Review: Raw and Honest!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 6, 2012
This story was a change for me; it dealt with some tough real life situations that affects more children than we can imagine. Off Limits handles very well the story of sexual abuse, one of the characters suffers from continual molestation from a parental figure and the other a brutal attack.Lindsay was the Golden girl, every boy wanted to be with her and every girl simultaneously hated, and wanted to BE her. Clothes perfect, appearance perfect...Lindsay's life seemed to be perfect. But it was far from perfection, Lindsay lived in fear of being at home alone with her step father. Lindsay's mom was usually at work, so that left Lindsay scrambling to find places to go after school/night. Her desperation brought the unpopular Megan, into Lindsay's life.The night came, when Lindsay's friends were all tied up and she had nowhere to go and her mother was out and that left her step dad  and herself, alone in the house. So Lindsay asks  Megan, to spend the night. Megan attempting to escape from her  own challenges at home; such as a sick mother, poverty and a brother on the streets, running with the wrong crowd...in fact it was the very same crowd that physically assaulted Megan and caused a wedged between the two siblings.So Megan hesitantly accepts the invitation, not knowing what the catch would be, she goes and there, a friendship blossoms. Yes, there are ups and downs lot's of challenges; but the girls find support and lasting friendship with the other.I was greatly moved by the challenges these characters faced, the life they were exposed to at such a young age. I believe Ms. Pace's book handles the topic in a straightforward way that will entertain, but also educate and help other young people who might be going through the same situation,or know someone who is going through it, that they are not alone. I believe the honest/realistic language and tone will appeal to teens, not speaking down to them nor in a way that is overwhelming. I believe it can be used as a great tool in bringing awareness to a very difficult and heartbreaking subject.