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Rabbit Ears
Kaya is adopted, multiracial, grieving the death of her father—and carrying a painful secret. Feeling ill at ease with her family and in her own skin, she runs away repeatedly, gradually disappearing into a life of addiction and sex work. Meanwhile, her sister, Beth, escapes her own troubles with food and a rediscovered talent for magic tricks. Though both girls struggle through darkness and pain, they eventually find their way to a moment of illumination and healing.This powerful YA novel is rooted in the tragic life of the author’s sister, Sarah, a victim of serial killer Robert Pickton and the subject of Maggie de Vries’s Governor General’s Literary Award–nominated memoir for adults, Missing Sarah . Sarah’s tragic experiences inspired the character Kaya, as well as an adult sex worker she meets on the streets. Vancouver’s missing women form a chilling backdrop for the story.
240 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 18, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
March 30, 2016
**TW: This book deals with rape abuse and addictions**
My 7th book in White Pine, I finished this in a day because it was super short. I was left really confused on how I felt, I didn't enjoy what I read but I feel like others might want to read this. When I picked up this book, I had no idea what this was about and was shocked when I read the first few pages. All I was thinking was, what have I gotten into?
Kaya is living in an adopted household with a loving mother and sister named Beth. Ever since their father died, they both have to fight their own battles with life and figure their way out. Kaya is on the wrong path while Beth learns a few magic tricks and overcomes her problems. Kaya is hiding a secret that makes her want to run away from home. Struggling to live, both sisters try to find their way out of the dark hole they are in.
To be honest, I haven't read a book with so much rape and addictions. I didn't see it coming, I never read the summary, I went blind into this book and I wasn't really into this topic. It makes me feel uncomfortable and makes me feel upset. I hate how a lot of women have to deal with this, people don't deserve to go through things like this.
I found it hard to relate to the characters of this book. I didn't feel the way Kaya or Beth felt about things. Kaya was someone who did things on impulse and that is something I don't do. I put a lot of thought, think about the negative and positive aspects before doing what I want to do. For example, when I wanted to write reviews on Goodreads, I was really hesitant because I thought of every positive and negative aspect. After about two months, I finally wrote a book review on Goodreads and now, I do it on a regular basis.
All I was thinking about when reading this was:
The pacing was really fast, I couldn't believe I finished this book in a matter of 2 hours. It was a really fast read but it played with your emotions. When I finished the book, I felt disturbed and sick to hear what these characters had went through. Since I felt no connection with the characters, I was a little disappointed.
I would recommend this to anyone who is interested in reading about this topic. This is a very serious topic and more people should know about it so that they could raise awareness. If you are not comfortable with reading about abuse, rape or addictions, I highly recommend you do NOT read this book. I need a book to cheer me up, so I am gonna go read Maid-Sama now.
My 7th book in White Pine, I finished this in a day because it was super short. I was left really confused on how I felt, I didn't enjoy what I read but I feel like others might want to read this. When I picked up this book, I had no idea what this was about and was shocked when I read the first few pages. All I was thinking was, what have I gotten into?
Kaya is living in an adopted household with a loving mother and sister named Beth. Ever since their father died, they both have to fight their own battles with life and figure their way out. Kaya is on the wrong path while Beth learns a few magic tricks and overcomes her problems. Kaya is hiding a secret that makes her want to run away from home. Struggling to live, both sisters try to find their way out of the dark hole they are in.
To be honest, I haven't read a book with so much rape and addictions. I didn't see it coming, I never read the summary, I went blind into this book and I wasn't really into this topic. It makes me feel uncomfortable and makes me feel upset. I hate how a lot of women have to deal with this, people don't deserve to go through things like this.
I found it hard to relate to the characters of this book. I didn't feel the way Kaya or Beth felt about things. Kaya was someone who did things on impulse and that is something I don't do. I put a lot of thought, think about the negative and positive aspects before doing what I want to do. For example, when I wanted to write reviews on Goodreads, I was really hesitant because I thought of every positive and negative aspect. After about two months, I finally wrote a book review on Goodreads and now, I do it on a regular basis.
All I was thinking about when reading this was:
The pacing was really fast, I couldn't believe I finished this book in a matter of 2 hours. It was a really fast read but it played with your emotions. When I finished the book, I felt disturbed and sick to hear what these characters had went through. Since I felt no connection with the characters, I was a little disappointed.
I would recommend this to anyone who is interested in reading about this topic. This is a very serious topic and more people should know about it so that they could raise awareness. If you are not comfortable with reading about abuse, rape or addictions, I highly recommend you do NOT read this book. I need a book to cheer me up, so I am gonna go read Maid-Sama now.
February 15, 2016
1-1.5 stars
trigger warning - addiction, abuse
Not going to lie - I only finished this book because it's a white pine nominee. The majority of the time I was really confused because of the style (written alternatively in 2nd person + 1st person) and some sentences were awkward. As a result, the ideas weren't clearly communicated at times. Personally, I didn't really find the plot convincing/real, same with some of the characters (I also had trouble relating to the characters due to the themes). Some plot points didn't add up to me as well.
I do believe that even the "worst" books have /something/ good in them. In this case I liked how our main character, Kaya is a person of colour and how (some) situations were handled because of that. The beginning was disturbing (as excepted though), the middle was meh (and as mentioned above: confusing) but the ending redeemed itself very nicely. (and this is short book).
Overall, I didn't really find myself enjoying this novel, unfortunately. I usually don't mind reading books with such themes, however I'm not sure this particular read dealt with the issues convincingly (is that a word??) / throughly. The writing style isn't my favourite either, so that definitely knocked down some stars.
