Imogen has always believed that her black belt in Tae Kwon Do made her stronger than everyone else--more responsible, more capable. But when she witnesses a holdup in a diner, she freezes. The gunman is shot and killed by the police. And it's all herMore Imogen has always believed that her black belt in Tae Kwon Do made her stronger than everyone else--more responsible, more capable. But when she witnesses a holdup in a diner, she freezes. The gunman is shot and killed by the police. And it's all her fault.
Now she's got to rebuild her life without the talent that made her special and the beliefs that made her strong. If only she could prove herself in a fight--a real fight--she might be able to let go of the guilt and shock. She's drawn to Ricky, another witness to the holdup, both romantically and because she believes he might be able to give her the fight she’s been waiting for.
But when it comes down to it, a fight won’t answer Imogen's big questions: What does it really mean to be stronger than other people? Is there such a thing as a fair fight? And can someone who's beaten and bruised fall in love? Less
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Maja (The Nocturnal Library) rated it it was amazing
over 3 years ago
There’s only a handful of authors whose insightfulness I admire as much as I admire Sarah Skilton right now, most. Read full review
Wendy Darling rated it liked it
over 4 years ago
Hm, I feel alone in a sea of glowing 4s and 5s on this one.
This is such an interesting subject, and there were times when Imogene's PTSD flashbacks were definitely troubling. But I had a serious problem connecting with most of the characters, and I was never really convi. Read full review
Reynje rated it really liked it
about 4 years ago
“If a girl punches someone, she’s crazy. If a guy punches someone, he’s dealing with his feelings. He’s normal.â€
I have to thank several friends for recommending Skilton’s debut recently; without their encouragement to pick it up, Bruised might have been quietly sucked i. Read full review
Limonessa rated it really liked it
over 4 years ago
A very thorough, in depth excursion into PTSD and how it affects your everyday life and the lives of the people who are around you.
This book was like watching a train wreck slowly unfold in front of my eyes. Imogen is 16 and a Tae Kwon Do black belt, practically a prodig. Read full review
Keertana rated it really liked it
over 4 years ago
Although I have no experience with martial arts, it is very much a part of my life. You can hardly walk in my house without seeing remnants of my brother's neatly broken boards, sparring gear, or the dozens of belts he went through to finally receive his black be. Read full review
Kaitlin rated it liked it
This was the #BookBuddyBox for April which is run over on Etsy by elena. Check out her shop here. It's a contemporary book, with is not my usual cup of tea as I tend to find it hard to connect with the characters, but I do think this story was pretty good at handling elem. Read full review
Soumi rated it liked it
over 3 years ago
3.5 stars actually
Before Bruised I have never read any novel related to sports, any kind of sports. So I better shan’t compare this book with any other book because I found it unique itself. Most of all, before staring the book, I had no knowledge about any kind of Karat. Read full review
Nomes rated it liked it
over 4 years ago
Bruised is story of a girl (Tae Kwon Do talent) who survives a hold-up, but not without emotional scars and torment. The opening chapter is so compelling, the PTSD that comes afterwards rings true. For a dramatic premise, the book never delves into the melodramatic, I thi. Read full review
Brin rated it really liked it
over 1 year ago
I was expecting a lot from Bruised, debut novel of author Sarah Skilton, and it really delivered. It is a rare book that can so deftly convey the turbulent emotions that can arise following a traumatic event but Bruised really packs a punch and isn't afraid to delve into. Read full review
Scarlet rated it liked it
about 4 years ago
I wish I could give this a better rating but the fact is that Bruised did not impact me like I thought it would.
It’s a good book and I liked it but I feel it could have been better. Bruised could have been a deeper, darker exploration of PTSD had it stayed focused on t. Read full review
People mess up, you know? But you can’t see past it. It’s like you choose one thing about them—the worst thing—and say, ‘That’s who they are,’ and ignore the rest of it. Why not choose the best thing about them instead? Or the thing they do the most?
Mrs. Hamilton told me teenagers are resilient, that we'll bounce back," he scoffs. "And I'm thinking, Okay. When?"
I don't remember Mrs. Hamilton saying that, but I've heard the theory before. That the younger you are, the quicker you can normalize an event and move on, because you don't know any other way of life. It just becomes a small part of your narrative as the years go by. But it seems to me the younger you are when something bad happens to you, the longer you have to carry it with you.
Greetings, Mother!" I say sarcastically when I walk through the front door. "Greetings, Father!"
No one responds.
This is beyond stupid.
"Greetings, family," I scream.
"What are you doing?" calls Hunter from upstairs.
"Children's Home Rule number one: Children will greet their parents when they come home, and say good-bye to them when they leave."
"Oh my God, are you like, reverting?"
"Greetings, Brother."
A pause.
"Greetings, Sister.