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The Torn Skirt: A Novel Kindle Edition

4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 120 ratings

The Torn Skirt is a hot book, a thrilling romance of teen rage and longing—like S. E. Hinton’s The Outsiders, except about girls.” —Mary Gaitskill, author of Two Girls, Fat and Thin

At Mt. Douglas (a.k.a. Mt. Drug) High, all the girls have feathered hair, and the sweet scent of Love’s Baby Soft can’t hide the musk of raw teenage anger, apathy, and desire. Sara Shaw is a girl full of fever and longing, a girl looking for something risky, something real. Her only possible salvation comes in the willowy form of the mysterious Justine, the outlaw girl in the torn skirt. The search for Justine will lead Sara on a daring odyssey into an underworld of hookers and johns, junkies and thieves, runaway girls and skater boys, and, ultimately, into a violent tragedy.

“I loved and believed the narrative of a sixteen-year-old mind—immature, abandoned, and yet exploding. It came from a heartfelt and true perception, an authentic writer’s desire. Which made it rock.” —Thurston Moore, Sonic Youth

“Imagine William S. Burroughs with a social conscience . . . An exhilarating, surreal, and dreamlike trip through the passionate teenage heart.” —The Globe and Mail



“Teenage angst gets a surprisingly honest and effective rendering from a bright new voice . . . Giving witness yet again to the self-created drama of adolescence: a serious bullet of a book.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“Godfrey’s prose is atmospheric, rhythmic, and filled with spot-on details . . . This first novel is at its best when sharply observing teenage disgust with adult behavior and the roots of young women’s rage.” —Booklist

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

When Sara's hippie father catches her masturbating after school, he can't handle what he's witnessed. In one of this whip-smart debut's many surreal scenes, he decides to move out effective immediately. Godfrey's novel is full of equally disconcerting episodes, but its brash honesty gives them a giddily delightful spin. The departure of 16-year-old Sara's single father leaves her to fend for herself, and she quickly heads down the wrong path in mid-'80s Victoria, British Columbia. An obsession with Justine, a strangely alluring street girl, leads her into the red-light district, where she meets China, a teenage prostitute who persuades Sara to help her rob a john. As the new friends flee the crime scene, the deceived man threatens Sara, vowing to get revenge. Sure enough, just as she finally finds Justine again, she is accosted by the man, and Justine nearly kills him with a knife belonging to Sara. Though the book is a hell-ride through the lives of burned-out teens killing time in homeless shelters and drug houses, the scenery is transformed by Godfrey's angry cleverness: one character is "like the rising rowdy moment of a party just before the cops arrive and send everyone home." Though secondary figures like Sara's father and China don't get the thorough treatment Godfrey gives Sara, Godfrey's singular voice is a perfect barometer of teenage rage and insecurity.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Adult/High School-As a teen in the mid-'80s in British Columbia, Sara Shaw has two lives. At home, she is the responsible daughter who cleans, launders, and manages the bills for her feckless, addicted father. At school, aptly nicknamed "Mount Drug," she hangs out with a group of stoned delinquents. When her father suddenly abandons her, she leaves home for the back alleys of Victoria where she is swept into the world of runaways, pimps, prostitutes, and addicts. Despite the graphic sexual situations and language, this is a touching book about a sensitive, articulate teen who longs for security while recklessly courting danger. She misses her mother who still lives in the commune Sara and her father had left. She regrets not befriending a girl at her school, and tries to compensate by helping the young women she meets on the streets and in a shelter. She imagines life with the kind foster family she is offered, but can't make herself leave the streets and go to them. This first novel is suspenseful, surprisingly funny, and thought provoking. Godfrey's portrayal of the anguish and hope of troubled teens has a searing authenticity.
Kathy Tewell, Chantilly Regional Library, VA
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B003H4I52G
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ HarperCollins e-books; Reissue edition (May 4, 2010)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 4, 2010
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.8 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 215 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 120 ratings

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Rebecca Godfrey
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Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
120 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book compelling and interesting. They describe it as an easy, immersive read with lyrical yet unflinching prose. Readers appreciate the relatable storytelling and themes of alienation, self-discovery, and the search for belonging.

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7 customers mention "Pacing"7 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's pacing engaging. They describe it as a fun and thought-provoking read that explores themes of alienation, self-discovery, and belonging.

"The Torn Skirt" by Rebecca Godfrey is a compelling and provocative novel that delves deep into the complexities of adolescence, identity, and desire...." Read more

"Fun read. The first 2\3 style is hard to get into but the story is nice. I would recommend this for 15+ only" Read more

"...Sara's journey throught this book is definitely trying and kept my interest. I definitely reccomend it." Read more

"I absolutely love having this book, I had it stolen form me and I am so happy. Quick delivery, couldn't be any happier." Read more

5 customers mention "Readability"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and engaging. They say it's written like a diary from a first-person perspective. The prose is lyrical yet unflinching, capturing the intensity of Sara's emotions.

"...Godfrey's prose is lyrical yet unflinching, capturing the intensity of Sara's emotions and experiences with sensitivity and insight...." Read more

"...It's written very much like a diary, told from a first person's point of view...." Read more

"Easy read..." Read more

"great read..." Read more

5 customers mention "Storytelling"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the storytelling relatable and masterful. They describe the narrative as riveting and thought-provoking, exploring themes of alienation, self-discovery, and the search for belonging. The story is told from a first-person perspective and invites readers to contemplate their own journeys.

