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Naked
The best place to hide is in a lie…
I could never fit in to the life my parents demanded. By the time I was thirteen, it was too much. I ran away to New York City…and found a nightmare that lasted three years. A nightmare that began and ended with a pimp named Luis. Now I am Dirty Anna. Broken, like everything inside me has gone bad.
Except that for the first time, I have a chance to start over. Not just with my parents but at school. Still, the rumors follow me everywhere. Down the hall. In classes. And the only hope I can see is in the wide, brightly lit smile of Jackson, the boy next door. So I lie to him. I lie to protect him from my past. I lie so that I don’t have to be The Girl Who Went Bad.
The only problem is that someone in my school knows about New York.
Someone knows who I really am.
And it’s just a matter of time before the real Anna is exposed…
I could never fit in to the life my parents demanded. By the time I was thirteen, it was too much. I ran away to New York City…and found a nightmare that lasted three years. A nightmare that began and ended with a pimp named Luis. Now I am Dirty Anna. Broken, like everything inside me has gone bad.
Except that for the first time, I have a chance to start over. Not just with my parents but at school. Still, the rumors follow me everywhere. Down the hall. In classes. And the only hope I can see is in the wide, brightly lit smile of Jackson, the boy next door. So I lie to him. I lie to protect him from my past. I lie so that I don’t have to be The Girl Who Went Bad.
The only problem is that someone in my school knows about New York.
Someone knows who I really am.
And it’s just a matter of time before the real Anna is exposed…
304 pages, Paperback
First published July 7, 2015
16 people are currently reading
3943 people want to read
About the author
Stacey Trombley
18 books267 followersStacey Trombley is the author of several fantasy romance series including WICKED FAE and SHADOW HILLS ACADEMY. Her places to travel list is almost as long as her to-be-read list. Most recently, she spent 9 months living in a van with her family, traveling the US and Mexico. She has many more adventures in mind, both on Earth and in her imagination.
Follow her journey on Instagram and Tiktok @StaceyTrombleyAuthor and learn more about her books at www.StaceyTrombley.com
Follow her journey on Instagram and Tiktok @StaceyTrombleyAuthor and learn more about her books at www.StaceyTrombley.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews
July 20, 2015
This review was originally posted on The Moonlight LibraryI received this book for free from YA Bound Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
SUMMARY
Anna has spent three years living in New York as an underage prostitute. When she’s sent back home, she hopes she can keep the secret of her old life as she tries to adjust to her new one.
WORLDBUILDING
Well, although I didn’t like Anna very much, I completely accept the worldbuilding. I know teenagers run away all the time, or are kidnapped, or otherwise forced into prostitution. It happens, and pretending it doesn’t isn’t helping anyone, least of all the children affected. So since this was a contemporary novel set in what I can only assume must be the ‘real world’, I accept the worldbuilding. No problems with that at all.
CHARACTER
Anna was a very difficult character for me to like and even understand, especially in the beginning of the novel. She carries around this ‘teenage prostitute’ thing like she’s the only girl who lost her virginity young, was raped, or had a bad home life. And I get that her neighbourhood and school are both meant to be ‘good’ – but with an abusive father and a next-door neighbour with deep troubles of his own, and not one but two girls at school being shamed and controlled for sex, you’d think she’s open her eyes are realise that she’s not the only victim, that her strict parents weren’t the end of the world, and that basically she brought all her troubles on herself by her bad behaviour. I know she tries to blame other people, and yes what happened to her is simply awful, but she’s so superior to all the other kids at school, she’s such a martyr, she’s convinced she’s the only broken kid in the high school. One in five teen girls are sexually abused and almost half of sexually active teen girls lose their virginity at age 13-14.
Anna did manage to redeem herself when she handled a difficult situation and didn’t let girl hate bring her down. I did end up liking her, even if she did continue to victim-blame herself. I enjoyed seeing her eyes open and come to the realisation that not everything was her fault and that horrible people took advantage of her, and I liked seeing her relationship with her mother slowly repair itself.
RELATIONSHIPS
Anna’s relationship with Jackson was so lukewarm I don’t even know where to begin. I appreciate Trombley writing a hot nerdy guy with thick glasses but I didn’t appreciate it when she referred to him as ‘too attractive for true geekiness’, as if there’s a) such a thing as fake geeks and b) the ‘true’ ones can’t be hot. Anna likes Jackson because he’s cute and doesn’t know her secret, but we have no idea why Jackson shows an interest in Anna. Their relationship fizzled under the radar and I’m pretty sure Jackson was only there so Anna could redeem herself, or maybe show that she wasn’t the disgusting whore she kept referring to herself as. If Jackson thought she was beautiful, maybe she really was.
Anna’s other friendships with Jen and Alex seemed similarly one dimensional and I didn’t feel any connecton.
Funnily enough, the one high school kid whose connection I did feel was Marissa. I love reformed bad guys, so I really liked it when Anna entered into an alliance with Marissa and became ‘frenemies’.
While I appreciated Anna coming to terms with the fact there were some adults she could trust, I would have liked to have seen what ended up happening to her father, seeing as how her mother was unemployed and they were supported by his paycheck.
THEME
The book is very anti-sex, not just for underage prostitutes but for any women who would dare degrade herself. Out of the two other sexually active girls in the novel, one had been raped and the other was being blackmailed by a video. Funnily enough, it wasn’t that Anna lost her virginity at age 12, it was that she’d slept with a large number of men, largely unwillingly that caused her the most shame. Jackson was held up as the epitome of sweet nice guys and he was a virgin.
Jackson thinks prostitution is worse even than rape or murder, which is an interesting thing for a cop’s kid to think. Most cops seem to understand that pimps take advantage of their hookers, although it’s the girls who usually take the fall. I also didn’t understand why immediately when Anna went back to school, all the ‘mean’ kids instantly assumed she was a slut. Maybe I’ve been reading too much Young Adult literature, but new kids don’t tend to get hated on the very first day, do they? It just seemed really weird – and I think it was an excuse for Anna not to realise who was putting notes in her locker. If everyone was calling her a whore and was a suspect, the real culprit wasn’t revealed until it was too late.
OVERALL
I really struggled with the first half of this novel. Despite its fantastic premise, it didn’t really deliver what I thought it would. It was too busy being anti-sex and having Anna’s special snowflake syndrome to enjoy much of the first half. When Anna finally pulled her head in and started growing up it was much more enjoyable and I liked watching her work together with a group of female friends to take down a male bully, and the courtroom scene was good, although somewhat anti-climactic. All the kids in the school were already convinced she was a whore, so when it was confirmed there wasn’t any kind of reaction. I don’t know if I would recommend this book to anyone based on my own frustrations with reading it.
SUMMARY
Anna has spent three years living in New York as an underage prostitute. When she’s sent back home, she hopes she can keep the secret of her old life as she tries to adjust to her new one.
WORLDBUILDING
Well, although I didn’t like Anna very much, I completely accept the worldbuilding. I know teenagers run away all the time, or are kidnapped, or otherwise forced into prostitution. It happens, and pretending it doesn’t isn’t helping anyone, least of all the children affected. So since this was a contemporary novel set in what I can only assume must be the ‘real world’, I accept the worldbuilding. No problems with that at all.
CHARACTER
Anna was a very difficult character for me to like and even understand, especially in the beginning of the novel. She carries around this ‘teenage prostitute’ thing like she’s the only girl who lost her virginity young, was raped, or had a bad home life. And I get that her neighbourhood and school are both meant to be ‘good’ – but with an abusive father and a next-door neighbour with deep troubles of his own, and not one but two girls at school being shamed and controlled for sex, you’d think she’s open her eyes are realise that she’s not the only victim, that her strict parents weren’t the end of the world, and that basically she brought all her troubles on herself by her bad behaviour. I know she tries to blame other people, and yes what happened to her is simply awful, but she’s so superior to all the other kids at school, she’s such a martyr, she’s convinced she’s the only broken kid in the high school. One in five teen girls are sexually abused and almost half of sexually active teen girls lose their virginity at age 13-14.
Anna did manage to redeem herself when she handled a difficult situation and didn’t let girl hate bring her down. I did end up liking her, even if she did continue to victim-blame herself. I enjoyed seeing her eyes open and come to the realisation that not everything was her fault and that horrible people took advantage of her, and I liked seeing her relationship with her mother slowly repair itself.
RELATIONSHIPS
Anna’s relationship with Jackson was so lukewarm I don’t even know where to begin. I appreciate Trombley writing a hot nerdy guy with thick glasses but I didn’t appreciate it when she referred to him as ‘too attractive for true geekiness’, as if there’s a) such a thing as fake geeks and b) the ‘true’ ones can’t be hot. Anna likes Jackson because he’s cute and doesn’t know her secret, but we have no idea why Jackson shows an interest in Anna. Their relationship fizzled under the radar and I’m pretty sure Jackson was only there so Anna could redeem herself, or maybe show that she wasn’t the disgusting whore she kept referring to herself as. If Jackson thought she was beautiful, maybe she really was.
Anna’s other friendships with Jen and Alex seemed similarly one dimensional and I didn’t feel any connecton.
Funnily enough, the one high school kid whose connection I did feel was Marissa. I love reformed bad guys, so I really liked it when Anna entered into an alliance with Marissa and became ‘frenemies’.
While I appreciated Anna coming to terms with the fact there were some adults she could trust, I would have liked to have seen what ended up happening to her father, seeing as how her mother was unemployed and they were supported by his paycheck.
THEME
The book is very anti-sex, not just for underage prostitutes but for any women who would dare degrade herself. Out of the two other sexually active girls in the novel, one had been raped and the other was being blackmailed by a video. Funnily enough, it wasn’t that Anna lost her virginity at age 12, it was that she’d slept with a large number of men, largely unwillingly that caused her the most shame. Jackson was held up as the epitome of sweet nice guys and he was a virgin.
Jackson thinks prostitution is worse even than rape or murder, which is an interesting thing for a cop’s kid to think. Most cops seem to understand that pimps take advantage of their hookers, although it’s the girls who usually take the fall. I also didn’t understand why immediately when Anna went back to school, all the ‘mean’ kids instantly assumed she was a slut. Maybe I’ve been reading too much Young Adult literature, but new kids don’t tend to get hated on the very first day, do they? It just seemed really weird – and I think it was an excuse for Anna not to realise who was putting notes in her locker. If everyone was calling her a whore and was a suspect, the real culprit wasn’t revealed until it was too late.
OVERALL
I really struggled with the first half of this novel. Despite its fantastic premise, it didn’t really deliver what I thought it would. It was too busy being anti-sex and having Anna’s special snowflake syndrome to enjoy much of the first half. When Anna finally pulled her head in and started growing up it was much more enjoyable and I liked watching her work together with a group of female friends to take down a male bully, and the courtroom scene was good, although somewhat anti-climactic. All the kids in the school were already convinced she was a whore, so when it was confirmed there wasn’t any kind of reaction. I don’t know if I would recommend this book to anyone based on my own frustrations with reading it.
July 29, 2015
Wow, this was so hard to review. I had read all these amazing reviews about how gritty and realistic this book is, but I found it completely the opposite. The main character is a girl, Anna, who ran away from home at 13, after having become a little wild child at age 12, sleeping around and partying, and gets mad because her parents treat her like she's a possession. She heads to New York City, gets raped, gets picked up by a guy whom she falls in love with and who eventually becomes her pimp, and she spends three years on the streets as a prostitute. That is all back story, and the book begins with Anna being picked up by the police and reunited with her parents.
Just a note--I can't review this completely without SPOILERS. You are duly warned.
So much potential there. But the voice doesn't ring true for me. Yes, it's a teen voice, but it's too close to a typical, normal snarky teen voice to be a girl from the streets, who's been sleeping with grown men for money, living in the depths of the dark side of a big city, not attending school at all. She's taken by her rich parents, who I admit seem cold and uncaring. She goes willingly, if a bit grudgingly with them, does show some negativity about being home, but then her parents immediately tell her they're sending her back to school.
This is where it really falls off the tracks for me. I can't imagine her parents sending her off to school--public school, it sounds like--putting her on the bus, and she just goes and it immediately falls into a typical teen angst high school drama book. Yes, Anna makes a point to remind the reader that she used to be a hooker, but none of her actions read true. And her parents would not have sent her off that way. For one, they'd not trust her to not just run away again. Most runaways, especially ones who have been out like that on their own, just run off again. Unless she was desperate to get away from her old life--which she does not seem at ALL--she'd probably have pretended to get on the bus and at the very least ditched school, if not run away altogether. She has some hiccups, but starts school pretty much like any teen going to high school for the first time.
Let me side-note here: Why would her parents send her off to public school? These are rich people, and her father in particular is concerned first and foremost with his social standing, so wouldn't they send her to private school, or at least a school where their names are not known? He'd be worried about rumors, and he doesn't trust her at all, so he'd want her someplace where she'd really be watched carefully. Also, there is no attempt to get her any kind of therapy. No discussion of it at all in the beginning. Even if the parents were too ashamed, or the father, who believes wholeheartedly in a "firm hand," didn't want someone else involved, the social worker or someone would *suggest* therapy.
