Plot Overview: The Way I Used to Be by Amber Smith is a book about a girl named Eden who gets raped very early on in the book during her freshman year of high school. She is raped by her brother’s best friend which really damages their relationship for a while. Throughout the book it shows how she decides to cope with her rape. She does not deal with it well until she finally decides to tell someone years later.

Critique: The most compelling aspect is the way Eden decides to cope with her rape throughout high school. I was not too disappointed with the book but I think she could have gone a different route with how Eden coped.

Cover: I think the cover did reflect the contents because at first the flower is full and then at the back it is destroyed.

Star Rating: 4

Additional Comments: We have this book in our school library.

From Ms. Yang: If you liked this book, you might want to read: I have the Right To: A High School Survivor's Story of Sexual Assault, Justice and Hope by Chessy Prout. We have it here, and it is a memoir by a girl who was sexually assaulted as a freshman at a boarding school.