2027 Newbery lists? It's probably too early for that, but my goodness, characters like Fallon, characters that are beautifully written in their flaws, are what make for excellent written books. At least to me.

I appreciate books that are tough topics. Books beyond changing friend groups in middle school. Indeed, a book that deftly handles sexual abuse is one that must be shared. I know some might say "oh no, sexual abuse should not be in readers' hands", I would counter that children are abused and deserve to see themselves represented. Just as children of all races, nationalities, genders, sexual orientations do. And indeed, what if a child reads this book and has experienced what Fallon did at the hands of a family member.....but they didn't know it was wrong. A SCAR LIKE A RIVER gives a voice for those who might not know they have to find theirs.

It's handled like a mystery. We know something happened to Fallon beyond receiving a scar....but it isn't until two thirds of the way through we find out about abuse. About why she hates Christmas lights so much. About why she struggles with her Aunt Lune. Nothing is ever gratuitous in explanation. Book banners couldn't say there are "vivid descriptions of sexually explicit material". But it is enough to know what has happened to Fallon. Someone said in another review it is a good accompaniment to FIGHTING WORDS by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley and I couldn't agree more.

A SCAR LIKE A RIVER also handles a chronically ill parent storyline accurately. We are starting to see chronic illness come up more and more in middle grade fiction and again, it is appreciated. Families do not live "Leave it to Beaver" lives with perfect parents. Real life has messes. Real life has unexplained pain.

So I'm a Law and Order SVU fan. (Indeed I want to get two dogs and name them Benson and Stabler). My girl Olivia Benson would have been a fan of this book. And I think you will be too

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thirteen-year-old Fallon has secrets. All of them center around the origins of the scar on her face, a scar that runs from just above her left eyebrow to the top right edge of her upper lip. And when you’re in 7th grade, the last thing you need is an ugly scar; however, thankfully, Fallon has two incredibly close friends and a deep interest and talent in musical theater that helps. Upon the sudden death of her uncle, Fallon is forced to confront her truth and ultimately reveal her secrets to those she loves.

The novel is told from Fallon’s perspective. While the story behind her scar and her secrets is traumatic, most of her narration focuses on things many 13-year-olds experience, like dealing with snobby classmates, worrying about her talent, and navigating family and friendships. Fallon comes across as likable, positive, and funny. Even when serious things happen, she responds with a sense of lightness and optimism that shows her strength and resilience.

Even though the novel deals with serious subject matter, it never feels dark or ominous thanks to the brilliant characterization of Fallon, her voice, and her strength.

The audience for this book is ages 9-14. There are trigger warnings of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse.

A Scar Like a River is a great addition to any middle school library and works well for independent reading or small group book discussions.


Thank you to Little Brown and Company and Netgalley for the copy.

[Roben · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital ARC!

Thirteen-year old Fallon has both physical and emotional scars to deal with. In her own words, she has three huge secrets that she keeps crammed deep down inside. She has shared one of the secrets with her best friend, Trent. But he is the only one that knows that when she was five years old her uncle slashed her face with a knife, leaving her with a very prominent scar on her face. Her family thinks it was a random attack in their back yard.
As the book opens, her uncle has just died in a car wreck leaving Fallon with a huge mix of emotions.
In addition to all of that, her mom is suffering from a debilitating illness which is putting an emotional and financial strain on the family. And her 7th grade year is filled with lots of amazing things but also questions and misunderstanding.

There is a lot going on in this book! As you can imagine, cramming all of her secrets deep down inside is taking a huge toll on Fallon. Readers will notice chinks in the wall that she has erected as the story unfolds. But - Fallon is a really strong person. She has to be to deal with the attention her scar draws. And she has very supportive and loving parents. And some really great friends. And cool teachers. And eventually even a pretty great therapist. They all help her navigate the terrible things that have happened to her.

Also - this is a companion book to Lost In the Sun which was published in 2016 and tells Trent's story.