*this book is based on a true story but I'm not rating the correlations between the stories*
trigger warning - addiction, abuse
Not going to lie - I only finished this book because it's a white pine nominee. The majority of the time I was really confused because of the style (written alternatively in 2nd person + 1st person) and some sentences were awkward. As a result, the ideas weren't clearly communicated at times. Personally, I didn't really find the plot convincing/real, same with some of the characters (I also had trouble relating to the characters due to the themes). Some plot points didn't add up to me as well.
I do believe that even the "worst" books have /something/ good in them. In this case I liked how our main character, Kaya is a person of colour and how (some) situations were handled because of that. The beginning was disturbing (as excepted though), the middle was meh (and as mentioned above: confusing) but the ending redeemed itself very nicely. (and this is short book).
Overall, I didn't really find myself enjoying this novel, unfortunately. I usually don't mind reading books with such themes, however I'm not sure this particular read dealt with the issues convincingly (is that a word??) / throughly. The writing style isn't my favourite either, so that definitely knocked down some stars.
*this book is based on a true story but I'm not rating the correlations between the stories*
March 8, 2023
About molestation, not rabbits. Canadians keep tricking me with books that aren’t about rabbits. (Vis the cover of The Sleeping Car Porter.)
Kaya is thirteen-year-old adopted girl of color making terrible decisions because her home life and her school life are intolerable to her. Her home life doesn’t seem too bad on the surface, but her dad died of cancer, her mom is overwhelmed and kind of angry, and her sister Beth is stress eating her way through this silent, angry household. Beth has two weird best friends, one of whom is mean in a way that doesn’t affect the plot here.
The book starts with Kaya sneaking out to party with older teens on a beach by the family’s vacation rental. Do nurses in Canada just get a month of straight vacation every year. Kaya is assaulted and tells no one and then everyone drives home because vacation is over and Kaya is unable to cope with her first year of high school. She starts skipping with a bad girl, and going downtown, and disappearing, and her mom is worried sick but also not dealing with the situation. Kaya can’t bring herself to attend school and her mom’s solution is to have Beth check up on her at school sometimes. There’s a disconnect. Kaya’s story is in second person and that inhibits some storytelling, but it might make reading this easier. Kaya is a narcissistic, selfish, insecure, fucked-up, “everything I do is waifish and poignant” kind of kid, which is pretty normal at thirteen, except the history of abuse and extremely self-destructive decisions part, but that’s hard to read and have grace for.
Kaya runs away to deep downtown Vancouver and starts selling herself for heroin. It’s okay that this part wasn’t detailed first person either. Good lord. She meets a prostitute named Sarah, the author’s sister, who keeps telling her to go home. But she doesn’t. Meanwhile, Beth is at home feeling terrible and learning magic tricks. Kaya is arrested eventually, and comes home before she relapses, but Beth is starting to put together a puzzle: Kaya and other neighborhood girls were molested by the old man three blocks over with the amazing toy collection. This part was hard to read. I feel gross thinking about it. Kaya comes home and gets help finally. Sarah disappears and is numbered among the missing women, the missing Native women and the others, who disappear every year. The ones the police aren’t interested in.
This was a tough one. The writing was good. Race and adoption are there but they’re never really dealt with. That’s two more big topics that this book doesn’t have space for. Good. Traumatic. Probably better for those who can empathize than the casual reader.
Kaya is thirteen-year-old adopted girl of color making terrible decisions because her home life and her school life are intolerable to her. Her home life doesn’t seem too bad on the surface, but her dad died of cancer, her mom is overwhelmed and kind of angry, and her sister Beth is stress eating her way through this silent, angry household. Beth has two weird best friends, one of whom is mean in a way that doesn’t affect the plot here.
The book starts with Kaya sneaking out to party with older teens on a beach by the family’s vacation rental. Do nurses in Canada just get a month of straight vacation every year. Kaya is assaulted and tells no one and then everyone drives home because vacation is over and Kaya is unable to cope with her first year of high school. She starts skipping with a bad girl, and going downtown, and disappearing, and her mom is worried sick but also not dealing with the situation. Kaya can’t bring herself to attend school and her mom’s solution is to have Beth check up on her at school sometimes. There’s a disconnect. Kaya’s story is in second person and that inhibits some storytelling, but it might make reading this easier. Kaya is a narcissistic, selfish, insecure, fucked-up, “everything I do is waifish and poignant” kind of kid, which is pretty normal at thirteen, except the history of abuse and extremely self-destructive decisions part, but that’s hard to read and have grace for.
Kaya runs away to deep downtown Vancouver and starts selling herself for heroin. It’s okay that this part wasn’t detailed first person either. Good lord. She meets a prostitute named Sarah, the author’s sister, who keeps telling her to go home. But she doesn’t. Meanwhile, Beth is at home feeling terrible and learning magic tricks. Kaya is arrested eventually, and comes home before she relapses, but Beth is starting to put together a puzzle: Kaya and other neighborhood girls were molested by the old man three blocks over with the amazing toy collection. This part was hard to read. I feel gross thinking about it. Kaya comes home and gets help finally. Sarah disappears and is numbered among the missing women, the missing Native women and the others, who disappear every year. The ones the police aren’t interested in.
This was a tough one. The writing was good. Race and adoption are there but they’re never really dealt with. That’s two more big topics that this book doesn’t have space for. Good. Traumatic. Probably better for those who can empathize than the casual reader.
May 20, 2016
Actual rating 4.5/5 stars.