The kids, of course, recognize her as the girl who'd been missing for three years, although none of them had known her before. I get that there would be rumors, but with the exception of one boy in particular and a couple other girls, every kid in school assumes she was off in rehab or juvie or having babies, and they treat her horribly. I know she'd have a hard time fitting in, and she would imagine everyone guessing at her past, but it just seemed a bit extreme that everyone *actually* assumed she was a (word Amazon won't let me use in a review). Also, Anna doesn't at all act like a street-tough girl. She's scared, running off to the bathroom to cry, not standing up for herself. In her head, she talks tough, but she never acts tough. One girl threatens her and even knocks her down, but all she does is think to herself that she'll take the girl down, but does nothing. She also refers to this girl as the meanest she's ever seen. A teen bully, who's done nothing more than give her dirty looks and push her in the hallway meaner than all the girls she's met on the streets of NYC?
What I find about this book is that it suffers from what a lot of Christian novels suffer from. (I'm not saying this book is--there are no references, but I do have suspicions. It reminds me of a contemporary teen version of Francine River's "Redeeming Love.") References to sex but total avoidance of actual situations, cussing that doesn't come across as natural, and a Mary Sue character--this time the male love interest--who "saves" Anna from herself--all of these are things common to Christian fiction that is trying to reach a secular audience. If that's the case, I give her major props for effort, but the voice and plot issues, and the way everything felt only surface-deep made it not resonate with me. It did come close during a climactic scene toward the end, but even then it just reinforced what I'd thought the entire time I was reading: that this would have been much more effective if told via a dual story line--*showing* Anna's past and present in alternating chapters, so we can really see the girl who used to be and why she became what she was.
Just a note--I can't review this completely without SPOILERS. You are duly warned.
So much potential there. But the voice doesn't ring true for me. Yes, it's a teen voice, but it's too close to a typical, normal snarky teen voice to be a girl from the streets, who's been sleeping with grown men for money, living in the depths of the dark side of a big city, not attending school at all. She's taken by her rich parents, who I admit seem cold and uncaring. She goes willingly, if a bit grudgingly with them, does show some negativity about being home, but then her parents immediately tell her they're sending her back to school.
This is where it really falls off the tracks for me. I can't imagine her parents sending her off to school--public school, it sounds like--putting her on the bus, and she just goes and it immediately falls into a typical teen angst high school drama book. Yes, Anna makes a point to remind the reader that she used to be a hooker, but none of her actions read true. And her parents would not have sent her off that way. For one, they'd not trust her to not just run away again. Most runaways, especially ones who have been out like that on their own, just run off again. Unless she was desperate to get away from her old life--which she does not seem at ALL--she'd probably have pretended to get on the bus and at the very least ditched school, if not run away altogether. She has some hiccups, but starts school pretty much like any teen going to high school for the first time.
Let me side-note here: Why would her parents send her off to public school? These are rich people, and her father in particular is concerned first and foremost with his social standing, so wouldn't they send her to private school, or at least a school where their names are not known? He'd be worried about rumors, and he doesn't trust her at all, so he'd want her someplace where she'd really be watched carefully. Also, there is no attempt to get her any kind of therapy. No discussion of it at all in the beginning. Even if the parents were too ashamed, or the father, who believes wholeheartedly in a "firm hand," didn't want someone else involved, the social worker or someone would *suggest* therapy.
The kids, of course, recognize her as the girl who'd been missing for three years, although none of them had known her before. I get that there would be rumors, but with the exception of one boy in particular and a couple other girls, every kid in school assumes she was off in rehab or juvie or having babies, and they treat her horribly. I know she'd have a hard time fitting in, and she would imagine everyone guessing at her past, but it just seemed a bit extreme that everyone *actually* assumed she was a (word Amazon won't let me use in a review). Also, Anna doesn't at all act like a street-tough girl. She's scared, running off to the bathroom to cry, not standing up for herself. In her head, she talks tough, but she never acts tough. One girl threatens her and even knocks her down, but all she does is think to herself that she'll take the girl down, but does nothing. She also refers to this girl as the meanest she's ever seen. A teen bully, who's done nothing more than give her dirty looks and push her in the hallway meaner than all the girls she's met on the streets of NYC?
What I find about this book is that it suffers from what a lot of Christian novels suffer from. (I'm not saying this book is--there are no references, but I do have suspicions. It reminds me of a contemporary teen version of Francine River's "Redeeming Love.") References to sex but total avoidance of actual situations, cussing that doesn't come across as natural, and a Mary Sue character--this time the male love interest--who "saves" Anna from herself--all of these are things common to Christian fiction that is trying to reach a secular audience. If that's the case, I give her major props for effort, but the voice and plot issues, and the way everything felt only surface-deep made it not resonate with me. It did come close during a climactic scene toward the end, but even then it just reinforced what I'd thought the entire time I was reading: that this would have been much more effective if told via a dual story line--*showing* Anna's past and present in alternating chapters, so we can really see the girl who used to be and why she became what she was.
September 22, 2015
The very first thing that drew me to Naked was the stunning cover. It's simple yet it's impactful. I love when authors touch on subjects that are outside of what's usually written about, and Naked falls into that category. It's the story of Anna, who runs away from home at the age of thirteen and becomes a prostitute. After being caught by the police and returned home Anna meets Jackson, and realises that this could be her chance to start over. But there's no way she can tell Jackson the truth. So she lies about her past. But someone at school knows her secrets, and before she knows it, her past and her present are going to collide!
I really enjoyed discovering why Anna made the choices she did and what led to her actions. As all of that was revealed I couldn't help but be sympathetic to Anna. The things that she'd been through at such a young and impressionable age!
It was really well written and even with the subject matter it remained YA and never crossed over to be too wordy or descriptive when discussing Anna's past.
If you like books that touch on a deeper subject matter, then I'd recommend you pick up a copy of Naked.
4/5 stars!
I really enjoyed discovering why Anna made the choices she did and what led to her actions. As all of that was revealed I couldn't help but be sympathetic to Anna. The things that she'd been through at such a young and impressionable age!
It was really well written and even with the subject matter it remained YA and never crossed over to be too wordy or descriptive when discussing Anna's past.
If you like books that touch on a deeper subject matter, then I'd recommend you pick up a copy of Naked.
4/5 stars!
July 16, 2015
My Thoughts:
Naked is an excellent debut by Stacey Trombley. It is the powerful and eye opening story of Anna Rodriguez. Anna ran away from her dysfunctional family at the young age of thirteen. She left with the naive dreams of a young girl hoping to become a star in New York. Instead, she ended up being thrust in to a life of teenage prostitution and misery. When Anna is sixteen, she is discovered as the runaway that she is, and returned to her family.
Anna's parents expect her to live a "normal" teenage life, and attend the local high school. She is shunned, gossiped about, stared at, and treated horribly. Luckily, Anna is able to forge a strong friendship with two other girls that are outcasts, and she develops both a friendship and crush on the sweet, good looking, and nerdy Jackson. Things are not going well at home, due to Anna's temperamental, overbearing, and abusive father, but at least her mother is standing up to him, and trying to show her daughter how much she loves her.
Anna's life takes a turn for the worse, when she begins getting anonymous notes in her locker from someone calling her by her prostitute name, claiming to know about her secret past, and threatening to reveal all of her secrets. What will happen is Jackson discovers that she lied to him about her past, and about being a teen prostitute? Jackson's already told Anna that the number one thing he hates is a liar. Will Anna eventually lose her new friends and the guy who makes her happy?
Naked was a highly emotional read for me. It was raw, and revealing to the horrors that can befall a teenage runaway. It hurt my heart to read as Anna had flashbacks and reflected on her past experiences. It was also heartbreaking watching her try to assimilate back in to normal life. She was bullied by her peers, as well as by her father. Yet, Anna had an inner strength. She was a survivor. Despite everything she went through, she was very compassionate and a leader. I loved how she stood up for what she believed in, and was very courageous.
Jackson was a wonderful character as well. He was genuinely caring, and tried to be a friend to Anna from the beginning. Jackson didn't give up, when she pushed him away, and eventually he won her over. Jackson had his own demons to contend with, and had been bullied in the past. However, that didn't stop him from being like a bright ray of sunshine in Anna's life.
At the root of this story we get very powerful messages. These include the fact that everyone has their secrets, and nobody is perfect. Also, a message about healing, and regaining your power from those who like to bully and hurt others. I loved Naked. Despite the topic discussed, there were not any sexually explicit scenes in the story. I would recommend this book to older/mature teens and adults. It is a very meaningful story that will impact readers, and hopefully make people think about judging others, gossiping, and bullying, as well as give a clear cut warning about the dangers lurking for teen runaways.
My Rating:
I give Naked by Stacey Trombley, 4 Powerful, Emotional, Healing, and Sweet Romance Filled Stars! I am looking forward to seeing what Ms. Trombley writes next!
*To Read More Book Reviews, Visit A Bookish Escape at http://www.abookishescape.com
Naked is an excellent debut by Stacey Trombley. It is the powerful and eye opening story of Anna Rodriguez. Anna ran away from her dysfunctional family at the young age of thirteen. She left with the naive dreams of a young girl hoping to become a star in New York. Instead, she ended up being thrust in to a life of teenage prostitution and misery. When Anna is sixteen, she is discovered as the runaway that she is, and returned to her family.
Anna's parents expect her to live a "normal" teenage life, and attend the local high school. She is shunned, gossiped about, stared at, and treated horribly. Luckily, Anna is able to forge a strong friendship with two other girls that are outcasts, and she develops both a friendship and crush on the sweet, good looking, and nerdy Jackson. Things are not going well at home, due to Anna's temperamental, overbearing, and abusive father, but at least her mother is standing up to him, and trying to show her daughter how much she loves her.
Anna's life takes a turn for the worse, when she begins getting anonymous notes in her locker from someone calling her by her prostitute name, claiming to know about her secret past, and threatening to reveal all of her secrets. What will happen is Jackson discovers that she lied to him about her past, and about being a teen prostitute? Jackson's already told Anna that the number one thing he hates is a liar. Will Anna eventually lose her new friends and the guy who makes her happy?
Naked was a highly emotional read for me. It was raw, and revealing to the horrors that can befall a teenage runaway. It hurt my heart to read as Anna had flashbacks and reflected on her past experiences. It was also heartbreaking watching her try to assimilate back in to normal life. She was bullied by her peers, as well as by her father. Yet, Anna had an inner strength. She was a survivor. Despite everything she went through, she was very compassionate and a leader. I loved how she stood up for what she believed in, and was very courageous.
Jackson was a wonderful character as well. He was genuinely caring, and tried to be a friend to Anna from the beginning. Jackson didn't give up, when she pushed him away, and eventually he won her over. Jackson had his own demons to contend with, and had been bullied in the past. However, that didn't stop him from being like a bright ray of sunshine in Anna's life.
At the root of this story we get very powerful messages. These include the fact that everyone has their secrets, and nobody is perfect. Also, a message about healing, and regaining your power from those who like to bully and hurt others. I loved Naked. Despite the topic discussed, there were not any sexually explicit scenes in the story. I would recommend this book to older/mature teens and adults. It is a very meaningful story that will impact readers, and hopefully make people think about judging others, gossiping, and bullying, as well as give a clear cut warning about the dangers lurking for teen runaways.
My Rating:
I give Naked by Stacey Trombley, 4 Powerful, Emotional, Healing, and Sweet Romance Filled Stars! I am looking forward to seeing what Ms. Trombley writes next!
*To Read More Book Reviews, Visit A Bookish Escape at http://www.abookishescape.com
July 7, 2015
My Review:
I received an e ARC of Naked from Entangled Teen via Net Galley , in exchange with an honest review.
So far,Naked is the best book that I have read this year ! Not only does the author discuss a topic that many writers stay away from, but also she does it perfectly !
We follow the story of Anna, an underage prostitute, and the things she dealt and will deal with. The writing style reminded me of that in Poison Study by Marian V. Snyder. You get to follow the story after she goes back to her parents and school, and you will be filled in on what happened during the past few years in the form of teasers.
The character development was brilliant, and it will make sense by the end of the book. When you finish it, you will realize how Anna went from being abusively raised by her father, and defiant mother, to being naive, to living in denial, and finally to waking up and realizing that those who claimed to love her were fake.
The character development was not just for the protagonist , but also her mother.
Living such a traumatizing life, the author was able to write each stage of this journey in an effective way, and with perfect timing.
I cried; I smiled ; in other words, Anna's story will haunt you and will make you see this sensitive topic with a new , understanding point of view.
P.S: Anna's Art Project was brilliant ;)
This is indeed the perfect debut novel for Stacey Trombley , and I can't wait to read more books by this talented author.
I give Naked 5/5 stars.
I received an e ARC of Naked from Entangled Teen via Net Galley , in exchange with an honest review.
So far,Naked is the best book that I have read this year ! Not only does the author discuss a topic that many writers stay away from, but also she does it perfectly !
We follow the story of Anna, an underage prostitute, and the things she dealt and will deal with. The writing style reminded me of that in Poison Study by Marian V. Snyder. You get to follow the story after she goes back to her parents and school, and you will be filled in on what happened during the past few years in the form of teasers.
The character development was brilliant, and it will make sense by the end of the book. When you finish it, you will realize how Anna went from being abusively raised by her father, and defiant mother, to being naive, to living in denial, and finally to waking up and realizing that those who claimed to love her were fake.
