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You Can't Break Her (Years 7 - 12) - @TSTurcotte

You Can't Break Her (Years 7 - 12) by TSTurcotte

Reviewed by AmyMarieZ

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Overview: This review covers years seven to twelve of the nonfiction memoir You Can't Break Her. These chapters show the youth and preteen years of the author's life as she recalls them. The realism in the way the author captures her own memories is moving and powerful. The skillful storytelling makes the reader feel like they are there for each painful, funny, and frightening moment. These yeas showcase the struggles she faced growing up after the traumas in her early years, the challenges she continued to face, but also how she began to push through them. It is a moving and at times heartbreaking read, but each chapter is completely immersive and engaging despite the darker themes.

Grammar: I will not include much about grammar in this review. I pointed out most of the typos and errors I caught inline as I read for the review. The type of mistakes are similar in nature to those I saw in the first set of chapters. However, the frequency of errors was much lower in this set. Overall, years seven through twelve were a fairly smooth read grammatically.

Character Development: The character development of the main character Amaris (Ama) in these chapters was incredible. Because she goes from seven years old to twelve years old, her life is changing quickly, as well as her maturity. These developments are shown now only through her actions, dialog and experiences, but also through the way the narration captures the story and the narrator's perception of events.

In year seven, Ama has just moved in with her new foster family. It is clear that her life before this event has a huge effect on every aspect of her life. For example, in the first part, the reader painfully sees the fact that Ama was never taught proper hygiene and also traumatized of showers by a cruel foster parent in her past.

A very powerful and persistent theme in years seven and onward is the fact that calmness as well as close proximity to strangers causes Ama to panic, as though she is waiting for the storm. The way the author describes how these anxiety attacks felt physically, as well as the emotions and feelings that caused them, is frightening and immersive. She also shows how she began to resort to fighting and acting out at school. A particularly heartbreaking line was when her foster mother asked her why she began fighting when placed in a group and she responded with: "I don't like being in groups. What if one of them grabs me or attacks me?" This line shows just how much of an effect everything she has been through has on her day to day life, and it is difficult and emotional to read.

In year nine, a recurring nightmare/dream Ama experienced is recalled. I've heard dreams and nightmares can be a way of the unconscious brain trying to work though things in the dreamer's own life. The author does not explain what the dream meant, although it is clearly symbolic and meaningful. The dream involves Ama leaving her bedroom with a group of frightening (but perhaps not that bad) monsters that lead her to a labyrinth. The way Ama at first does not recall this labyrinth but then as she goes through it she realizes she has been there in her dreams before is absolutely eerie.

Year eleven shows perhaps some of the best character development of the story so far. In this chapter, Ama makes a genuine friend with Renee, a girl who at first she couldn't stand. The way the development of their friendship is shown is heartwarming and touching. They begin to have sleepovers together, laying on the bed and listening to music. One of the most touching parts of these chapters was when Ama and Renee are listening to "Cleaning Out My Closet" by Eminem. Ama begins to cry because of how touching the lyrics are to her. She states that she was glad it was dark in the room because Renee didn't need to see her cry, and she didn't want her to. The girls then decided together that the song is amazing, and that they should listen to it on repeat.