When I finished this book all I could think was wow. Just wow! Even though Kaya’s story is fiction, the author has weaved in true stories of Vancouver’s missing women and that builds up such an emotional response in the reader. The characters of Rabbit Ears have their own deep, dark painful secrets; the more you read, the closer you are to figuring out what those are. I couldn’t help asking myself is this the story of a survivor or someone who couldn’t get out. Rabbit Ears is an incredible book and the author brings alive some very important issues, including but not limited to: Vancouver’s missing women, drug addiction, sex work and teen runaways. This is a must-read, something that shows you can help break the silence and bring awareness. A discussion opener.
I couldn’t immediately get into the book. The format and writing style surprised me so it was hard to convince myself to continue reading. I’m so glad I did because once I got into it, I couldn’t stop. Later on, deep into the book, I started reflecting on the writing. Rabbit Ears is split into two POV’s: Kaya’s and her older sister, Beth’s. Within each chapter, there are a lot of page breaks; short entries like you’d find in a journal or diary. What’s really interesting (I didn’t immediately see the difference) is that Kaya’s POV is in second person while Beth’s is in third person. This means that instead of Kaya referring to herself as “I”, she uses “you”. This has a few implications. For the reader, it fits with the idea that by reading this, you provide a space for Kaya’s story. It could even mean that an Outsider is telling Kaya’s story because for some reason Kaya herself isn’t able to. This worried me about how the book would end, as I mentioned before. For Kaya herself, the “you” creates a wall – it’s easier to tell your story if you’re looking at yourself from far away. The entire format of the book is a perfect fit for the story.
I loved the different perspectives of Kaya and Beth. Kaya, Beth and their mother are grieving the loss of their father, who passes away from cancer before the book begins. This seems to set off the events happening in Rabbit Ears. Kaya is adopted and multiracial; with little to no friends in school, she is constantly dealing with bullying and racism. She ends up meeting Sarah, a sex worker and heroin addict, in Vancouver’s Eastside. Sarah saves her and tries to warn her of the dangers. She herself doesn’t believe she can get out, but Kaya has a home and a family. Sarah views Kaya as a survivor, someone who can be saved, someone who doesn’t belong in this world of sex trafficking and addiction. The fact that the author has written in her own sister, Sarah (who was a victim of serial killer Robert Pickton) as a character makes the novel all the more powerful and moving.
We don’t see Beth’s POV as much as Kaya’s, but we do see enough. I would say Beth takes up the tough love approach when it comes to how she and her mom deal with Kaya. Beth doesn’t understand why Kaya would do this – hurt their family and runaway from home. She thinks their mom is too lenient on Kaya. Beth is also embarrassed by what’s going on, not wanting her friends to find out. However, Beth is also worried for Kaya. After all, they are still sisters and I felt like throughout the novel, Beth really comes through. This bond of sisterhood is strong.
This book is shorter than my usual reads, but the length doesn’t diminish the plot. If you feel like this book will make you uncomfortable because you’ve never experienced what these characters go through, I recommend you read this. This book opens your eyes, it makes the unbelievable very real. Fortunately, I’ve never had to experience what Kaya and other characters go through. I know these things can and do happen to women, but reading this book actually opened my eyes. So if you’re reading this book or you’ve read it and think “how can this even be real”, stop and reflect. Kaya’s story is fiction, but her story is representative of so many victims. There is truth between the lines.
When I finished this book all I could think was wow. Just wow! Even though Kaya’s story is fiction, the author has weaved in true stories of Vancouver’s missing women and that builds up such an emotional response in the reader. The characters of Rabbit Ears have their own deep, dark painful secrets; the more you read, the closer you are to figuring out what those are. I couldn’t help asking myself is this the story of a survivor or someone who couldn’t get out. Rabbit Ears is an incredible book and the author brings alive some very important issues, including but not limited to: Vancouver’s missing women, drug addiction, sex work and teen runaways. This is a must-read, something that shows you can help break the silence and bring awareness. A discussion opener.
I couldn’t immediately get into the book. The format and writing style surprised me so it was hard to convince myself to continue reading. I’m so glad I did because once I got into it, I couldn’t stop. Later on, deep into the book, I started reflecting on the writing. Rabbit Ears is split into two POV’s: Kaya’s and her older sister, Beth’s. Within each chapter, there are a lot of page breaks; short entries like you’d find in a journal or diary. What’s really interesting (I didn’t immediately see the difference) is that Kaya’s POV is in second person while Beth’s is in third person. This means that instead of Kaya referring to herself as “I”, she uses “you”. This has a few implications. For the reader, it fits with the idea that by reading this, you provide a space for Kaya’s story. It could even mean that an Outsider is telling Kaya’s story because for some reason Kaya herself isn’t able to. This worried me about how the book would end, as I mentioned before. For Kaya herself, the “you” creates a wall – it’s easier to tell your story if you’re looking at yourself from far away. The entire format of the book is a perfect fit for the story.
I loved the different perspectives of Kaya and Beth. Kaya, Beth and their mother are grieving the loss of their father, who passes away from cancer before the book begins. This seems to set off the events happening in Rabbit Ears. Kaya is adopted and multiracial; with little to no friends in school, she is constantly dealing with bullying and racism. She ends up meeting Sarah, a sex worker and heroin addict, in Vancouver’s Eastside. Sarah saves her and tries to warn her of the dangers. She herself doesn’t believe she can get out, but Kaya has a home and a family. Sarah views Kaya as a survivor, someone who can be saved, someone who doesn’t belong in this world of sex trafficking and addiction. The fact that the author has written in her own sister, Sarah (who was a victim of serial killer Robert Pickton) as a character makes the novel all the more powerful and moving.