The character development was not just for the protagonist , but also her mother.
Living such a traumatizing life, the author was able to write each stage of this journey in an effective way, and with perfect timing.
I cried; I smiled ; in other words, Anna's story will haunt you and will make you see this sensitive topic with a new , understanding point of view.
P.S: Anna's Art Project was brilliant ;)
This is indeed the perfect debut novel for Stacey Trombley , and I can't wait to read more books by this talented author.
I give Naked 5/5 stars.
July 27, 2015
This book tackled a lot of serious issues and even though I thought the resolution was a bit too optimistic I liked the story. I would have liked to have read more about Anna's past though. But overall I liked the book.
July 25, 2015
I wasn't exactly sure what to expect by Stacey Trombley's Naked. I knew it would be more of a serious book, but I didn't realize how much it would capture me. This story is one of those that will grab you by the throat and take your breath away. If you're looking for a lighthearted read, this book isn't for you. This is a darker story, with darker and more mature themes, and a lot of the time, that type of story really smothers me. The author handled these situations so well, however, that the book didn't come across as too heavy and depressing.
The characters are interesting and complex. Anna has been through something that no girl at 13 should have to endure, and has spent three years living a life that no teen should be subjected to. Now she's back, and struggling to start up a new life, back with her parents, who had been the reason she ran away in the first place. I loved the conflict here, and the fact that there are some surprises waiting for her at home that she didn't expect.
I also loved Jackson. For a love interest, Jackson was great because he was a friend first. There is an innocence and sweetness about him that is exactly what Anna needs right now. For a girl who has no innocence left, for her to be around someone like Jackson is like getting a big dose of hope and innocence back into her life that she might not have gotten otherwise. He is a light in her life, and I think the author picked the perfect person to give her as an escape from what she's been through.
But everything isn't perfect, of course. There are rumors at school, ones that hit really close to home. There's also someone leaving her notes who knows exactly who she is. And although worried, I love the fact that she's no shrinking violet. Where she came from has taught her to be tough and strong. Watching her learn to balance that hard girl she was with the more innocent one she wants to be was alternately sad and gratifying.
The author did a fantastic job working with a very heavy topic. It's about rediscovering yourself after tragedy, and learning to forgive yourself. It was touching and raw and poignant. Fantastic read.
The characters are interesting and complex. Anna has been through something that no girl at 13 should have to endure, and has spent three years living a life that no teen should be subjected to. Now she's back, and struggling to start up a new life, back with her parents, who had been the reason she ran away in the first place. I loved the conflict here, and the fact that there are some surprises waiting for her at home that she didn't expect.
I also loved Jackson. For a love interest, Jackson was great because he was a friend first. There is an innocence and sweetness about him that is exactly what Anna needs right now. For a girl who has no innocence left, for her to be around someone like Jackson is like getting a big dose of hope and innocence back into her life that she might not have gotten otherwise. He is a light in her life, and I think the author picked the perfect person to give her as an escape from what she's been through.
But everything isn't perfect, of course. There are rumors at school, ones that hit really close to home. There's also someone leaving her notes who knows exactly who she is. And although worried, I love the fact that she's no shrinking violet. Where she came from has taught her to be tough and strong. Watching her learn to balance that hard girl she was with the more innocent one she wants to be was alternately sad and gratifying.
The author did a fantastic job working with a very heavy topic. It's about rediscovering yourself after tragedy, and learning to forgive yourself. It was touching and raw and poignant. Fantastic read.
July 7, 2015
"Everyone's been through something... I mean, what's normal, anyway?"
First of all, that cover is amazing. It's so simple, but still beautiful. Secondly, I think that this is a very strong debut novel!
This book faces a tough issue that I haven't seen written about in many YA novels - teenage prostitution. Anna was a runaway and got tangled up with the wrong people. Though when you can come to understand why she ran away, you cant really blame her. Sometimes, you have to escape. Unfortunately for Anna, her escape just lead her to a whole new type of hell.
Sometimes teens, especially younger ones, can be easily mislead and impressionable, and this book shows a good example of how that can go. It's pretty realistic as well, because whether people are aware of it or not, or maybe they just don't want to face it, this actually happens in real life more often than it should. Its tough to talk about, and I think the author did a great job of finding a voice for this type of issue.
I also think she showed us just how cruel kids can be, also in a very realistic way. Rumors (whether they end up being true or not) can be very harmful. Teenagers can be surprisingly nasty to one another. When you have so many secrets to hide, like Anna, in an attempt to find some type of normalcy, something is bound to find its way to the surface.
But Jackson was totally sweet and adorable, a genuine nice guy who was just what Anna needed, along with the other friends she made. They helped her find strength.
The only thing that really bothered me, and the reason for 4 stars instead of closer to 5, is the repetitiveness of Anna's thoughts. I felt like she kept asking herself the same questions over and over again, and for some reason that really stood out to me, and got a tiny bit annoying. Outside of that, I do believe this makes for a strong debut, and I encourage people to pick it up, just be aware of the sensitive subject matter!
This book was provided by Entangled Teen in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
First of all, that cover is amazing. It's so simple, but still beautiful. Secondly, I think that this is a very strong debut novel!
This book faces a tough issue that I haven't seen written about in many YA novels - teenage prostitution. Anna was a runaway and got tangled up with the wrong people. Though when you can come to understand why she ran away, you cant really blame her. Sometimes, you have to escape. Unfortunately for Anna, her escape just lead her to a whole new type of hell.
Sometimes teens, especially younger ones, can be easily mislead and impressionable, and this book shows a good example of how that can go. It's pretty realistic as well, because whether people are aware of it or not, or maybe they just don't want to face it, this actually happens in real life more often than it should. Its tough to talk about, and I think the author did a great job of finding a voice for this type of issue.
I also think she showed us just how cruel kids can be, also in a very realistic way. Rumors (whether they end up being true or not) can be very harmful. Teenagers can be surprisingly nasty to one another. When you have so many secrets to hide, like Anna, in an attempt to find some type of normalcy, something is bound to find its way to the surface.
But Jackson was totally sweet and adorable, a genuine nice guy who was just what Anna needed, along with the other friends she made. They helped her find strength.
The only thing that really bothered me, and the reason for 4 stars instead of closer to 5, is the repetitiveness of Anna's thoughts. I felt like she kept asking herself the same questions over and over again, and for some reason that really stood out to me, and got a tiny bit annoying. Outside of that, I do believe this makes for a strong debut, and I encourage people to pick it up, just be aware of the sensitive subject matter!
This book was provided by Entangled Teen in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
July 27, 2015
Grade: C
At age thirteen, Anna runs away from her abusive father and into the arms of her savior, a pimp named who she thinks is her boyfriend. Now three years later, she's back home and trying to fit into high school. Her father's still abusive, but she has a new ally in her now stronger mother. She's making friends including a possible love interest. But someone is leaving notes in her locker, calling her by her hooker name, threatening to expose her and ruin the life she's trying to build.
NAKED is an overly optimistic look at a teenager's reintegration back home after three years as a sex worker. I never really bought into Anna's seemingly uncomplicated reentry into her family. Yes, her father was awful and in the beginning her mother was unhelpful, but Anna accepted his strict rules as if she was an Amish girl returning from rumspringa. One week she's prostituting, the next she's wearing conservative clothes and enrolled as a sixteen year old freshman in high school. On the first day of school she meets a cute guy, makes a few potential friends and shows herself to be a leader all while feeling traumatized by her years on the streets and her father's cruelty. Okay.
I rooted for Anna and liked how she stood up for and empowered those around her, but none of it felt authentic. She didn't feel broken enough, maybe because she didn't display enough PTSD symptoms, she wasn't rough enough around the edges. I felt like Stacey Trombley might have done some research, but failed to capture the essence of a girl in Anna's situation. The plot from start to finish was just too easy.
THEMES: prostitution, abuse, family, friendship, rape
NAKED has a great premise with average execution in this novel that glosses over the realities of a teen returning home after three years as a runaway sex worker.
At age thirteen, Anna runs away from her abusive father and into the arms of her savior, a pimp named who she thinks is her boyfriend. Now three years later, she's back home and trying to fit into high school. Her father's still abusive, but she has a new ally in her now stronger mother. She's making friends including a possible love interest. But someone is leaving notes in her locker, calling her by her hooker name, threatening to expose her and ruin the life she's trying to build.
NAKED is an overly optimistic look at a teenager's reintegration back home after three years as a sex worker. I never really bought into Anna's seemingly uncomplicated reentry into her family. Yes, her father was awful and in the beginning her mother was unhelpful, but Anna accepted his strict rules as if she was an Amish girl returning from rumspringa. One week she's prostituting, the next she's wearing conservative clothes and enrolled as a sixteen year old freshman in high school. On the first day of school she meets a cute guy, makes a few potential friends and shows herself to be a leader all while feeling traumatized by her years on the streets and her father's cruelty. Okay.
I rooted for Anna and liked how she stood up for and empowered those around her, but none of it felt authentic. She didn't feel broken enough, maybe because she didn't display enough PTSD symptoms, she wasn't rough enough around the edges. I felt like Stacey Trombley might have done some research, but failed to capture the essence of a girl in Anna's situation. The plot from start to finish was just too easy.
THEMES: prostitution, abuse, family, friendship, rape
NAKED has a great premise with average execution in this novel that glosses over the realities of a teen returning home after three years as a runaway sex worker.
July 7, 2015
If I were to describe this book in one word, it would be brilliant. I am so impressed with how well done this book way. Stacey Trombley approached such a touchy subject--underage prostitution in an excellent style. The writing, plot, and character development coupled with the contemporary aspects were just so goooooddd.
I don't even know where to begin with this review because everything was just amazing. I think the thing that stuck out to me the most is the character development we see in this story. In the beginning Anna just sees herself as a broken girl whose only hope in life was to be a whore. But throughout the story with the help of herself, a social worker named Sarah, this cute and unbelievably amazing guy Jackson, and her new friends as well as her mom she begins to see that she is a person who deserves to be happy and that her life is hers to control.
Speaking of her mom, I am so proud of the mom in this story too. In the beginning she seems like this passive woman who will do whatever her husband tells her, but she develops too and realizes she is a person.
Plot wise, I really enjoyed it. Coming into the novel, I had no idea where it would go, and I was perfectly okay with that. I think going into this story blind is the best thing to do because you allow yourself to get sucked into the story and you're not looking for something that could take away from the experience.
Now this contemporary wouldn't get complete without a little bit of romance. As I mentioned before this nerdy, amazing boy Jackson really helps discover who she is and I love him for that. Jackson is such a great guy and let's just say that I have a new ship.
I think the main thing that I really like about this story is the message it entails. Everyone has their secrets and faults. No one is normal. However what you do to rise above is what determines who you are. I really love how Anna goes from this scared girl ashamed of her past to someone who not only embraces it but helps others, even those who are against her, face their demons.
Overall I cannot recommend this book enough. If you are triggered by things such as rape, prostitution, and abuse, you might not want to read it. Also if you are on the young side, I would wait until you're older or you feel mature enough to read this. If none of these apply to you, please please please read the book. I promise you will not regret it. Seriously this book is my favorite stand alone of the year so far (as of the day this review was written: 5/25/15).
Thank you Entangled Teen for providing me this book for review. I am so glad I had the opportunity to read this amazing book.
I don't even know where to begin with this review because everything was just amazing. I think the thing that stuck out to me the most is the character development we see in this story. In the beginning Anna just sees herself as a broken girl whose only hope in life was to be a whore. But throughout the story with the help of herself, a social worker named Sarah, this cute and unbelievably amazing guy Jackson, and her new friends as well as her mom she begins to see that she is a person who deserves to be happy and that her life is hers to control.
Speaking of her mom, I am so proud of the mom in this story too. In the beginning she seems like this passive woman who will do whatever her husband tells her, but she develops too and realizes she is a person.
Plot wise, I really enjoyed it. Coming into the novel, I had no idea where it would go, and I was perfectly okay with that. I think going into this story blind is the best thing to do because you allow yourself to get sucked into the story and you're not looking for something that could take away from the experience.
Now this contemporary wouldn't get complete without a little bit of romance. As I mentioned before this nerdy, amazing boy Jackson really helps discover who she is and I love him for that. Jackson is such a great guy and let's just say that I have a new ship.
I think the main thing that I really like about this story is the message it entails. Everyone has their secrets and faults. No one is normal. However what you do to rise above is what determines who you are. I really love how Anna goes from this scared girl ashamed of her past to someone who not only embraces it but helps others, even those who are against her, face their demons.
Overall I cannot recommend this book enough. If you are triggered by things such as rape, prostitution, and abuse, you might not want to read it. Also if you are on the young side, I would wait until you're older or you feel mature enough to read this. If none of these apply to you, please please please read the book. I promise you will not regret it. Seriously this book is my favorite stand alone of the year so far (as of the day this review was written: 5/25/15).
Thank you Entangled Teen for providing me this book for review. I am so glad I had the opportunity to read this amazing book.
