MYSTERY SCARS
a Story of Love and Healing
When Hurt Happens, Can We Forgive Others — and Ourselves?
Pink Uggs… blue Top-Siders… old tan Timberlands…
Talented good girl Jewel Jacobs surveys the shoes on the other kids who tried to kill themselves, all slumped in the support group circle that Red Nikes mockingly calls “the Unalive Failures Club.” How did they each get here? How did she get here? A week ago, her biggest worry was making it into the coveted Teen Arts Show. Then she woke in a hospital bed with pain shooting up her arms and absolutely no memory of hurting herself.
In a journey far deeper than the scars on her wrists, Jewel must weave together repressed secrets bubbling up in confusing pieces. As she struggles to understand her own shocking behavior, she learns friendship, love, and quirky humor can bring you back from the darkest places.
Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among U.S. teens. It’s something we never want to talk about – until it’s too late. Mystery Scars can open the conversation.
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Mystery Scars is a timely young adult novel about high school freshman Jewel Jacobs, whose repressed childhood trauma bubbles up after she wakes in a hospital with no memory of trying to harm herself. A caring therapist, along with friends old and new, help her puzzle together family secrets and accept her own shocking behavior.
With suicide now the second leading cause of death among young adults in America, Mystery Scars may offer hope and help to today's youth, who are experiencing mental health issues in such unprecedented numbers that the U.S. surgeon general called it the "defining public health crisis of our time."
RECURRING IMAGES – Woven throughout the novel are:
- nautical knots Jewel imagines in her gut,
- shoes worn by other members of her suicide support group, and
- healing techniques she learns throughout her journey.
CHARACTERS – Along with her artist mother and boat captain uncle (with whom she lives), the main characters are her childhood best friend Holly, fellow student Rob (a budding musician who has a romantic interest in Jewel), and support group attendee Michael, who also crushes on Jewel while he humorously obsesses about suicide to cope with his own failed attempt. The other kids in Jewel’s support group reflect the diversity and complexity of today’s growing issue of teen suicide. Dr. Halen, a caring, intuitive therapist, leads the support group as well as Jewel's one-on-one sessions.
OFFERING HELP – While this book uses the words "suicide," "unalive," "sex abuse," and "abuse," no explicit scenes or descriptions show any of the above. Rather, detailed techniques and tools are woven in the narrative that foster Jewel’s healing and may help today's growing number of at-risk youth. (Since 2001, ER visits for self-harm jumped nearly 90% and the suicide rate for those aged 10 to 19 rose by 40%.)
AFTERWORD – Love Our Children Always (Learn more about the “why” behind Mystery Scars.)
see VIDEO OF MY AUTHOR TALK & READING AT BELMAR PUBLIC LIBRARY (1 hour)
STARTLING
STATS
The U.S. surgeon general called today’s mental health issues among young people the "defining public health crisis of our time."
Since 2001, the suicide rate for those aged 10 to 19 rose by 40% and ER visits for
self-harm jumped nearly 90%.
In 2020, suicide was the 2nd leading cause of death among those aged 10-24.
American Foundation of Suicide Prevention (AFSP)Even before the Covid pandemic, suicides were on the rise. Between 2007 and 2018, there was a 57% jump in the suicide rate in those aged 10-24.
CDC (Centers for Disease Control) - Sept 2020 reportSome 20% of high schoolers have had serious thoughts of suicide, 9% have tried to take their lives. The number who die by suicide is .01%. That means for each young person lost to suicide there are nearly 1,000 others struggling with thoughts of taking their own life. “Most importantly, that means there are 1,000 opportunities to provide understanding and support to those experiencing difficulties.”
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
Research shows that 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 13 boys experience childhood sexual abuse before their 18th birthday. But the prevalence is difficult to determine because it is often not reported and experts agree that the incidence is far greater.
CDC (Centers for Disease Control)Child protective services substantiates or finds evidence for child sexual abuse every 9 minutes. Child victims often know the perpetrator: 34% are family members and 59% are acquaintances.
RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network)Victims of childhood sexual abuse are about 4 times more likely to develop symptoms of drug abuse. They are at increased risk for suicide or suicide attempts and, as adults, female victims are more likely to become victims of sexual violence. All genders as adults are 4 times more likely to experience PTSD and 3 times more likely to experience a major depression episode.
RAINN and CDC
Advanced Praise for Mystery Scars
"I loved how the story ended… it sheds a light on today’s struggles and encourages teens to seek help early on. With help and reaching out to others, life can get better.”
“I could not put the book down. It made me weep, laugh, and feel grateful for this kind of story to offer hope to those suffering and their families.”
“Riveting and intense... a tale that needs to be told. Dr. Halen is a wonderfully compassionate character whose conversations with the members of the group are insightful for all of us.”