We don’t see Beth’s POV as much as Kaya’s, but we do see enough. I would say Beth takes up the tough love approach when it comes to how she and her mom deal with Kaya. Beth doesn’t understand why Kaya would do this – hurt their family and runaway from home. She thinks their mom is too lenient on Kaya. Beth is also embarrassed by what’s going on, not wanting her friends to find out. However, Beth is also worried for Kaya. After all, they are still sisters and I felt like throughout the novel, Beth really comes through. This bond of sisterhood is strong.
This book is shorter than my usual reads, but the length doesn’t diminish the plot. If you feel like this book will make you uncomfortable because you’ve never experienced what these characters go through, I recommend you read this. This book opens your eyes, it makes the unbelievable very real. Fortunately, I’ve never had to experience what Kaya and other characters go through. I know these things can and do happen to women, but reading this book actually opened my eyes. So if you’re reading this book or you’ve read it and think “how can this even be real”, stop and reflect. Kaya’s story is fiction, but her story is representative of so many victims. There is truth between the lines.
December 30, 2015
Rating: 2.5/5
***Minor spoilers***
TW: RAPE, ABUSE
Kaya doesn't act like the other girls in her grade. While they're home asleep in their beds, she leaves to party and do who knows what else. Sometimes when they're in school, she takes a bus downtown just because she feels like it. She's running from something, but we don't know what - is it the grief from her father having died from cancer? Is she unhappy with her family? After going downtown for a while, she takes the bus with her friend (and fellow rebel) Michelle, and learns what Michelle really does downtown - heroin, and how she pays for it - sex. This starts the downward spiral for Kaya. She tries heroin and quickly becomes addicted and finds herself paying for her addiction by selling herself, meanwhile trying to avoid her family calling her home. As we continue on with the book, we learn more about Kaya and her sister Beth's past, and why she finds it so hard to stay home.
This story is a bit hard to read, not because it's bad or anything, but because of the subject. There are drugs and prostitution, both of which the main character is involved in. There are scenes that are essentially rape, and also scenes with sexual assault. On top of that, Kaya is only a kid, thirteen years old and involved in all this. At first, I didn't really understand why Kaya was having so much trouble and why she kept fleeing home. I was quite annoyed with her, actually, because she seemed to be throwing her life away while she had a mom and sister who loved her waiting at home. I guess this is why I should read the synopsis, because I didn't know there was some big secret why she didn't feel safe at home. Usually I find myself better off without reading the summary because there are more surprises, but unfortunately for me, it wasn't evident in the writing that something else happened to Kaya to make her feel this way.
This book picks up about halfway through, where we stop living in the present and start experiencing Kaya and Beth's past. We get to see the relationship between Kaya and her father, and how her and her sister were as children. It also marks the beginning of the reveal of Kaya's secret, which I was pretty surprised by. It made me feel pretty bad for Kaya, especially now knowing that Kaya is based off of the author's own sister.
Overall, I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would at the beginning, but I don't usually go for books like this. I don't like books where there is some huge secret about a previous abuse that is pulled out as a tearjerker. What made me feel the most for the characters was that Kaya was based on the author's sister Sarah (who made an appearance herself in this book) who was a victim of one of the killers in the Vancouver Downtown Eastside. I would recommend this book to you if you enjoy books like this, but if you're particularly sensitive and tend to shy away with books that contain pretty heavy material, I would stay away from this one.
***Minor spoilers***
TW: RAPE, ABUSE
Kaya doesn't act like the other girls in her grade. While they're home asleep in their beds, she leaves to party and do who knows what else. Sometimes when they're in school, she takes a bus downtown just because she feels like it. She's running from something, but we don't know what - is it the grief from her father having died from cancer? Is she unhappy with her family? After going downtown for a while, she takes the bus with her friend (and fellow rebel) Michelle, and learns what Michelle really does downtown - heroin, and how she pays for it - sex. This starts the downward spiral for Kaya. She tries heroin and quickly becomes addicted and finds herself paying for her addiction by selling herself, meanwhile trying to avoid her family calling her home. As we continue on with the book, we learn more about Kaya and her sister Beth's past, and why she finds it so hard to stay home.
This story is a bit hard to read, not because it's bad or anything, but because of the subject. There are drugs and prostitution, both of which the main character is involved in. There are scenes that are essentially rape, and also scenes with sexual assault. On top of that, Kaya is only a kid, thirteen years old and involved in all this. At first, I didn't really understand why Kaya was having so much trouble and why she kept fleeing home. I was quite annoyed with her, actually, because she seemed to be throwing her life away while she had a mom and sister who loved her waiting at home. I guess this is why I should read the synopsis, because I didn't know there was some big secret why she didn't feel safe at home. Usually I find myself better off without reading the summary because there are more surprises, but unfortunately for me, it wasn't evident in the writing that something else happened to Kaya to make her feel this way.
This book picks up about halfway through, where we stop living in the present and start experiencing Kaya and Beth's past. We get to see the relationship between Kaya and her father, and how her and her sister were as children. It also marks the beginning of the reveal of Kaya's secret, which I was pretty surprised by. It made me feel pretty bad for Kaya, especially now knowing that Kaya is based off of the author's own sister.
Overall, I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would at the beginning, but I don't usually go for books like this. I don't like books where there is some huge secret about a previous abuse that is pulled out as a tearjerker. What made me feel the most for the characters was that Kaya was based on the author's sister Sarah (who made an appearance herself in this book) who was a victim of one of the killers in the Vancouver Downtown Eastside. I would recommend this book to you if you enjoy books like this, but if you're particularly sensitive and tend to shy away with books that contain pretty heavy material, I would stay away from this one.
February 24, 2021
It took me a while to get into it, but soon enough I was enthralled. It was dark and heartbreaking, but ultimately quite touching and even a little bit hopeful. I suppose my only complaint is that Beth’s parts felt a bit dull and unnecessary. Had the entire story been told from Kaya’s point of view, I think it would have been even better. But Kaya was the primary speaker and I enjoyed reading her thoughts and experiences.