January 15, 2016
I won this book in a box of goodies from Brenda Drake. Less than 24 hours have passed, and not only did it rocket to the top of my read list (past even a borrowed book I was already reading), but I've read every wonderful word already. It was easy to identify with the character Anna. "I'm not this girl, and it doesn't matter what she would think of me now." Anna is referring to her younger self in that passage, which wss the most relatable moment I've ever experienced via fiction. By the way, the book FEELS awesome- compliments to the artist or whoever handles raised text like that.
I'm not an expert reviewer, so I'm going to tackle a few questions from the "Reading Group Guide" in the back.
1- Yes, I bought into Anna wanting to run away to be herself. I also understand why she didn't want to be treated, or called, a child when she became more mature than her age group.
2- Yup, high school kids really are that bad. Or worse. Though I had several classes with upper classmen, and they were a WHOLE lot nicer. It was a game changer.
3- Yes, I had some great English teachers that understood my passion. But college was so much better.
4- I've had a few fresh starts in my life. Not usually due to happy decisions. More like complete overhauls of my life.
5- Yes, I agee that everyone is messed up.
6- In the book, revealing secrets took away their power and hold over the characters and people were able move on because they faced the truth. Not sure that having a secret out for the note-leaving character worked out as well for him. Nor for a few others along that line.
7- I think Nora is caught between two fears, and for most of the book she lets one fear rule, but then decides the other fear is bigger and more important. That's the catalyst for the change.
8- Yes, I've felt distrust. And yes, there are good males.
9- I'm not sure about this one. I've always seen another way. I'm not saying I've always seen a BETTER way, or a GOOD way, I'm just saying I've always seen at least two evils. There have been horrible moments I've lived through, ones I could not change, stop, alter, or prevent. But I could choose how to deal with them. Maybe always is too strong. I'll amend my statement to "since I was nine years old."
10- I don't know. I had to do some things I won't admit to in order to get such a video taken down that my friend was in. She doesn't know it exists. (I assume. We haven't spoken in a over a decade.) She doesn't get why I don't find that scene in American Pie, where he has his webcam on for the same purpose, to be funny. And I didn't have the heart to tell her. How do I say, "it's not funny because it happened to you"? And in reply to the other half of the question- Hey, here's a thought, how about if Hollywood stops saying that it's cool and funny to make videos, take photos, and such of underage children? Replace the busty exchange student girl with a ten year old and tell me that scene is still Ok. Or with your mother, sister, cousin, or any female you feel protective of. Or any human. Never mind, I'm spitting at the wind here.
11- After her first panic attack break down. Guess I'm more apt to pick up on those things.
12- Yes, it's possible. And I don't know.
13- I believe he'll leave eventually. Probably an insecure thing, knowing she has more experience than him. But yeah, he felt real to me. I've known ones like him. Also, he is a suburbs mouse, and she's a city mouse, and Green Acers is over. (That's an old TV show. Watch the opening credits, covers all you need to know.)
14- Normal is a delusion. I've known that since I was twelve. The ones who think they are normal are usually way more messed up than the ones who know they're strange.
I'm not an expert reviewer, so I'm going to tackle a few questions from the "Reading Group Guide" in the back.
1- Yes, I bought into Anna wanting to run away to be herself. I also understand why she didn't want to be treated, or called, a child when she became more mature than her age group.
2- Yup, high school kids really are that bad. Or worse. Though I had several classes with upper classmen, and they were a WHOLE lot nicer. It was a game changer.
3- Yes, I had some great English teachers that understood my passion. But college was so much better.
4- I've had a few fresh starts in my life. Not usually due to happy decisions. More like complete overhauls of my life.
5- Yes, I agee that everyone is messed up.
6- In the book, revealing secrets took away their power and hold over the characters and people were able move on because they faced the truth. Not sure that having a secret out for the note-leaving character worked out as well for him. Nor for a few others along that line.
7- I think Nora is caught between two fears, and for most of the book she lets one fear rule, but then decides the other fear is bigger and more important. That's the catalyst for the change.
8- Yes, I've felt distrust. And yes, there are good males.
9- I'm not sure about this one. I've always seen another way. I'm not saying I've always seen a BETTER way, or a GOOD way, I'm just saying I've always seen at least two evils. There have been horrible moments I've lived through, ones I could not change, stop, alter, or prevent. But I could choose how to deal with them. Maybe always is too strong. I'll amend my statement to "since I was nine years old."
10- I don't know. I had to do some things I won't admit to in order to get such a video taken down that my friend was in. She doesn't know it exists. (I assume. We haven't spoken in a over a decade.) She doesn't get why I don't find that scene in American Pie, where he has his webcam on for the same purpose, to be funny. And I didn't have the heart to tell her. How do I say, "it's not funny because it happened to you"? And in reply to the other half of the question- Hey, here's a thought, how about if Hollywood stops saying that it's cool and funny to make videos, take photos, and such of underage children? Replace the busty exchange student girl with a ten year old and tell me that scene is still Ok. Or with your mother, sister, cousin, or any female you feel protective of. Or any human. Never mind, I'm spitting at the wind here.
11- After her first panic attack break down. Guess I'm more apt to pick up on those things.
12- Yes, it's possible. And I don't know.
13- I believe he'll leave eventually. Probably an insecure thing, knowing she has more experience than him. But yeah, he felt real to me. I've known ones like him. Also, he is a suburbs mouse, and she's a city mouse, and Green Acers is over. (That's an old TV show. Watch the opening credits, covers all you need to know.)
14- Normal is a delusion. I've known that since I was twelve. The ones who think they are normal are usually way more messed up than the ones who know they're strange.
February 28, 2017
This book was really powerful. I think having books that talk about real issues and don't hold back on what really happens or can happen to people and kind of refreshing. Like this stuff needs to be known.
This book is about a victim of child prostitution and how she deals with the aftermath.
Also deals with how school rumors can be so degrading and heartbreaking and can really hurt anyone.
I thought that Anna was really strong to be able to keep going after the horrors she has been though and the ones that are still in her life. She tries to have a somewhat normal life and that can never really be completely possible for anyone. I was glad that she stood up for herself when rumors emerged and people started to hate on her. I just really liked her development.
I thought Jackson was so sweet. He was so good for Anna and sweet. Like he didn't know the truth and was sure that she was hiding something from him but he kept trying to be around her and be her friend. I really just loved him.
This book was just really great and made me feel really hopeful as well.
If curious, I'm only giving the book 4 stars because there were some inconsistencies with the writing. Some actual mistakes that kind of bothered me and the writing in general wasn't the best.
This book is about a victim of child prostitution and how she deals with the aftermath.
Also deals with how school rumors can be so degrading and heartbreaking and can really hurt anyone.
I thought that Anna was really strong to be able to keep going after the horrors she has been though and the ones that are still in her life. She tries to have a somewhat normal life and that can never really be completely possible for anyone. I was glad that she stood up for herself when rumors emerged and people started to hate on her. I just really liked her development.
I thought Jackson was so sweet. He was so good for Anna and sweet. Like he didn't know the truth and was sure that she was hiding something from him but he kept trying to be around her and be her friend. I really just loved him.
This book was just really great and made me feel really hopeful as well.
If curious, I'm only giving the book 4 stars because there were some inconsistencies with the writing. Some actual mistakes that kind of bothered me and the writing in general wasn't the best.
July 16, 2015
I think what made me select Naked for review was that I was looking for something dark and real after having finished All the Rage by Courtney Summers. In All the Rage the subject matter was rape, and how society criminalizes the victims. Naked was about teenage runaway’s and teenage prostitution. You can’t get much more dark than either of them, honestly.
There was a lot that I liked about Naked. First, there was Anna’s reactions to cops and social workers, in the beginning. I’d like to think that the police brutality was exagerated, but sadly I don’t think it was. I also liked the perception of good people and bad people between Anna and Jackson. I really liked the internal dialogue that Anna had about her past. Anna felt as though she were broken, or tarnished, which wasn’t the truth but as the reader you understand that she would feel that way. You could rationalize the mistakes she made that caused her to hate herself.
I could also understand the pain she’d felt at home, the reason why she ran in the first place. Oh man, did I HATE her father. Every time he appeared in the story I wanted to spit. He was disgusting. The way he treated his daughter, the way he treated his wife… even the loathsome way he treated their guard dog. He was the epitome of Misogyny. He was the reason everyone in their family, including himself, was miserable. Running away is never the answer, but damn her life was pretty impossible before.
There were a few things about the story that I felt were unrealistic, things that gave the book a coating of shallowness. First, Anna’s parents want her to return to school, which I thought was stupid but the stupidity of Anna’s parents was never really in question. Fine, they want Anna to return to school. In school Anna is the rumor of a lot of vicious gossip, and it gets to her. I won’t lie, it’s hard. She feels used and like trash. She’s terrified that people will find out what she’s done. We never forget what Anna went through, however at the same time she works on the Homecoming float, she throws herself into art class, she falls in love… I’m just not so sure that someone who had lived 3 years as a 13-16 year old prostitute, who had been beaten and abused, that had lived in the dirtiest part of NYC on the streets, would even do that well re-acclimating to an upper-class high school. I am a firm believer that your experiences gives you your age, not a number of birthdays, and Anna should have been far older than her 16 years. I just can’t believe that she would fit in, even that much. I can’t believe that she would care about popular Marissa, having been through far worse than whether or not the ‘mean girl’ likes her.
But, who am I. I’m not 16. I’m not a runaway. I was never a hooker. I’m just a person who imagines, who tries to feel what these characters would feel.
All in all, Naked was really good. The author never forgot what the core of the story was, even while Anna was decorating the gym she worried and felt bad and struggled. Due to those struggles, we the readers felt all the fear and anxiety with Anna, and that’s what makes a book worth reading.
Thank you to Entangled Media and Netgalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
If you like this review, check out others like it at Badass Book Reviews.
There was a lot that I liked about Naked. First, there was Anna’s reactions to cops and social workers, in the beginning. I’d like to think that the police brutality was exagerated, but sadly I don’t think it was. I also liked the perception of good people and bad people between Anna and Jackson. I really liked the internal dialogue that Anna had about her past. Anna felt as though she were broken, or tarnished, which wasn’t the truth but as the reader you understand that she would feel that way. You could rationalize the mistakes she made that caused her to hate herself.
I could also understand the pain she’d felt at home, the reason why she ran in the first place. Oh man, did I HATE her father. Every time he appeared in the story I wanted to spit. He was disgusting. The way he treated his daughter, the way he treated his wife… even the loathsome way he treated their guard dog. He was the epitome of Misogyny. He was the reason everyone in their family, including himself, was miserable. Running away is never the answer, but damn her life was pretty impossible before.
There were a few things about the story that I felt were unrealistic, things that gave the book a coating of shallowness. First, Anna’s parents want her to return to school, which I thought was stupid but the stupidity of Anna’s parents was never really in question. Fine, they want Anna to return to school. In school Anna is the rumor of a lot of vicious gossip, and it gets to her. I won’t lie, it’s hard. She feels used and like trash. She’s terrified that people will find out what she’s done. We never forget what Anna went through, however at the same time she works on the Homecoming float, she throws herself into art class, she falls in love… I’m just not so sure that someone who had lived 3 years as a 13-16 year old prostitute, who had been beaten and abused, that had lived in the dirtiest part of NYC on the streets, would even do that well re-acclimating to an upper-class high school. I am a firm believer that your experiences gives you your age, not a number of birthdays, and Anna should have been far older than her 16 years. I just can’t believe that she would fit in, even that much. I can’t believe that she would care about popular Marissa, having been through far worse than whether or not the ‘mean girl’ likes her.
But, who am I. I’m not 16. I’m not a runaway. I was never a hooker. I’m just a person who imagines, who tries to feel what these characters would feel.
All in all, Naked was really good. The author never forgot what the core of the story was, even while Anna was decorating the gym she worried and felt bad and struggled. Due to those struggles, we the readers felt all the fear and anxiety with Anna, and that’s what makes a book worth reading.
Thank you to Entangled Media and Netgalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
If you like this review, check out others like it at Badass Book Reviews.
January 4, 2016
Anna grew up with a rough childhood which resulted in her running away to the city of her dreams, New York. Only did that result in her working as a child prostitute. Three years later the law finds her and takes her back home to her parents. Now she has the chance to live a better life, but is that even possible with her past?
I wasn't expecting much when I requested this novel, but what I read was just so good I went in for the simple yet intriguing cover and my sad taste for sad books. Naked is a book which really satisfied that taste. We started in the deep. Then we could see the light in the distance. Eventually, we were given a hope. Then we were handed more fears. A character brings in more hope only for our main character to SNATCH THAT HOPE AND REPLACE IT WITH FEAR. The fear builds and HOPE COMES back! The book ends really well and I'm really proud of this author. I came to tears at three points of this book. It was just when the emotion was too strong. Hope, love and devastation.
Stacey Trombley brought to my eyes what can happen to a teenage runaway. Her writing was powerful and as mention before I have needed some tissues or visits to the kitchen for some extra cereal to spoon into my sad body. The story she tells is raw and gritty. It all felt so real, it wrenched my heart and built hope for second chances.
This book taught me that even when you are in the deep, even when you believe there is nowhere else to be, no one to help you. There is always a way when you put a will. Anna (our main character) went from a whore to a successful art student. She found her strength with the help of her friends and mother.
