Her partying and frequent sexual hookups snowball until she gets to the point where she has no idea who the real Eden is anymore. She loves the rush of power that comes with playing with guys' emotions and uses sex and alcohol as ways to escape her unhappiness. The trauma of rape leads Eden to self-loathing and an inability to trust her instincts, and she begins to behave completely opposite of the shy, geeky girl she's always been. Hopefully teens reading this will get the lesson that the longer you hold a secret in, the more damage it does to you. The overall message and story show that even kids from loving families find it hard to speak out and get help after a trauma. However, it's frustrating to watch a character make terrible decision after terrible decision, even if you feel for her. The pain and loneliness Eden experiences after being raped by her brother's best friend is palpable. In this tough but worthwhile read, a teen girl's life spirals into self-destruction after she is raped in her own bed. The characters swear frequently, including 'f-k' and its variations, 's-t' and its variations, 'a-hole,' 'd-k,' 'bitch,' 'slut,' and 'whore.' Some of these actions are characterized as typical teen behavior, but most are not portrayed in a positive light, especially the drinking and casual sexual hookups. The teen characters smoke cigarettes and pot, drink to excess, drive while high, drive without a license, and have sex. In addition to following Eden's emotional journey, the book portrays the problem of 'slut shaming': how it starts, why it's a weapon, and the impact it can have on teen girls. The other violence mostly is bullying and sexual harassment. The depiction of the rape is intense and may be too much for younger or sensitive readers.

The subject matter can be tough going, as are the descriptions of the rape and the way Eden descends into risky behavior and self-destruction over the four years following the attack. Parents need to know The Way I Used to Be follows the story of a girl's high school experience after she is raped by her brother's best friend.

The way i used to be book buy