Upon reading the afterword, I loved the story even more. The title was really quite meaningful and a great ode to the author’s late sister.
Upon reading the afterword, I loved the story even more. The title was really quite meaningful and a great ode to the author’s late sister.
September 2, 2015
See more reviews at Words Read & Written
Wow… I haven’t read a book like this in a very long time. Books like this make me realise how fluffy and shallow a lot of young adult books are. Because this… This was haunting, powerful, devastating and unlike anything I’ve devoured in… well, ever.
What I didn’t like about it:
Rabbit Ears is written in alternating point of view. Kaya’s sections were written in second person and Beth’s were written in first. I didn’t hate the style, but there were a couple of times I found myself backtracking because the sudden changes were a little jarring. That said, I couldn’t imagine this book being written in any other way.
I guess another minor dislike was that while I loved this book, it isn’t the sort of story I’d read over and over again. It isn’t a book that makes you feel good about the world and fall in love with life. This is the sort of story that makes you think, and in my case, appreciate my good fortune that I never had to go through what Kaya or her family did.
What I liked about it:
The authors writing… wow. From the very first page it was incredibly visual. I devoured this book in one sitting and at 158 pages, it’s a short but intense read.
Kaya was like a car crash waiting to happen and I loved how her life and past were slowly revealed. In some deep part of my mind I’d always wondered how people end up with a life in drugs and prostitution, and I thought Kaya’s story was incredibly moving. I believed every single word.
Overall, I loved this book. It dealt with an incredibly intense subject in a powerful and moving way. This book will stay with me for a while!
My Verdict – 4.5 stars – highly recommended.
May 30, 2015
Wow. This novel is incredibly powerful. Reminiscent of Melvin Burgess' Junk and the infamous Christiane F, it tells the story of Kaya who spirals deeper and deeper into Vancouver's drug scene. Told from both the perspective of Kaya and her sister Beth, it is an eye-opening account into what could possibly lead a young teenager to run away from home.
And even though Kaya's story is told from a second person narrative (Beth's is first person) it still hits home. At first I thought it was distant and kind of glossed over the more horrible details. Wouldn't it be better to tell the experience of being forced into oral sex with a random dude in a car from a first person's perspective? But the fact that it is so distant, so far removed from even Kaya herself - she talks about doing horrible things or getting horrible things done to her whilst having an out of body experience - that it just emphasises the seriousness of this situation.
And the story is heartbreaking, because Kaya does not need to be in that drug scene. She could just jump on a bus and go back home to her loving mother and sister. But her secret - something happened in her past - stops her from feeling loved and she feels like she needs to punish herself.
And what makes this novel so much worse is that it is based on real experiences by a woman named Sarah. Maggie de Vries' sister. Sarah disappeared in 1998 and was never seen again - presumed dead - and features in this novel.
So a fun story this is not, but one I definitely recommend.
And even though Kaya's story is told from a second person narrative (Beth's is first person) it still hits home. At first I thought it was distant and kind of glossed over the more horrible details. Wouldn't it be better to tell the experience of being forced into oral sex with a random dude in a car from a first person's perspective? But the fact that it is so distant, so far removed from even Kaya herself - she talks about doing horrible things or getting horrible things done to her whilst having an out of body experience - that it just emphasises the seriousness of this situation.
And the story is heartbreaking, because Kaya does not need to be in that drug scene. She could just jump on a bus and go back home to her loving mother and sister. But her secret - something happened in her past - stops her from feeling loved and she feels like she needs to punish herself.
And what makes this novel so much worse is that it is based on real experiences by a woman named Sarah. Maggie de Vries' sister. Sarah disappeared in 1998 and was never seen again - presumed dead - and features in this novel.
So a fun story this is not, but one I definitely recommend.
June 21, 2015
Maggie deVries writes young adult books, and I would say that this novel could be read by anyone and everyone. When abuse and prostitution and drugs leave so many families in tatters, this book helps the rest of us understand what is likely happening in those homes. Cover says "Inspired by the true story of one of Vancouver's missing women.". So sad.
April 16, 2020
Thoroughly enjoyed this, has a good message at the end and you really feel for the main character Kaya. I found Beth (Kaya's sister) a bit bland as a character, there wasn't much to her besides binge eating as a coping mechanism to their father's death. Definitely should've given more depth to her since her point of view is included in the story or just kept Kaya as the main narrator.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 11, 2025
I required read during high school but very glad I chose it out of the other “memoir” esque books. Growing up close to Vancouver this book hits close to home and I recommend it to anyone who’s from the Vancouver area to get a sense of what the downtown eastside is like. Initially I was interested in the book due to the fact it was loosely based on the time that Robert Pickton was on the rise but while reading the author showcases the true pain the happens to young women in that area every day.
The author takes inspiration from her sisters tragic story of becoming one of Picktons many victims, and you can feel this pain through every word.
The author takes inspiration from her sisters tragic story of becoming one of Picktons many victims, and you can feel this pain through every word.
December 9, 2018
This book was on a very difficult subject and was hard to read at parts because of how graphic and raw it was, but it was very eye opening on the downfall of people who get abused, and what comes after the abuse. It revealed how that abuse can impact the way someone ends up living their life. This book also helped illustrate how long it can take for a person to move forward and try to heal from these types of scarring experiences, and how they may never truly heal completely from it ever.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 16, 2023
DNF
Got through a quarter, but the self-destructive stupidity of Kaya was absolutely unredeeming. I couldn't deal another second with her. Knowing this is based on the true life and death of a sibling of the author, that this stupid character will die a victim of a serial killer, you'd think she'd want to develop some sympathy in the reader. All I could think was 'Well of course she's going to end up dead. What else could happen with this behavior?' Frustrating.