Anna wasn't my favorite character. I didn't really enjoy her as much. She wasn't really interesting or unique. She didn't handle situations extraordinarily, and while I understand and side with her fears, she wasn't strong when she had the chance to be. Anna had repetitive thoughts, reasons, and questions. Anna was more of a plot device in my understanding, underdeveloped and plain than a character to relate to and enjoy reading about.
The characters I really enjoyed were Anna's mother, Nora, who came out and started fighting for her daughter. She already made one big mistake and wasn't afraid of admitting that it was. Nora didn't want to repeat that and became one of the best mothers, fighting for her daughter, masking her pain to not worry her daughter, making delicious food and considering plenty of things so her daughter can be at best. My second favourite character was Jackson. He started out being just the friend, a light to brighten up your day. He brought most of the smiles in the book with his nerdy, cute and confident ways. He was protective and caring and that really warmed up my heart, especially when Anna accepted all his actions.
There were plenty of subplots going on in this novel and its was amazing that Stacey Trombley, as an author, could control all of this and not confuse me as a reader. If anything, having these subplots had me even more fascinated with every page.
Naked is a great book filled with emotion. Debut novel or not it was fantastic and I really enjoyed reading this. I'm giving it 4 out of five stars.
June 8, 2015
The full review can be found at The Book Bratz
Naked isn't an easy read. Not in the sense that it is hard to read, it is thought provoking and raw. Anna's story is one of many, I think it is easily forgotten that in large cities there are young girls who are sold for the pleasure of other men. Naked is both beautiful, and an eye opening debut novel.
First off, that cover. It is beautiful. I love how Naked follows the lines of the girl's body, it is a beautiful representation of this novel and Anna. Naked starts off with Anna in a police station, talking to a Social Worker. We learn pretty quickly that Anna ran away from her strict home when she was thirteen to peruse her dreams in New York City. But her nativity got the best of her. Alone in a huge city Anna finds herself in the care of an older man named Luis, who soon begins to sell her out to his friends and soon strangers. But Luis sold her, and in trying to get back to him Anna is picked up by the police and set up with Sarah. Quickly it is learned that Anna is being looked for and Sarah manages to bring her back to the very same home she was trying to escape three years earlier. At home Anna starts over, she goes to school, gains her parents trust, and tries to keep her secret about her life in New York City a secret, only someone is intent on using it against her.
I loved Anna's character, she starts off in the lowest point of her life. Through out the few weeks/months that this book takes place you are able to see Anna flourish into who she is really going to be. Anna felt real, the parts where she talked about how her life in New York made her feel, and what she thought about herself genuinely broke my heart. She comes home and has to be "normal" with no one to talk tool about the things that had happened to her. My favorite Anna is at the end of the book, sure she was still an "outcast" and people had negative things to say about her still but she just let it roll off her shoulders. She was a fighter, and learned that other people harbored horrible secrets too. She wasn't alone. I loved the development of her and Jackson's friendship and then relationship, it was paced nicely and Anna didn't rush head first into it.
I've never been as angry and sick about a character as I did about Anna's father. He was just a horrible man. He didn't see that his actions already pushed his daughter away, but when she returns he is going to tighten the leash, treat her like trash and not listen to what the social worker advises him to do? In the first half of the book Anna is still fragile and could bolt at any second, but he father is still enforcing all the horrible rules and expectations on her. Anna wasn't even home for a half hour and he was already pushing her to join choir. Her father got his way through intimidation of both physical and emotional abuse of both Anna and his wife.
Overall I really enjoyed Naked, I do highly recommend it. I'm content on how Stacey left Anna's story on a positive note. Stacey will be an author I will be looking out for in the future!
Naked isn't an easy read. Not in the sense that it is hard to read, it is thought provoking and raw. Anna's story is one of many, I think it is easily forgotten that in large cities there are young girls who are sold for the pleasure of other men. Naked is both beautiful, and an eye opening debut novel.
First off, that cover. It is beautiful. I love how Naked follows the lines of the girl's body, it is a beautiful representation of this novel and Anna. Naked starts off with Anna in a police station, talking to a Social Worker. We learn pretty quickly that Anna ran away from her strict home when she was thirteen to peruse her dreams in New York City. But her nativity got the best of her. Alone in a huge city Anna finds herself in the care of an older man named Luis, who soon begins to sell her out to his friends and soon strangers. But Luis sold her, and in trying to get back to him Anna is picked up by the police and set up with Sarah. Quickly it is learned that Anna is being looked for and Sarah manages to bring her back to the very same home she was trying to escape three years earlier. At home Anna starts over, she goes to school, gains her parents trust, and tries to keep her secret about her life in New York City a secret, only someone is intent on using it against her.
I loved Anna's character, she starts off in the lowest point of her life. Through out the few weeks/months that this book takes place you are able to see Anna flourish into who she is really going to be. Anna felt real, the parts where she talked about how her life in New York made her feel, and what she thought about herself genuinely broke my heart. She comes home and has to be "normal" with no one to talk tool about the things that had happened to her. My favorite Anna is at the end of the book, sure she was still an "outcast" and people had negative things to say about her still but she just let it roll off her shoulders. She was a fighter, and learned that other people harbored horrible secrets too. She wasn't alone. I loved the development of her and Jackson's friendship and then relationship, it was paced nicely and Anna didn't rush head first into it.
I've never been as angry and sick about a character as I did about Anna's father. He was just a horrible man. He didn't see that his actions already pushed his daughter away, but when she returns he is going to tighten the leash, treat her like trash and not listen to what the social worker advises him to do? In the first half of the book Anna is still fragile and could bolt at any second, but he father is still enforcing all the horrible rules and expectations on her. Anna wasn't even home for a half hour and he was already pushing her to join choir. Her father got his way through intimidation of both physical and emotional abuse of both Anna and his wife.
Overall I really enjoyed Naked, I do highly recommend it. I'm content on how Stacey left Anna's story on a positive note. Stacey will be an author I will be looking out for in the future!
March 3, 2016
Naked is very intriguing at the first glance. Trying hard to run away from disturbed pasts and trying even harder to build a pleasant future is a hit theme, and it works every time. Just the title and cover of the book are so interesting that it's worth a thousand glances. And once the story is told and everything falls in place, both start looking even more perfect. Naked is a book that demands to be read and deserves a try.
Anna runs away from home at the tender age of thirteen, when everything seems to fall apart and the outside world suddenly becomes attractive. She lands in New York, the city of her dreams once she escapes her control and power freak, dominating and strict father and her very submissive, society driven and silent mother. Silently cursing herself and awaiting her death on the streets of the city, she is then rescued by a handsome boy, who pretends to love her, makes her believe what she is doing is for money that they will need, and ends up giving her scars for life.
The entire novel goes from Anna's point of view in the first person, and author Stacey Trombley does a meticulous job of explaining every step Anna takes and even justifying it from the mind of a young girl. Just the way the book begins is so captivating and brilliant that there is no choice but to keep reading just to uncover the mystery and to know what happened to Anna. While at the very beginning, there were times when curiosity was demanding to know about Anna's past, the way it was taken up at the end made everything get together at the perfect moment and the right time.
Naked is a story about trying to cure wounds that won't even bother to heal. The many side characters stand tall and add in meaningful elements to take Anna's life where it deserves to head. A high school background makes the story very tragic and real. The way art is portrayed in the book is simply astounding as well. However, as resplendent as these elements are, Anna remains the main focus throughout. A brave and strong girl, she ends up teaching the reader just as much-if not more- as she learns from her own life.
Anna runs away from home at the tender age of thirteen, when everything seems to fall apart and the outside world suddenly becomes attractive. She lands in New York, the city of her dreams once she escapes her control and power freak, dominating and strict father and her very submissive, society driven and silent mother. Silently cursing herself and awaiting her death on the streets of the city, she is then rescued by a handsome boy, who pretends to love her, makes her believe what she is doing is for money that they will need, and ends up giving her scars for life.
The entire novel goes from Anna's point of view in the first person, and author Stacey Trombley does a meticulous job of explaining every step Anna takes and even justifying it from the mind of a young girl. Just the way the book begins is so captivating and brilliant that there is no choice but to keep reading just to uncover the mystery and to know what happened to Anna. While at the very beginning, there were times when curiosity was demanding to know about Anna's past, the way it was taken up at the end made everything get together at the perfect moment and the right time.
Naked is a story about trying to cure wounds that won't even bother to heal. The many side characters stand tall and add in meaningful elements to take Anna's life where it deserves to head. A high school background makes the story very tragic and real. The way art is portrayed in the book is simply astounding as well. However, as resplendent as these elements are, Anna remains the main focus throughout. A brave and strong girl, she ends up teaching the reader just as much-if not more- as she learns from her own life.
Read
February 26, 2021Short and Sweet:
I loved this emotional and deep story!
To Elaborate…
I am soooo happy to be on this blog tour because I can’t recommend this book enough. NAKED follows Anna, a teen prostitute who is just reunited with her family (and not quite so happily). She’s been gone for three years, and she doesn’t know how to fall back into the normal life they expect her to, not to mention that the one boy who is kind to her hates liars, and she’s trying to keep him from the truth. When someone starts leaving her notes in her locker, threatening to expose her past, and a trial involving her old boyfriend/pimp is in the works, she will find her past following her.
There are so truly heartbreaking aspects of this story. Anna’s reality is not unlike many runaway teenagers. As it mentions early in the story, she runs away because of her verbally and emotionally abusive father and a mother who seems to be too wrapped up in playing a trophy wife to help. Stacey Trombley does an incredible job of painting a realistic picture of Anna and her surroundings. The family dynamics are perfect, and I really enjoyed how both sides had to reach some sort of compromise.
Anna’s narration is saucy, tough, and sorrowful. She tries not to let the bullying from her new classmates get to her, but she also has horrible flashbacks of her time in New York, and it’s not easy. Jackson is the best possible friend to her, and I love how their relationship starts off so gentle and full of kindness. There is a minor story arc about Jackson being teased for being a virgin and not ‘putting out,’ which offers another wonderful discussion on the negative effects of a patriarchal society with enforced gender norms.
Overall, if you want a moving, intense, and important novel in your life, NAKED is the perfect fit. This story will break your heart several times, but the rings of hope throughout will leave it mending by the end. Highly recommend!
I loved this emotional and deep story!
To Elaborate…
I am soooo happy to be on this blog tour because I can’t recommend this book enough. NAKED follows Anna, a teen prostitute who is just reunited with her family (and not quite so happily). She’s been gone for three years, and she doesn’t know how to fall back into the normal life they expect her to, not to mention that the one boy who is kind to her hates liars, and she’s trying to keep him from the truth. When someone starts leaving her notes in her locker, threatening to expose her past, and a trial involving her old boyfriend/pimp is in the works, she will find her past following her.
There are so truly heartbreaking aspects of this story. Anna’s reality is not unlike many runaway teenagers. As it mentions early in the story, she runs away because of her verbally and emotionally abusive father and a mother who seems to be too wrapped up in playing a trophy wife to help. Stacey Trombley does an incredible job of painting a realistic picture of Anna and her surroundings. The family dynamics are perfect, and I really enjoyed how both sides had to reach some sort of compromise.
Anna’s narration is saucy, tough, and sorrowful. She tries not to let the bullying from her new classmates get to her, but she also has horrible flashbacks of her time in New York, and it’s not easy. Jackson is the best possible friend to her, and I love how their relationship starts off so gentle and full of kindness. There is a minor story arc about Jackson being teased for being a virgin and not ‘putting out,’ which offers another wonderful discussion on the negative effects of a patriarchal society with enforced gender norms.
Overall, if you want a moving, intense, and important novel in your life, NAKED is the perfect fit. This story will break your heart several times, but the rings of hope throughout will leave it mending by the end. Highly recommend!
July 14, 2015
This seemed like such an interesting read, but for some reason it just didn't speak to me like I expected it to. The plot was an interesting one - a girl who ran away to New York, and ended up becoming a prostitute ends up back at home, trying to live a normal life, but I just never felt invested in Anna. She spends a LOT of time talking about Luis, and while I can sort of understand her infatuation with him, and I can understand that she obviously didn't know that what he did was wrong, it just made me feel so icky. Surely after that final incident, her eyes should have been opened to him? But, no. So a lot of the early novel is Luis this, Luis that, until I just got sick of seeing his name.
Anna was a very, very defensive character. She has her reasons - many of them, but it makes her hard to like. It's hard to warm up to someone who's so suspicious of everyone, and it's even harder to understand her suspicions when we rarely heard of the goings on before she went back home. Now I'm not saying I wanted some hardened account of her life on the streets, but it would have made it more real to know what went on, instead of the bits and pieces teased to us.
Jackson was probably my favourite character, closely followed by Zara the dog, if only because I am a sucker for dogs. I loved Jackson's innocence, or perceived innocence and I loved that he was willing to be friends with Anna despite the rumours. Jen and Alex also scored massive points for not caring about Anna's past and wanting to just be her friend in the now. Those are some awesome people right there.
I expected a more emotional read, it wasn't as emotional as I expected, although there were moments. It was so hard to see how Anna's parents treated her, especially her dad. He was awful. Just awful, and I kinda liked that her mom was willing to stick up for her (maybe a little bit too late, but maybe better late than never).