"...Rebecca Godfrey's masterful storytelling and nuanced portrayal of adolescence make this novel a compelling choice for readers interested in literary..." Read more

"...It's written very much like a diary, told from a first person's point of view...." Read more

"Fun read. The first 2\3 style is hard to get into but the story is nice. I would recommend this for 15+ only" Read more

"This is a riveting story beginning with the implausible statement: 'I was born with a fever'...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on July 10, 2024
    The Torn Skirt" by Rebecca Godfrey is a compelling and provocative novel that delves deep into the complexities of adolescence, identity, and desire. Set against the backdrop of New York City's gritty urban landscape, the story follows Sara Shaw, a rebellious and introspective teenager grappling with the challenges of growing up in a dysfunctional family.

    Godfrey's writing is evocative and raw, painting a vivid picture of Sara's inner turmoil and the harsh realities she faces. The narrative explores themes of alienation, self-discovery, and the search for belonging, as Sara navigates through troubled relationships and explores her burgeoning sexuality.

    The character development in "The Torn Skirt" is particularly noteworthy. Sara is a complex protagonist whose vulnerabilities and flaws are laid bare, making her journey of self-acceptance and personal growth both poignant and relatable. The supporting characters, from Sara's troubled mother to the enigmatic Angel, add layers of depth to the story, reflecting different facets of Sara's tumultuous world.

    Godfrey's prose is lyrical yet unflinching, capturing the intensity of Sara's emotions and experiences with sensitivity and insight. The novel's exploration of desire and the quest for authenticity is thought-provoking, inviting readers to contemplate the complexities of human relationships and the impact of societal expectations.

    Overall, "The Torn Skirt" is a thought-provoking and immersive read that resonates long after the final page. Rebecca Godfrey's masterful storytelling and nuanced portrayal of adolescence make this novel a compelling choice for readers interested in literary fiction that explores the intricacies of identity and the search for meaning in a turbulent world.
  • Reviewed in the United States on December 10, 2008
    I'm 27, about ten years older than most of the characters in this book. I feel as though it would be much more relevant to someone in their mid-late teens, but I still throughly enjoyed it. I imagine that this would be a "cool" book to be reading if I were still in high school, going on an adventure with the protagonist, Sara, as she goes out into the world and loses a lot of her "innocence". I will admit that, while the book does seem like a noble and accurate portrayal of what it's like to be a misfit, the essence of growing up during adolescence. Very little if any of this stuff happened to me personally... but it was still quite powerful.

    It's written very much like a diary, told from a first person's point of view. It's a subtle reminder that some misguided youths face these sorts of things everyday. Some by choice, some not by choice. And nothing bad has to happen to someone in order for them to travel down this path. Sara has a loving father, she herself doesn't start out as a rampant, promiscuous, drug addict. She meets characters along the way and gets thrown into this world overnight... perhaps as a means of finding herself.

    An easy read, a page turner. I'd recommend this book to just about anyone.
    9 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on February 4, 2016
    Fun read. The first 2\3 style is hard to get into but the story is nice. I would recommend this for 15+ only
  • Reviewed in the United States on May 10, 2015
    This is a riveting story beginning with the implausible statement: 'I was born with a fever'. The narrator never explains what this actually means, only that she has blackouts or dizzy spells, like some form of drug-induced hallucinations, that seem to give her either an escape from stress or some kind of insight. Sara develops a weird (but understandable) fascination with Justine, a rag-tag waif in a torn skirt whose aplomb and confidence inspire her to change her own life. The two proceed to wreak some havoc on their associates and on the whole town (Victoria, BC) before a fateful party reintroduces Sara to one of their victims, with whom she must make a major decision that changes the whole point and direction of her life. It's only then that you realise what this girl is really made of, though you've been pulling for her all along.
    3 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 3, 2024
    happy
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on May 14, 2007
    This isn't the type of book that leaves you with a happy feeling at the end of it. Despite that, I still enjoyed this book. Sara's journey throught this book is definitely trying and kept my interest. I definitely reccomend it.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on September 29, 2013
    I absolutely love having this book, I had it stolen form me and I am so happy. Quick delivery, couldn't be any happier.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2013
    I purchased this book because of all the hype surrounding it. Lesson learned! Its kind of all over the place and maintains an obsession with this girl named Justine. It has no focus point and is way to unorganized.
    3 people found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • christopher baxter
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 17, 2015
    Its a very good read
  • LJBentley
    1.0 out of 5 stars I did not like this book
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 15, 2015
    The Torn Skirt by Rebecca Godfrey is about teenager Sarah Shaw and how she manages to ruin her life in one week. That seems a fairly simple explanation but to be honest I couldn’t even begin to describe the intricacies of this story. It is too complex and not in a good way.

    The book felt very contrived. It has been written with the intent to be as controversial as possible. It includes knife fights, family communes, teenage prostitution, juvenile delinquency, masturbation, drugs and attempted murder. Ok, a lot of books have these issues in them. My problem is that it all comes out of nowhere. There is no plausible reason why Sarah Shaw suddenly starts acting in the way she does. There is no build up to it. It just seems to happen rather instantly.

    As a reader, I don’t need all the answers however The Torn Skirt has ambiguous an implausible roots that I just couldn’t understand or like it. This is one that I wish I had left at the very bottom of my TBR pile.

    The Torn Skirt by Rebecca Godfrey is available now.

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