Got through a quarter, but the self-destructive stupidity of Kaya was absolutely unredeeming. I couldn't deal another second with her. Knowing this is based on the true life and death of a sibling of the author, that this stupid character will die a victim of a serial killer, you'd think she'd want to develop some sympathy in the reader. All I could think was 'Well of course she's going to end up dead. What else could happen with this behavior?' Frustrating.
September 3, 2024
It was a very quick read for me.
I’m sad to see so many 1star reviews. This book was so well written in my mind, that you didn’t need to read the words to know what horrible things were happening. I don’t think I could’ve lasted reading about a 13yr old going through so much had the writing not been so well done.
It’s sad to think of all the missing women in this country and really no one caring. Sad book, but I enjoyed the journey.
I’m sad to see so many 1star reviews. This book was so well written in my mind, that you didn’t need to read the words to know what horrible things were happening. I don’t think I could’ve lasted reading about a 13yr old going through so much had the writing not been so well done.
It’s sad to think of all the missing women in this country and really no one caring. Sad book, but I enjoyed the journey.
June 28, 2017
3.5 stars.
Read
August 11, 2021
Content & Trigger Warnings
Rape
Sex work
Substance addiction
Grief & loss depiction
Death of a father
Rape
Sex work
Substance addiction
Grief & loss depiction
Death of a father
April 27, 2022
Hard to read at times, because of the subject matter, but a brave, important book. I cried.
July 7, 2023
A powerful read! Great narrative voices worked throughout the novel.
November 15, 2023
The writing style was harsh and the changing of perspectives was incomprehensible. DNF at page 63.
June 8, 2025
This book is a walking trigger warning.
I didn't hate this book, but I do feel like it was a bit young for me. It was a strange mix of feeling too young and having tons of triggers. I do feel like the story is an important one to tell, however the parts I found myself wanting to hear more about were just glossed over.
I didn't hate this book, but I do feel like it was a bit young for me. It was a strange mix of feeling too young and having tons of triggers. I do feel like the story is an important one to tell, however the parts I found myself wanting to hear more about were just glossed over.
August 27, 2014
This review is also on my blog, The Library Canary.
***I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way changed my opinion of the book. The review below is my open and honest opinion.***
This book was a powerful and moving story that brought me to tears. Kaya’s story had me feeling raw by the end. I wanted to reach into this book and help her so badly, but there was nothing that anyone really could do. Kaya had to figure things out and come around. It was difficult to watch her make the same mistakes over and over again. To relapse and go back to the life of prostitution that allows her to get her next fix. I will warn you that this book is very graphic and probably not appropriate for younger children. The author doesn’t hold back anything and tells an honest story, no matter how unpleasant it may be at times.
What really broke my heart about this one was the fact that it was inspired by real events. The author’s sister was a victim of the serial murderer that took women from the streets of Vancouver. The fact that her sister went through the same things that Kaya did made my heart break for her.
Something I really loved about this book was Kaya’s sister. Her emotions were so real. She wanted to help Kaya desperately. Reached out a hand time and time again only to have it slapped away. But at the same time, she felt angry at Kaya. Mad that she got to run away. Mad that the world seemed to revolve around her. I felt like this was such an honest reaction. But regardless of these feelings, Beth never gave up on Kaya. Not once. She stuck with her to the end and showed her that no matter what she did, no matter how far or how many times she fell, she would always be there for her.
Another interesting thing about this book was the POV. We alternate between Beth and Kaya. Beth’s part is written in first person and Kaya’s is written in 2nd person. It’s very rare to find books written in 2nd person. At first it threw me off, but I got used to it pretty quickly. I also love that there’s a definite reason it was written that way which is explained at the end.
This was truly a moving story, one that will stick with me for a long time. It brought me to tears and made my heart ache. Kaya’s story is one of strength and resilience even through all the pain and suffering she has endured. Not only that, this is a story of family and the strong bonds that form between siblings and parents. Happy reading all!
***I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way changed my opinion of the book. The review below is my open and honest opinion.***
This book was a powerful and moving story that brought me to tears. Kaya’s story had me feeling raw by the end. I wanted to reach into this book and help her so badly, but there was nothing that anyone really could do. Kaya had to figure things out and come around. It was difficult to watch her make the same mistakes over and over again. To relapse and go back to the life of prostitution that allows her to get her next fix. I will warn you that this book is very graphic and probably not appropriate for younger children. The author doesn’t hold back anything and tells an honest story, no matter how unpleasant it may be at times.
What really broke my heart about this one was the fact that it was inspired by real events. The author’s sister was a victim of the serial murderer that took women from the streets of Vancouver. The fact that her sister went through the same things that Kaya did made my heart break for her.
Something I really loved about this book was Kaya’s sister. Her emotions were so real. She wanted to help Kaya desperately. Reached out a hand time and time again only to have it slapped away. But at the same time, she felt angry at Kaya. Mad that she got to run away. Mad that the world seemed to revolve around her. I felt like this was such an honest reaction. But regardless of these feelings, Beth never gave up on Kaya. Not once. She stuck with her to the end and showed her that no matter what she did, no matter how far or how many times she fell, she would always be there for her.
Another interesting thing about this book was the POV. We alternate between Beth and Kaya. Beth’s part is written in first person and Kaya’s is written in 2nd person. It’s very rare to find books written in 2nd person. At first it threw me off, but I got used to it pretty quickly. I also love that there’s a definite reason it was written that way which is explained at the end.