Anna was a very, very defensive character. She has her reasons - many of them, but it makes her hard to like. It's hard to warm up to someone who's so suspicious of everyone, and it's even harder to understand her suspicions when we rarely heard of the goings on before she went back home. Now I'm not saying I wanted some hardened account of her life on the streets, but it would have made it more real to know what went on, instead of the bits and pieces teased to us.
Jackson was probably my favourite character, closely followed by Zara the dog, if only because I am a sucker for dogs. I loved Jackson's innocence, or perceived innocence and I loved that he was willing to be friends with Anna despite the rumours. Jen and Alex also scored massive points for not caring about Anna's past and wanting to just be her friend in the now. Those are some awesome people right there.
I expected a more emotional read, it wasn't as emotional as I expected, although there were moments. It was so hard to see how Anna's parents treated her, especially her dad. He was awful. Just awful, and I kinda liked that her mom was willing to stick up for her (maybe a little bit too late, but maybe better late than never).
July 8, 2015
I liked certain aspects of this book, but generally speaking, I had different expectations. It sounded to me like it would be a total tear jerker, a brutally honest account of how this young girl overcame such a horrible thing. I was prepared for it to be powerful and emotional, I wanted this book to evoke so many feelings but it didn't. First of all, I had a hard time thinking of Anna as a prostitute, or rather, believing that she actually went through that. Since the book starts pretty much with her going back home, the only traces left of her old life are the things she tells us. The book is narrated in first person and in my opinion, Anna's voice was mostly rambling and occasional cryptic insinuations of her past, and that wasn't enough for me to feel totally invested in her story. Also, if you live through 3 years of absolute hell, where you were raped, beaten and forced to have sex with disgusting men, I would think you'd be happy, even relieved to exchange those problems for high school drama and controlling parents. But then again, I just didn't get Anna. About 3/4 of the way through, I got interested in the relationship with Jackson and the other girls from school, the things they were doing, etc.. But that felt wrong and trivial because the main focus of this story should've been Anna's situation. I think Naked had a lot of potential but it just kind of fell short for me.
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
September 6, 2015
This book sounds really daring and gritty on paper, I was surprised to find it in the YA section, but once I read it I was more surprised at how tame and completely unrealistic it was.
No upper middle class parent of a returned runaway who has been on the street selling he body for 3 years is going to put their kid on a bus and send her off to public school a few days after she gets home. Counseling and probably a strict private boarding school or attitude adjustment camp for entitled teens is more realistic.
Oddly, given this was the small community in which Anna has been sowing her wild oats, no one remembers her or knows her or claims to have been her sexual partner before she ran away and no one has heard anything about where she's been.
And then of course rumors fly, she falls in with the perfect band of attractive misfits and some Mean Things happen. But she has her new friends and her art to help her learn to Be Strong.
Meanwhile her dad (who we know is a bad guy because he beats the dog he got while his daughter was selling herself in NYC and never realized the dog was a female) he's kicked out by her mom who finally learns to Stand Up For Herself and even though he's been abusive @ controlling his whole life moves into a hotel & leaves them in peace apparently forever.
In the end the kids all Learn a Lesson and basically the students all hold hands and sing kumbaya. Horrible.
No upper middle class parent of a returned runaway who has been on the street selling he body for 3 years is going to put their kid on a bus and send her off to public school a few days after she gets home. Counseling and probably a strict private boarding school or attitude adjustment camp for entitled teens is more realistic.
Oddly, given this was the small community in which Anna has been sowing her wild oats, no one remembers her or knows her or claims to have been her sexual partner before she ran away and no one has heard anything about where she's been.
And then of course rumors fly, she falls in with the perfect band of attractive misfits and some Mean Things happen. But she has her new friends and her art to help her learn to Be Strong.
Meanwhile her dad (who we know is a bad guy because he beats the dog he got while his daughter was selling herself in NYC and never realized the dog was a female) he's kicked out by her mom who finally learns to Stand Up For Herself and even though he's been abusive @ controlling his whole life moves into a hotel & leaves them in peace apparently forever.
In the end the kids all Learn a Lesson and basically the students all hold hands and sing kumbaya. Horrible.
April 12, 2015
Its a book that tugs at all your emotions. Very strong characters with a very good story. Keeps you reading.
November 13, 2015
Über Debüt-AutorInnen in einer Rezension zu schreiben, ist meist ein undankbarer Job. Die Informationen, die man über diese AutorInnen findet, sind oft wirklich mickrig und gehen selten über das hinaus, was der Verlag und die Schreiberlinge selbst zusammengestellt haben. Bei Stacey Trombley ist das nicht anders. Ihr Erstling „Naked“ wurde mir vom Verlag Entangled Teen als ARC zur Verfügung gestellt (es erscheint voraussichtlich am 07.07.2015), worüber ich mich sehr gefreut habe, weil mich der Klappentext ziemlich neugierig gemacht hat. Dieser Roman behandelt ein Thema, das in unserer Gesellschaft häufig tabuisiert wird – umso interessanter hätte ich es gefunden, wenn Stacey Trombley an irgendeiner Stelle erklären würde, warum sie ausgerechnet über dieses Thema in ihrem Debüt schrieb. Liebe Verlage, liebe AutorInnen, es wäre wundervoll, wenn ihr euren LeserInnen etwas mehr über die Person hinter einem Buch verraten würdet, auch dann, wenn diese noch ganz neu im Geschäft des geschriebenen Wortes ist.
Anna Rodriguez macht sich keine Illusionen darüber, was sie ist – sie ist eine New Yorker Prostituierte. Drei Jahre lang verdiente sie ihr Geld damit, dass sie ihren Körper an fremde Männer verkaufte. Schon oft hatte sie Kontakt mit der Polizei – aber noch nie mit Sarah, die Anna ihr altes Leben zurückgeben möchte. Ihr altes Leben, indem nicht nur ihre Eltern auf sie warten, sondern auch die Schule. Anna entscheidet sich für den Neustart, wohl wissend, dass sich vor allem die Probleme mit ihrem Vater durch ihr Fortlaufen verschlimmert haben und dass ihr die Gerüchte in der Schule auf Schritt und Tritt folgen werden. Womit sie allerdings nicht gerechnet hat, ist Jackson. Der freundliche Junge von nebenan, der nichts von ihrer Vergangenheit weiß und sie wie ein ganz normales Mädchen behandelt. Anna verliebt sich in dieses Gefühl von Normalität – und belügt Jackson. Doch so gern sie es würde, sie kann vor ihrer Vergangenheit nicht davon laufen. Denn sie ist ihr gefolgt…
Eigentlich verdient „Naked“ 3,5 Sterne. Goodreads vergibt allerdings keine halben Sterne, deswegen musste ich mich entscheiden. Die Wahl fiel auf eine Bewertung von drei Sternen und nicht vier, weil „Naked“ zwar ein gutes, unterhaltsames Buch ist, meiner Meinung nach aber noch einige Erstlings-Wehwehchen aufweist. Zu Beginn ist die Geschichte sehr verkopft; es spielt sich viel in Annas Gedankenwelt ab und wenig außerhalb. Einerseits verstärkte das natürlich den durchaus plausiblen Ansatz, dass sie total in sich zurückgezogen ist; andererseits fand ich diese absolute Fixierung auf Anna einseitig. Sie begegnet in den ersten Kapiteln mehreren Menschen, denen sie wichtig ist, darunter die mutmaßliche Sozialarbeiterin Sarah (ihr Beruf wird nie genannt) und ihre Eltern, die sie seit drei Jahren nicht gesehen haben – ich hätte mir einen genaueren Eindruck ihrer Gefühle gewünscht, nicht nur die oberflächlichen Reaktionen, die Anna sieht. Sie ist so mit sich beschäftigt, dass es ihr schwer fällt, sich in ihre jeweiligen Gegenüber hineinzuversetzen und daher meines Erachtens nach selten die richtigen Schlüsse zieht. Später verschiebt sich der Fokus von Annas Innerem etwas mehr nach außen, sie bleibt jedoch eine typische 16-Jährige, die strikt in Schwarz und Weiß unterteilt. Sie hat noch kein Gespür für die vielen Graustufen der Welt; muss erst lernen, dass ihre vorgefassten Meinungen sie nicht weiterbringen und ihr viel Gutes vorenthalten. Diese jugendliche Sturheit war manchmal ein wenig frustrierend, aber auch realistisch. Ich war mit 16 ebenfalls der Meinung, ich wüsste alles. Annas männlicher Gegenpart Jackson verhält sich weitaus erwachsener als sie, ist reifer und einfach hinreißend. Verständnisvoll, sanft, geduldig, ehrlich… zu gut, um wahr zu sein. Als Romanfigur mochte ich ihn sehr, weil er Anna stets ein Gefühl von Sicherheit vermittelt und ihr genau das gibt, was sie braucht, aber ich kann ihn mir beim besten Willen nicht als reale Person vorstellen.
Eine weitere männliche Figur, die in Annas direktem Umfeld sehr wichtig ist, ist ihr Vater. Ihre Beziehung ist stark vorbelastet, denn Martin ist ein Kontrollfreak, wie er im Buche steht. Er ist extrem streng und lebt in dem Glauben, er könne seine Familie mit eiserner Faust regieren. Im wahrsten Sinne des Wortes. Diesen Handlungsstrang hat Stacey Trombley meiner Meinung nach sträflich vernachlässigt. Den Großteil des Buches über ist Martin abwesend, nicht nur physisch, sondern auch in Annas Gedanken. Natürlich hat sie schon so genug Probleme, aber ihr Vater spielt in all dem Chaos, das ihr Leben ist, eine entscheidende Rolle. Trombley hätte dieser Beziehung weit mehr Aufmerksamkeit schenken müssen, wie auch Annas Freundschaften neben Jackson.
Insgesamt empfand ich „Naked“ als einen bittersüßen YA-Roman, der neben all den wunderschönen Entdeckungen des Erwachsenwerdens auch viel Schmerz und Dunkelheit offenbart. Ich bewundere Stacey Trombleys Mut, in ihrem Erstling ein so sensibles Thema wie Teenager-Prostitution anzusprechen und werde ihr weiteres Schaffen beobachten, weil es mich sehr interessiert, welche Themen sie in Zukunft in ihren Büchern verarbeiten wird. Ich sehe viel Potential, nicht nur in ihrem lockeren Schreibstil, sondern auch in ihrer Fähigkeit, sich in jugendliche Akteure hineinzuversetzen. Ich glaube fest daran, dass sich die Problemchen ihres Debüts in ihren weiteren Werken legen werden.
Lasst ihr euch auf Annas Geschichte ein, werdet ihr eine junge Frau kennenlernen, die neben den Herausforderungen des Erwachsenwerdens mit sehr realen Dämonen zu kämpfen hat und sich euch so präsentiert, wie sie wirklich ist: nackt.
January 5, 2016
I received an eARC of this from Entangled Teen for the blog tour.
I have to say, this is a pretty edgy story for a YA novel. Not that that’s a bad thing, not at all. In fact, I liked that it pushed the envelope, that it brought into play something that you never think about in relation to a teenager. Prostitution. A young girl thrown into a dangerous world, who falls in love with the wrong guy and is pressured into having sex with men for money. It’s horrible to think about, something that you never want to know or even understand. But it happens, unfortunately. You just don’t hear about it as often. And that’s why I think Naked is amazing. Because it doesn’t shy away from the dark truth of it all.
Anna was thirteen when she ran away to New York City, an innocent little girl who traveled to a city she thought would make her dreams come true. Her future was bright, until it was stolen. Her hopes, her dreams, her light. They were all taken from her. And for three years, prostitution is her life. She lived a nightmare disguised as love with a man who threw her away as if she never mattered at all. And when she gets caught by the police, she’s found by a social worker who wants to send her home. But home holds its own pain, and the past she tried so hard to forget. I found Anna to be incredibly strong. Her voice drew me into her story and wouldn’t let me go. Through everything that happens, she remains stoic, even when she’s dying inside. She comes home bruised and bleeding, but not broken. I loved watching her grow, loved that she found her way out of the dark and into the light. The past three years, and her first love, still have a strong hold on her, but she finally recognizes Luis for what he is, and recognizes herself for what she isn’t. She’s not a thing that can easily be discarded. She’s a person; she’s valuable. She’s human. She has nothing to apologize for. Her parents failed her, and she lost herself. But she’s finding her way back, slowly but surely.
And she has the help of Jackson, the cute boy who finds her mysterious and intriguing and someone he wants to know. I loved how the sweet romance between them didn’t become the focus, nor the sole reason Anna figures out what was so wrong about her life in New York, and her relationship with Luis. But he becomes a friend, someone she can lean on for support and encouragement. He doesn’t care about the high school gossip and rumors, nor does it matter to him when he finds out that they’re real. Because he sees the real Anna, the one who still dreamed and hoped. Anna never really had innocence, or a childhood. She was having sex at thirteen, long before New York. But with Jackson, she starts to feel cared for and valued. Not for her body, but for her. He showed her what loving someone really meant.
