What Unbreakable Looks Like
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What Unbreakable Looks Like
Dr. Lisa’s office is in Rocky Hill, in the back of her house. It’s nice and comfortable—like sitting in someone’s den or living room, only it’s small. There’s a waiting area outside, so Krys can sit out there and watch TV or read while I’m in session.
“Hello, Alexa,” Dr. Lisa says when I walk in. She’s tall and thin, with long, dark hair and green eyes. Her eyes say a lot about her. They are hard and appraising. She’s had a tough life too.
“Hi,” I say as I sit in my usual spot—an overstuffed armchair that’s super comfortable.
“How are you?”
“It’s been crazy,” I tell her, before filling her in on what’s been going on—all of it.
“Tell me more about Zack,” she says when I’m done.
“Seriously? I told you Mitch was outside my house, and you want to know about my friend?”
Dr. Lisa smiles slightly. “I’m not surprised by Mitch’s actions, but whenever there’s a new male person in your life, I want to know about him, especially one you seem to respect and like.”
“I don’t have to like him to respect him,” I counter. I don’t appreciate the emphasis she puts on “like”.
“Yes, but you do have to respect him in order to like him.”
I shrug. “I don’t want to talk about Zack.”
“Why not?”
“Because he’s not part of the problem. He’s just a guy.” In that second, I think of Mary Magdalene singing about how she’s had so many men and Jesus is just one more.
There’s a glint in Dr. Lisa’s eye and I know I’ve given something away, but I’m not sure what. I’m annoyed—at myself and at her.
“Mike and his buddies go to court tomorrow,” I tell her, changing the subject. “Can we talk about that?”
“We can talk about whatever you want,” she reminds me.
I don’t know what I want to say. I like it better when she asks me questions and I spew answers.
“Are you nervous?” she asks—finally.
I shrug. “I figure they’re going to get away with it.”
She tilts her head to one side. “Why?”
“You know why.”
“No, I really don’t.”
“The judge will figure it was my fault. Everyone at school thinks it was my fault.”
“Mr. Case doesn’t think it was your fault. And regardless of what happens at court, those boys have been expelled—they won’t be back to school.”
I stare at her. “So, I’m going to get blamed for that too.”
“You’ll be safe from them.”
“During the day. They were at the coffee shop the other night. We live in the same town. It’s not like I can avoid them.”
“Are you afraid of them?”
“No. They can’t hurt me.”
“Then why does it matter if you see them or not?”
“Because every time I see them, I’m reminded of what I am, right when I’m starting to—” I tighten my lips, keep the words in.
“Starting to what, Lex?”
I hold the words, hold my breath, but eventually the need to let both out wins. “Forget,” I blurt, and suck in a lungful of air. “Just when I’m starting to forget, they remind me of what I am.”
“What are you?”
“Broken.”
Her expression changes—softens. “You are not broken. If you were broken, you wouldn’t be here. You wouldn’t be doing everything you can to heal.”
Maybe not. “What if it never happens?” I ask. “What if I never feel whole again?”
She smiles sympathetically. “Then maybe—like a lot of us—you’ll have to find strength in being a little cracked.”
Lex was forced into the world of human trafficking by a man she considered to be her boyfriend–a friend of her mother’s boyfriend. She was sequestered in a hotel with several other teenage girls, told her new name was Poppy, and was subjected to all kinds of undue trauma, which she became numb to as a survival technique. After being rescued from that life, she doesn’t know how to reconcile her time as Poppy with her old/new life as Lex.
After spending some time in a recovery program for girls who have been trafficked, Lex moves into a safe and loving home with her aunt and uncle. She registers for school, meets some new peers, and tries to move on with some semblance of a normal teen life. But she soon discovers that trusting people is extremely difficult for her–from her new home, her surroundings, to friends and potential romantic interests she meets, Lex is constantly looking over her shoulder, both figuratively and literally. To make matters worse, her former pimp is still on the lam, and she worries that he may be looking for her.
After being sexually assaulted by her new so-called boyfriend and a group of his friends, Lex realizes she has more work to do to heal from her past experiences, to learn to trust herself and others, and to truly feel a sense of self-worth. With the help of her aunt and uncle, her new best friend, and a boy who truly cares for her and sees her worth, Lex begins the journey of healing and self-discovery.
What Unbreakable Looks Like is author Kate McLaughlin’s debut novel. McLaughlin is a people person–she loves studying them and creating characters who are experiencing tough times and find the strength to pull through. Born in Nova Scotia, McLaughlin now resides in Connecticut with her husband and pets.
McLaughlin has masterfully created a cast of realistic and diverse characters who form Lex’s support system. Lex’s inner circle consists of her supportive aunt and uncle who have gone above and beyond to ensure that they have provided a safe and loving home for her, her vocal best friend Elsa who always has her back, and her new friend/boyfriend Zack who never forgets to remind her of her worth. Additionally Lex’s circle of support includes the school principal who does his best to make her feel safe and supported in sharing her story, the police officer on the case hunting down her former pimp, and her therapist, Dr. Lisa. Through Lex’s interactions with these characters, the author has shown the extent to which a support system is necessary to help survivors of trafficking feel safe and able to move forward and heal from their experiences. Fortunately for Lex, she had this wraparound system of supports in all areas of her life, but, for many other girls in her situation, this may not be the case. Even with this support system in place, this book demonstrates, through Lex’s thoughts and interactions, how difficult it may be for a survivor of trafficking to trust others and to gain a sense of self-worth.
Before the book begins, a trigger warning is in place regarding the serious and sensitive topics the book covers. In the text, Lex reflects upon her experiences during the time of her trafficking in raw detail. The sexual assault by her so-called boyfriend and his friends is also detailed in a similar manner. It is precisely these sorts of details that give the reader an authentic view into the experiences that Lex has faced, as well as her journey of inner strength as she moves forward. The fast-moving plot makes for a smooth and relatable read whilst also giving the reader the opportunity to connect with characters, and consider how one might meaningfully support others who may have experienced trafficking.
What Unbreakable Looks Like paints a realistic portrait of the aftermath of human trafficking and shines a light on the importance of a support system to wrap around survivors. Filled with unique and relatable characters, a fast-moving plot, and serious and relevant themes, the text is likely to elicit the full range of emotions in readers. This book is anticipated to be a cherished favourite of many teens, one that is read over and over again.
Chasity Findlay is a graduate of the Master of Education program in Language and Literacy at the University of Manitoba and an avid reader of young adult fiction.