This was truly a moving story, one that will stick with me for a long time. It brought me to tears and made my heart ache. Kaya’s story is one of strength and resilience even through all the pain and suffering she has endured. Not only that, this is a story of family and the strong bonds that form between siblings and parents. Happy reading all!
July 30, 2014
Reviews and more at The Sirenic Codex
I don't know how to review this book. I will make one thing clear: this book is a gem. It deals with issues all too relevant to YA readers.
I could tell you I cried, but that has happened before and will happen again. What makes Rabbit Ears so different is that the sadness isn't the cathartic type. I'm not going to cry, feel better, and move on with my life. This story is going to stick. And it hurts to read a story like this. It hurts so much because of all the suffering and the worst part was knowing that this happens. There are girls that deal with this and disappear.
I suppose you want a summary. Kaya and Beth are sisters. Kaya is the troubled sister and Beth is always trying to keep her from falling. Kaya has secrets though, and she is drawn to danger.
I didn't always like or not like any of the characters. There were times where I was so pissed off with their actions. I want to call the characters heartbreaking, but they were more real than that. They made me sad and they angered me and I loved them and gosh, I want to help them.
Obviously, the plot is good. The story is so engrossing and from the beginning I wanted to know why Kaya acted out. The story is satisfying because it has a strong ending, but also because there is an appropriate amount of detail. It takes place in Canada, in Vancouver, and I believe it to be a diverse story.
The author wrote this story for her missing sister, Sarah. It's obvious that this story is emotional from the start, and it's so very well written. The different writing styles capture all of the characters' mannerisms and essences.
Rabbit Ears is an important story to read. I don't know how much entertainment value it has, but it matters. It's the type of book that can change the way you view the world, and sometimes that's necessary.
I don't know how to review this book. I will make one thing clear: this book is a gem. It deals with issues all too relevant to YA readers.
I could tell you I cried, but that has happened before and will happen again. What makes Rabbit Ears so different is that the sadness isn't the cathartic type. I'm not going to cry, feel better, and move on with my life. This story is going to stick. And it hurts to read a story like this. It hurts so much because of all the suffering and the worst part was knowing that this happens. There are girls that deal with this and disappear.
I suppose you want a summary. Kaya and Beth are sisters. Kaya is the troubled sister and Beth is always trying to keep her from falling. Kaya has secrets though, and she is drawn to danger.
I didn't always like or not like any of the characters. There were times where I was so pissed off with their actions. I want to call the characters heartbreaking, but they were more real than that. They made me sad and they angered me and I loved them and gosh, I want to help them.
Obviously, the plot is good. The story is so engrossing and from the beginning I wanted to know why Kaya acted out. The story is satisfying because it has a strong ending, but also because there is an appropriate amount of detail. It takes place in Canada, in Vancouver, and I believe it to be a diverse story.
The author wrote this story for her missing sister, Sarah. It's obvious that this story is emotional from the start, and it's so very well written. The different writing styles capture all of the characters' mannerisms and essences.
Rabbit Ears is an important story to read. I don't know how much entertainment value it has, but it matters. It's the type of book that can change the way you view the world, and sometimes that's necessary.
March 29, 2014
A powerful, short read from the perspectives of two sisters: one is Kaya, a 13 year old who is carrying a painful secret, which makes her feel out of place at home at school. The other is Beth, her 16 year old sister, who often feels at once jealous of the attention Kaya gets, and protective of her.
While on the streets in Vancouver's Eastside, Kaya meets Sarah, a sex worker and heroin addict, who tries to warn Kaya about the new threat in their neighbourhood, one that causes a growing number of young sex workers to go missing. Despite the warnings, Kaya finds that she can't stay away from her need for oblivion.
This book is gritty and deals with a variety of abuses. It gives life to the issue of murdered and missing Indigenous women at a time when most Canadians have only heard about this story through impartial news/media, which leave them without empathy for calls from First Nations people for an inquiry into #MMIW. For this reason along, young people need to read this story.
However, in addition, I think it's worth noting that the author writes about these characters in a way that is feels both sensitive and authentic. Both Kaya and Beth have psychologically complex characters, and Maggie De Vries links the two POVs with imagery of rabbits,predator vs. prey, etc, and survivor guilt. Beth and the reader must unlock the mysteries of a few, well placed clues in the hope of finding her little sister.
Highly recommended.
While on the streets in Vancouver's Eastside, Kaya meets Sarah, a sex worker and heroin addict, who tries to warn Kaya about the new threat in their neighbourhood, one that causes a growing number of young sex workers to go missing. Despite the warnings, Kaya finds that she can't stay away from her need for oblivion.
This book is gritty and deals with a variety of abuses. It gives life to the issue of murdered and missing Indigenous women at a time when most Canadians have only heard about this story through impartial news/media, which leave them without empathy for calls from First Nations people for an inquiry into #MMIW. For this reason along, young people need to read this story.
However, in addition, I think it's worth noting that the author writes about these characters in a way that is feels both sensitive and authentic. Both Kaya and Beth have psychologically complex characters, and Maggie De Vries links the two POVs with imagery of rabbits,predator vs. prey, etc, and survivor guilt. Beth and the reader must unlock the mysteries of a few, well placed clues in the hope of finding her little sister.
Highly recommended.
August 5, 2015
View all of my reviews at The Caffeinated Booknerd
Thank you to Edelweiss for providing me with a eBook copy of this book for review.
My thoughts:
Right from the start of this story you can tell that Kaya is very troubled and essentially lost. Her story is told in second person and it makes me read a little more carefully to ensure that I truly understand why she is making the decision she is making at all times.