Jackson is not the only secondary character I loved. I also adored Sarah, the social worker who brought Anna home. She becomes a confidant to Anna, and someone she can turn to when she feels that no one else is listening to her, aka her father. Her dad was a real piece of work. I really disliked the fact that he blamed Anna for everything, and he pushed her to ignore all that had happened and just sweep it under the rug (talk about victim blaming and also talk about being exactly what made her want to run away in the first place). He never changed, and I was happy with what happened in regards to him. Though, I am a little still mad with her mother. Her mother WAS scared of going against Anna’s father, but I wish she’d done more for her daughter. The dynamic between her and Anna was interesting. They didn’t have the strongest relationship, but they had a connection.
The plot was really all about Anna, and her starting her life over. It was about her picking up the pieces of her shattered past and moving on, even though it took a long time for her to realize she was MORE than a prostitute. More than Dirty Anna. More than a girl who sold her body for money. That didn’t define her, and neither did the man who took advantage of a wide-eyed, innocent little girl who came to New York with dreams. He snatched them away, but she took them back. She took back her power, and her life. And THAT was a beautiful thing to read. I do want to add that I felt the drama with her old client was a little much, and it felt too easy that everyone, but especially Jackson, found out about her past because of it. However, it did really push Anna into gear in regards to Luis, and how she didn’t deserve to be defined by her past.
Naked was a wonderful contemporary that really forces you to think about prostitution, and what it does to people, especially young women. The way it was talked about, and how Anna processed it all, was really well-written. And, I thought, realistic to the story-line (even though sometimes it made me ragey with the meanness of high school and her father’s victim blaming). But what I loved most about this was the main character’s journey of taking back her life and learning what love really means.
I have to say, this is a pretty edgy story for a YA novel. Not that that’s a bad thing, not at all. In fact, I liked that it pushed the envelope, that it brought into play something that you never think about in relation to a teenager. Prostitution. A young girl thrown into a dangerous world, who falls in love with the wrong guy and is pressured into having sex with men for money. It’s horrible to think about, something that you never want to know or even understand. But it happens, unfortunately. You just don’t hear about it as often. And that’s why I think Naked is amazing. Because it doesn’t shy away from the dark truth of it all.
Anna was thirteen when she ran away to New York City, an innocent little girl who traveled to a city she thought would make her dreams come true. Her future was bright, until it was stolen. Her hopes, her dreams, her light. They were all taken from her. And for three years, prostitution is her life. She lived a nightmare disguised as love with a man who threw her away as if she never mattered at all. And when she gets caught by the police, she’s found by a social worker who wants to send her home. But home holds its own pain, and the past she tried so hard to forget. I found Anna to be incredibly strong. Her voice drew me into her story and wouldn’t let me go. Through everything that happens, she remains stoic, even when she’s dying inside. She comes home bruised and bleeding, but not broken. I loved watching her grow, loved that she found her way out of the dark and into the light. The past three years, and her first love, still have a strong hold on her, but she finally recognizes Luis for what he is, and recognizes herself for what she isn’t. She’s not a thing that can easily be discarded. She’s a person; she’s valuable. She’s human. She has nothing to apologize for. Her parents failed her, and she lost herself. But she’s finding her way back, slowly but surely.
And she has the help of Jackson, the cute boy who finds her mysterious and intriguing and someone he wants to know. I loved how the sweet romance between them didn’t become the focus, nor the sole reason Anna figures out what was so wrong about her life in New York, and her relationship with Luis. But he becomes a friend, someone she can lean on for support and encouragement. He doesn’t care about the high school gossip and rumors, nor does it matter to him when he finds out that they’re real. Because he sees the real Anna, the one who still dreamed and hoped. Anna never really had innocence, or a childhood. She was having sex at thirteen, long before New York. But with Jackson, she starts to feel cared for and valued. Not for her body, but for her. He showed her what loving someone really meant.
Jackson is not the only secondary character I loved. I also adored Sarah, the social worker who brought Anna home. She becomes a confidant to Anna, and someone she can turn to when she feels that no one else is listening to her, aka her father. Her dad was a real piece of work. I really disliked the fact that he blamed Anna for everything, and he pushed her to ignore all that had happened and just sweep it under the rug (talk about victim blaming and also talk about being exactly what made her want to run away in the first place). He never changed, and I was happy with what happened in regards to him. Though, I am a little still mad with her mother. Her mother WAS scared of going against Anna’s father, but I wish she’d done more for her daughter. The dynamic between her and Anna was interesting. They didn’t have the strongest relationship, but they had a connection.
The plot was really all about Anna, and her starting her life over. It was about her picking up the pieces of her shattered past and moving on, even though it took a long time for her to realize she was MORE than a prostitute. More than Dirty Anna. More than a girl who sold her body for money. That didn’t define her, and neither did the man who took advantage of a wide-eyed, innocent little girl who came to New York with dreams. He snatched them away, but she took them back. She took back her power, and her life. And THAT was a beautiful thing to read. I do want to add that I felt the drama with her old client was a little much, and it felt too easy that everyone, but especially Jackson, found out about her past because of it. However, it did really push Anna into gear in regards to Luis, and how she didn’t deserve to be defined by her past.
Naked was a wonderful contemporary that really forces you to think about prostitution, and what it does to people, especially young women. The way it was talked about, and how Anna processed it all, was really well-written. And, I thought, realistic to the story-line (even though sometimes it made me ragey with the meanness of high school and her father’s victim blaming). But what I loved most about this was the main character’s journey of taking back her life and learning what love really means.
September 10, 2024
3 stars ⭐️
I wanted to love this book so bad but just the way everything was handled was so poorly 😪
I wanted to love this book so bad but just the way everything was handled was so poorly 😪
June 28, 2015
3-3.5 stars.
Naked by Stacey Trombley won’t be for everyone but I don’t shy away from stories that have difficult to read situations. If you’re the same, consider checking this one out.
Anna has never gotten along with her parents. Her father is strict and really only ever worries about the impact her decisions will have on the way people see him and their family. As overbearing as he is, her mom is pretty much one who does whatever he tells her to do and doesn’t really stand up for herself or Anna. Because of these things Anna rebelled. By the age of thirteen she was headed down a path that led her to running away from home.
When she gets to New York City, Anna is pulled into a life she never imagined. After being attacked, she is saved by a man named Luis. From Anna’s perspective, things started out ok and she considers Luis her boyfriend. But things shift very quickly and he has her doing things that no thirteen year old should ever have to do. Eventually he is more her pimp than her boyfriend and the day he “sells” her off to another pimp, things change drastically for Anna.
After being taken to the police station, Anna meets Sarah, a social worker who does a bit of digging. Sarah ends up finding Anna’s parents and after being gone for three years, Anna’s parents take her back home to Westchester. To say her transition from living with Luis and being a hooker to moving back in with her parents is tough is probably an understatement. When she and Sarah sit down with them, it is very clear that they still don’t see eye to eye on some things.
In addition to trying to figure out how to integrate back into her family, she also needs to figure out how to do the same thing with school. One of the things her father forces Anna to do, is physically attend school – no GED for her. As she goes back to school, Anna finds herself drawn to a boy named Jackson and even though there are rumors about her swirling around, she is doing whatever she can to make sure Jackson doesn’t find out anything about her last three years and the things she has done. She wants to “just be Anna” to him and because of that, she doesn’t tell him things that she should have once she started hanging out with him.
The other thing I will mention here is that outside of the relationship aspect of the story, there is a little mystery/suspense too. As Anna goes back to school, she sees someone from her past in the hallways and he isn’t above threatening her to get what he feels he is still owed. As Anna tries to balance her past with the life she is trying to lead now, things don’t always go perfectly. She also needs to face her past, including Luis, and make decisions on how she wants to move forward.
Overall I enjoyed this story. As I mentioned, it won’t be for everyone but if you aren’t afraid of tough topics and enjoy relationship driven stories with a bit of suspense, check this one out.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the review copy.
Naked by Stacey Trombley won’t be for everyone but I don’t shy away from stories that have difficult to read situations. If you’re the same, consider checking this one out.
Anna has never gotten along with her parents. Her father is strict and really only ever worries about the impact her decisions will have on the way people see him and their family. As overbearing as he is, her mom is pretty much one who does whatever he tells her to do and doesn’t really stand up for herself or Anna. Because of these things Anna rebelled. By the age of thirteen she was headed down a path that led her to running away from home.
When she gets to New York City, Anna is pulled into a life she never imagined. After being attacked, she is saved by a man named Luis. From Anna’s perspective, things started out ok and she considers Luis her boyfriend. But things shift very quickly and he has her doing things that no thirteen year old should ever have to do. Eventually he is more her pimp than her boyfriend and the day he “sells” her off to another pimp, things change drastically for Anna.
After being taken to the police station, Anna meets Sarah, a social worker who does a bit of digging. Sarah ends up finding Anna’s parents and after being gone for three years, Anna’s parents take her back home to Westchester. To say her transition from living with Luis and being a hooker to moving back in with her parents is tough is probably an understatement. When she and Sarah sit down with them, it is very clear that they still don’t see eye to eye on some things.
In addition to trying to figure out how to integrate back into her family, she also needs to figure out how to do the same thing with school. One of the things her father forces Anna to do, is physically attend school – no GED for her. As she goes back to school, Anna finds herself drawn to a boy named Jackson and even though there are rumors about her swirling around, she is doing whatever she can to make sure Jackson doesn’t find out anything about her last three years and the things she has done. She wants to “just be Anna” to him and because of that, she doesn’t tell him things that she should have once she started hanging out with him.
The other thing I will mention here is that outside of the relationship aspect of the story, there is a little mystery/suspense too. As Anna goes back to school, she sees someone from her past in the hallways and he isn’t above threatening her to get what he feels he is still owed. As Anna tries to balance her past with the life she is trying to lead now, things don’t always go perfectly. She also needs to face her past, including Luis, and make decisions on how she wants to move forward.
Overall I enjoyed this story. As I mentioned, it won’t be for everyone but if you aren’t afraid of tough topics and enjoy relationship driven stories with a bit of suspense, check this one out.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the review copy.
July 16, 2015
This was one book where the cover drew me in. It was so simple, yet so completely raw. I just had to know what this book was about. Naked tells the story of Anna Rodriguez- a girl who ran away from home at the age of thirteen only to become a prostitute in New York City after meeting up with a man named Luis. In her naivety, Anna looks to Luis as some sort of savior, even after he sells her to another man like she's some sort of good. When Anna is arrested, a caring social worker takes her back home and tries to help her readjust to "normal" life. But the problem is, there was a reason Anna left and that reason seems to still be there.
I know this isn't the first book of it's kind, but it was the first book that I read involving teenage prostitution. It was a very gritty world that Trombley constructed, half that we viewed in flashbacks and half that we viewed in real time. There was her past in New York and then her present as a high school student back at home. But unfortunately Anna's reentry into her life isn't as smooth as one would like. Among the lies and the rumors that follow her around, someone knows her secret.
Anna was a complex character and it was hard at times to really understand her. The author waited forever to tell us the reasons Anna ran away and what exactly happened to her. We got flashes throughout the book, but nothing concrete. It made it hard to sympathize with her when there were no explanations for her actions. Another thing that bothered me was the constant reminder that Luis "saved" her. Almost on every page we were reminded of this fact to the point that I really got tired of hearing about it. Her naivety was showcased throughout the entire book. Anna was extremely frustrating but considering that she was raised in an unloving household and then lived as a prostitute, it's no wonder her personality was a little off.
Throw in a high school setting and it's Mean Girls all over again. Anna is the outcast who finds safety in other outcasts including an adorable nerd boy named Jackson. Jackson was the silver lining of this book, which wasn't shocking considering he was the silver lining for Anna. He rounded out her harsh edges and made her a warm character. The whole time you just wanted her to tell him the truth because you just knew it was going to come out at the worst time.
There were other characters that helped make this book more than just angst - her other friends, the dog, her mom, even the social worker. All played pivotal parts in helping Anna come to terms with her past. Overall, an interesting read about a taboo topic.
I received an e-copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I know this isn't the first book of it's kind, but it was the first book that I read involving teenage prostitution. It was a very gritty world that Trombley constructed, half that we viewed in flashbacks and half that we viewed in real time. There was her past in New York and then her present as a high school student back at home. But unfortunately Anna's reentry into her life isn't as smooth as one would like. Among the lies and the rumors that follow her around, someone knows her secret.
Anna was a complex character and it was hard at times to really understand her. The author waited forever to tell us the reasons Anna ran away and what exactly happened to her. We got flashes throughout the book, but nothing concrete. It made it hard to sympathize with her when there were no explanations for her actions. Another thing that bothered me was the constant reminder that Luis "saved" her. Almost on every page we were reminded of this fact to the point that I really got tired of hearing about it. Her naivety was showcased throughout the entire book. Anna was extremely frustrating but considering that she was raised in an unloving household and then lived as a prostitute, it's no wonder her personality was a little off.
Throw in a high school setting and it's Mean Girls all over again. Anna is the outcast who finds safety in other outcasts including an adorable nerd boy named Jackson. Jackson was the silver lining of this book, which wasn't shocking considering he was the silver lining for Anna. He rounded out her harsh edges and made her a warm character. The whole time you just wanted her to tell him the truth because you just knew it was going to come out at the worst time.
There were other characters that helped make this book more than just angst - her other friends, the dog, her mom, even the social worker. All played pivotal parts in helping Anna come to terms with her past. Overall, an interesting read about a taboo topic.
I received an e-copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 13, 2015
BLOG TOUR FREE ARC
MY REVIEW
MY REVIEW
Anna ran away from her rich abusive father and her submissive mother at the age of thirteen. She hopped on a bus and disappeared for three years. She never expected the turn of events that led her into prostitution. And yet they happened. But Anna gets caught and goes back to her family and school. Rumors fly and bullying starts but Anna tries her best to keep her past away from Jackson, the sweet boy that seems to be her shield. But someone of her past is back and they won't let Anna live in peace as they threaten to destroy her fresh start and unveil all her past.
First off, what an amazing book! It deals with a pretty touch subject-prostitution. And of course, maybe others did that too, i was pretty judgmental of Anna before the story progressed. And i guess that's what the author wanted to show us-there are reasons for everything. Anna is STRONG. I can't really blame her for running away and i agree that most of her decisions were stupid but this book felt like it was about mistakes and fixing them. And no matter how much Anna is victimized because of her young age, i seriously think she's a survivor-not a victim.
I guess i was kind of irritated at times with her because she kept saying how she was 'in love' with Luis, (her pimp i guess?) and how he could never use her. I just wanted to yell at her 'How can you be so blind!' But anyway she has been brainwashed for three years and it had a huge psychological impact on her so i couldn't really blame her.
I loved the writing style. You could really feel Anna's torment and her need for a fresh start. You also get little sneak peaks and flashbacks throughout the story that keep you super intrigued before everything comes together in the end. So basically, Anna's background isn't just given, its just snippets here and there that come together.
Oh Jackson. SO SWEET!!! He's not the popular guy at school-in fact he's pretty much bullied despite being drop dead gorgeous. I loved his easy going relationship with Anna and the fact that he protected her without making her look weak. Okay there is a doggy in this book which i LOVE!!
I think this book is a must read for everyone. It's a story about finding out where you belong and who you really are. Wow that sounded cheesy! But yep that's the truth. The story isn't just about Anna's escape and how she faced her past but also about how her mother faced her problems. It has EVERYTHING a dark contemporary lover would want. Loved that ending and especially the evolution in Anna!!
MY REVIEW
MY REVIEW
Anna ran away from her rich abusive father and her submissive mother at the age of thirteen. She hopped on a bus and disappeared for three years. She never expected the turn of events that led her into prostitution. And yet they happened. But Anna gets caught and goes back to her family and school. Rumors fly and bullying starts but Anna tries her best to keep her past away from Jackson, the sweet boy that seems to be her shield. But someone of her past is back and they won't let Anna live in peace as they threaten to destroy her fresh start and unveil all her past.
First off, what an amazing book! It deals with a pretty touch subject-prostitution. And of course, maybe others did that too, i was pretty judgmental of Anna before the story progressed. And i guess that's what the author wanted to show us-there are reasons for everything. Anna is STRONG. I can't really blame her for running away and i agree that most of her decisions were stupid but this book felt like it was about mistakes and fixing them. And no matter how much Anna is victimized because of her young age, i seriously think she's a survivor-not a victim.
I guess i was kind of irritated at times with her because she kept saying how she was 'in love' with Luis, (her pimp i guess?) and how he could never use her. I just wanted to yell at her 'How can you be so blind!' But anyway she has been brainwashed for three years and it had a huge psychological impact on her so i couldn't really blame her.
I loved the writing style. You could really feel Anna's torment and her need for a fresh start. You also get little sneak peaks and flashbacks throughout the story that keep you super intrigued before everything comes together in the end. So basically, Anna's background isn't just given, its just snippets here and there that come together.
Oh Jackson. SO SWEET!!! He's not the popular guy at school-in fact he's pretty much bullied despite being drop dead gorgeous. I loved his easy going relationship with Anna and the fact that he protected her without making her look weak. Okay there is a doggy in this book which i LOVE!!
I think this book is a must read for everyone. It's a story about finding out where you belong and who you really are. Wow that sounded cheesy! But yep that's the truth. The story isn't just about Anna's escape and how she faced her past but also about how her mother faced her problems. It has EVERYTHING a dark contemporary lover would want. Loved that ending and especially the evolution in Anna!!
September 10, 2015
This book has made such an impact with me it's hard to begin my review on this as it is such a powerful story.
There are so many themes running through this story, hopelessness, empowerment, hurt, loss, betrayal, love, secrets, second chance, what is normal? and naivety. There is something in this story for almost everyone to relate to.
Anna was a teenage runaway, she ran away from her family at age 13 because of her controlling father and his inability to allow her any freedom in her life, and a mother that towed her husbands line, regardless of what she may think or feel. Anna ends up in New York City and on the street. She's taken off the street in by a 'kind' man named Luis. He claims to love her until he decides to submit her to prostitution and become her pimp, manipulating her into thinking this was ok. For 3 years he was pimping her out to her friends and other disgusting clients, until it all comes to abrupt end. We first meet Anna in a police station where she is scared and alone until a lady named Sarah turns up to help her. Sarah manages to save her from the life on the streets, and sends her home to her family where they are now trying to rebuild a life once lost.
This is such a powerful story, I was completely enthralled the entire read. Reading Anna's emotions and how she feels like she's "nothing" was sad but you can see her trying to fight past this and restart her life. She wants to help herself and put her past behind her. She ends up going back to school and making some nice new friends including a boy named Jackson whom she begins to care for, along with a couple of frenemies. Anna and Jackson's relationship is an interesting read with her past being what it was, and her current view of herself. It's progression wasn't what I expected but I did feel that it was fitting for these characters.
It's quite a heavy read for a young adult book, and with a topic such as child prostitution it's probably not for everyone. The story is told from the child herself - Anna, and it felt believable as far as her emotions and her will to survive and have a better life, a life worth living.
Naked is beautifully written and moves at a good pace. I found this book hard to put down and it's stayed with me long after finishing.
There is so much more I could say about this book but I feel I'd be giving too much away. Naked has so many layers to this story and if you're after a gritty young adult read then I recommend this one to you.
Review also posted at Sharon's Book Nook!
There are so many themes running through this story, hopelessness, empowerment, hurt, loss, betrayal, love, secrets, second chance, what is normal? and naivety. There is something in this story for almost everyone to relate to.
Anna was a teenage runaway, she ran away from her family at age 13 because of her controlling father and his inability to allow her any freedom in her life, and a mother that towed her husbands line, regardless of what she may think or feel. Anna ends up in New York City and on the street. She's taken off the street in by a 'kind' man named Luis. He claims to love her until he decides to submit her to prostitution and become her pimp, manipulating her into thinking this was ok. For 3 years he was pimping her out to her friends and other disgusting clients, until it all comes to abrupt end. We first meet Anna in a police station where she is scared and alone until a lady named Sarah turns up to help her. Sarah manages to save her from the life on the streets, and sends her home to her family where they are now trying to rebuild a life once lost.
This is such a powerful story, I was completely enthralled the entire read. Reading Anna's emotions and how she feels like she's "nothing" was sad but you can see her trying to fight past this and restart her life. She wants to help herself and put her past behind her. She ends up going back to school and making some nice new friends including a boy named Jackson whom she begins to care for, along with a couple of frenemies. Anna and Jackson's relationship is an interesting read with her past being what it was, and her current view of herself. It's progression wasn't what I expected but I did feel that it was fitting for these characters.
It's quite a heavy read for a young adult book, and with a topic such as child prostitution it's probably not for everyone. The story is told from the child herself - Anna, and it felt believable as far as her emotions and her will to survive and have a better life, a life worth living.
Naked is beautifully written and moves at a good pace. I found this book hard to put down and it's stayed with me long after finishing.
There is so much more I could say about this book but I feel I'd be giving too much away. Naked has so many layers to this story and if you're after a gritty young adult read then I recommend this one to you.
Review also posted at Sharon's Book Nook!
June 26, 2015
Anna ran away to NYC when she was 13 years old. She was "saved" by a man who claimed to only be looking out for her. Who said that he loved her. That guy was 18 years old. However, he let his friend sleep with her for money and pretty soon he allowed random men to sleep with her for money. Now, three years later, Anna is broken and lost all over again when her pimp sells her to someone else. Luckily for her, she's picked up, mended, and a social worker does all that she can to reunite her with her family. Even though she has escaped the streets of NYC, her past remains to haunt her.
The story starts off with Anna already in police custody. So, if you are worried about reading any explicit details from Anna's time on the streets, rest assured that it is not in here. However, the author definitely eludes to what took place during that time. I thought the author did a nice job getting the point across without throwing it in the readers face. I mean, I've read books along these lines before and they were tough to swallow because they were a little more detailed but I feel like it needs to be said. It's just sad that these things are happening under our noses.
Anna was an interested character. Sure, her childhood was pretty much taken away from her but she doesn't let that hinder her. She doesn't wallow, she doesn't retaliate and act up, instead she assesses everything and reacts accordingly. Her father is rather abusive and with her time as a prostitute she's learned how to handle hostile men. So sadly that came in handy for her when she returned home. However, she has a great support group with her mother and friends at school and I felt like those supporting characters really helped Anna along with her recovery.
Naked is an interesting story. Normally when it comes to these subjects you follow the characters leading up to and during their time as a prostitute. However, Naked shows you what happens to those lucky few who are rescued and brought back home.
Favorite quote...
"You only have to be told once that you don't always have a choice before you realize the truth. You;ll never have as much power as you thought you had. Not over yourself. Not over your destiny. Not at all."
The story starts off with Anna already in police custody. So, if you are worried about reading any explicit details from Anna's time on the streets, rest assured that it is not in here. However, the author definitely eludes to what took place during that time. I thought the author did a nice job getting the point across without throwing it in the readers face. I mean, I've read books along these lines before and they were tough to swallow because they were a little more detailed but I feel like it needs to be said. It's just sad that these things are happening under our noses.
Anna was an interested character. Sure, her childhood was pretty much taken away from her but she doesn't let that hinder her. She doesn't wallow, she doesn't retaliate and act up, instead she assesses everything and reacts accordingly. Her father is rather abusive and with her time as a prostitute she's learned how to handle hostile men. So sadly that came in handy for her when she returned home. However, she has a great support group with her mother and friends at school and I felt like those supporting characters really helped Anna along with her recovery.
Naked is an interesting story. Normally when it comes to these subjects you follow the characters leading up to and during their time as a prostitute. However, Naked shows you what happens to those lucky few who are rescued and brought back home.
Favorite quote...
"You only have to be told once that you don't always have a choice before you realize the truth. You;ll never have as much power as you thought you had. Not over yourself. Not over your destiny. Not at all."
July 18, 2015
I wasn't exactly sure what to expect by Stacey Trombley's Naked. I knew it would be more of a serious book, but I didn't realize how much it would capture me. This story is one of those that will grab you by the throat and take your breath away. If you're looking for a lighthearted read, this book isn't for you. This is a darker story, with darker and more mature themes, and a lot of the time, that type of story really smothers me. The author handled these situations so well, however, that the book didn't come across as too heavy and depressing.
The characters are interesting and complex. Anna has been through something that no girl at 13 should have to endure, and has spent three years living a life that no teen should be subjected to. Now she's back, and struggling to start up a new life, back with her parents, who had been the reason she ran away in the first place. I loved the conflict here, and the fact that there are some surprises waiting for her at home that she didn't expect.
I also loved Jackson. For a love interest, Jackson was great because he was a friend first. There is an innocence and sweetness about him that is exactly what Anna needs right now. For a girl who has no innocence left, for her to be around someone like Jackson is like getting a big dose of hope and innocence back into her life that she might not have gotten otherwise. He is a light in her life, and I think the author picked the perfect person to give her as an escape from what she's been through.
But everything isn't perfect, of course. There are rumors at school, ones that hit really close to home. There's also someone leaving her notes who knows exactly who she is. And although worried, I love the fact that she's no shrinking violet. Where she came from has taught her to be tough and strong. Watching her learn to balance that hard girl she was with the more innocent one she wants to be was alternately sad and gratifying.
The author did a fantastic job working with a very heavy topic. It's about rediscovering yourself after tragedy, and learning to forgive yourself. It was touching and raw and poignant. Fantastic read.
The characters are interesting and complex. Anna has been through something that no girl at 13 should have to endure, and has spent three years living a life that no teen should be subjected to. Now she's back, and struggling to start up a new life, back with her parents, who had been the reason she ran away in the first place. I loved the conflict here, and the fact that there are some surprises waiting for her at home that she didn't expect.
I also loved Jackson. For a love interest, Jackson was great because he was a friend first. There is an innocence and sweetness about him that is exactly what Anna needs right now. For a girl who has no innocence left, for her to be around someone like Jackson is like getting a big dose of hope and innocence back into her life that she might not have gotten otherwise. He is a light in her life, and I think the author picked the perfect person to give her as an escape from what she's been through.
But everything isn't perfect, of course. There are rumors at school, ones that hit really close to home. There's also someone leaving her notes who knows exactly who she is. And although worried, I love the fact that she's no shrinking violet. Where she came from has taught her to be tough and strong. Watching her learn to balance that hard girl she was with the more innocent one she wants to be was alternately sad and gratifying.
The author did a fantastic job working with a very heavy topic. It's about rediscovering yourself after tragedy, and learning to forgive yourself. It was touching and raw and poignant. Fantastic read.
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