Kaya's older sister Beth is a second narrator in the story and her parts are told in first person. Beth clearly cares about Kaya and wants to protect her but is unsure of how to do that because she doesn't understand what's going on in her head. Both sisters are dealing with the death of their father and are handling it in entirely different ways.
Kaya meets Sarah while walking away from a bad situation in Vancouver's Eastside. Sarah warns Kaya to stay away from that area. Unfortunately, this just intrigues her more and entices her to return again. Constantly waging a war within herself whether to stay or jump on the bus and go home.
Battling with addiction(in many forms)from prior abuse, Kaya has a hard time walking away and being a normal 13 year old. However, you continue to root for her to make the right decisions and to grieve properly.
This book is an incredibly powerful read. I highly recommend it.
Thank you to Edelweiss for providing me with a eBook copy of this book for review.
My thoughts:
Right from the start of this story you can tell that Kaya is very troubled and essentially lost. Her story is told in second person and it makes me read a little more carefully to ensure that I truly understand why she is making the decision she is making at all times.
Kaya's older sister Beth is a second narrator in the story and her parts are told in first person. Beth clearly cares about Kaya and wants to protect her but is unsure of how to do that because she doesn't understand what's going on in her head. Both sisters are dealing with the death of their father and are handling it in entirely different ways.
Kaya meets Sarah while walking away from a bad situation in Vancouver's Eastside. Sarah warns Kaya to stay away from that area. Unfortunately, this just intrigues her more and entices her to return again. Constantly waging a war within herself whether to stay or jump on the bus and go home.
Battling with addiction(in many forms)from prior abuse, Kaya has a hard time walking away and being a normal 13 year old. However, you continue to root for her to make the right decisions and to grieve properly.
This book is an incredibly powerful read. I highly recommend it.
December 10, 2015
This was on the reading list for my young-adult fiction class in the summer of 2014. (UBC, MFA program in creative writing.) The class was taught by Annabel Lyon, and she invited Maggie de Vries to come and talk to us. I loved the book, and I found Maggie very engaging, such that I enrolled in her own YA Fiction course the following semester.
Maggie de Vries is perhaps best know for her memoir Missing Sarah, which is about her sister Sarah de Vries who was one of the many women murdered by the serial killer Robert Pickton.
Rabbit Ears takes this same story but fictionalizes many elements, rendering this story of abuse and tragedy in a format accessible by teen readers. That being said, this novel hits hard and doesn't leave much out.
Of my entire reading list for Annabel Lyon's class, this book was my favourite by quite a bit, even though it's not something I would have ever picked up on my own. It's polished, the second-person point of view is perfectly married to the voice, and I was fully invested from the first pages.
Maggie de Vries is perhaps best know for her memoir Missing Sarah, which is about her sister Sarah de Vries who was one of the many women murdered by the serial killer Robert Pickton.
Rabbit Ears takes this same story but fictionalizes many elements, rendering this story of abuse and tragedy in a format accessible by teen readers. That being said, this novel hits hard and doesn't leave much out.
Of my entire reading list for Annabel Lyon's class, this book was my favourite by quite a bit, even though it's not something I would have ever picked up on my own. It's polished, the second-person point of view is perfectly married to the voice, and I was fully invested from the first pages.
June 17, 2015
Okay. Not an easy read subject matter wise but an easy read in language and length. This is just over 200 pages long but it packs a hard wallop for that brevity. Meanwhile the whole time you're reading it you know this is based on a true story. The author's sister was a girl like Kaya, who had many experiences like Kaya. The author's sister makes an appearance in the book as a character of the same name (Sarah); the real life Sarah was one of Robert Picton's victims.
Another hard hitting point is that the Kaya's point of view is written in the second person. So the reader either feels like its happening to them or you have to wonder about what horrors aren't being spoken of (or are to come) that make Kaya want to distance herself in this way. The whole family hurts in this novel for a variety of reasons and a variety of ways and, while it is unsettling and painful, it is certainly worth the read.
Another hard hitting point is that the Kaya's point of view is written in the second person. So the reader either feels like its happening to them or you have to wonder about what horrors aren't being spoken of (or are to come) that make Kaya want to distance herself in this way. The whole family hurts in this novel for a variety of reasons and a variety of ways and, while it is unsettling and painful, it is certainly worth the read.
September 28, 2017
A poignant story of a single-mother household with two daughters: one who is drawn to the seedy side of prostitution and drugs in Vancouver, and the other, a binge-eater who fancies herself a magician. The main emphasis is on Kaya, the adopted multiracial young girl and her attempts to find some kind of peace after being horrificly abused by an elderly gentlman in her neighborhood. A lot of her inner frustration and destructive motivation would have been more understandable had the author revealed what had happened to her earlier on the novel, but it serves the dramatic purpose that only by accepting it relatively late in her stuggles does Kaya reach some sort of inner peace. She has to go through heroin addiction and rejection of the stability offered to her by her sturggling mother and supportive sister in order to remember the horror of the manner in which she was abused. A tough novel, dealing with a frustrating theme, but one that does so in an honest, compelling manner.
October 4, 2014
I know this book is listed as young adult, but as someone working in the helping professions, this book spoke directly to the adult in me. I felt powerfully connected to the story and to the characters. This book is sincere and ever courageous. The message is important, and it works, because the story takes precedence and the author is ever sensitive to the tender humanity that exists and persists, even in the darkest moments. She reminds of this - that even in a world of pain, care and life continue to survive, as in the relationship between Sarah and Kaya. Free of judgment, each page is filled with compassion and a willingness to deeply enter the pain and fear and hopes of the two sisters who narrate the story. I'm pleased that this book is in my public library, and I would recommend to others, including physicians, social workers and psychotherapists.
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