The Questions Within

Cutting Edge

by Teresa Schaeffer

For most of her childhood Geena has felt like an outcast. She‘s not quite like other girls; somehow she’s ‘different’. But when Geena meets new boyfriend Sean, things seem to change. So begins a journey through anger, shame, and loneliness—and to a gradual realization that brings both strength and pride.

Cutting Edge is a new fiction series for teenagers and young adults, dealing with difficult issues and situations. The books are fast-paced quick reads, focusing on aspects of the tougher side of life, a side of life many of the readers will have experienced and can identify with. Issues covered in the first five books in the series self-harm, incest, suicide, and gay sexuality.

Genres: Fiction

143 pages, Paperback

First published September 3, 2008

About the author

Teresa Schaeffer is a five-time published author, a produced screenwriter and an independent film producer. She is co-owner of the independent production company, Rhodesclosed Productions, and is producing the upcoming horror movie, "One Not Taken" alongside producers Danny Rhodes and Lisa Cisneros in addition to the horror/comedy, "Inherited" and the thriller project, "What Goes Up."

Two of Schaeffer's most recent YA novellas (part of the Cutting Edge Series for Young Adults), "The Questions Within" and "A Forgotten Tomorrow" are available as a trade paperback and digital download from Ransom Publishing as well as Saddleback Educational Publishing.

Teresa is currently working on a series of fiction novels as well as a variety of film and television projects.

You can keep up with Teresa on her Twitter @schaefferteresa

Reviews

[Taruni · Rating 1 out of 5]

The description says her name is Geena in some places, and Constance in others. The protagonist is Constance, if you wanted to know. Apparently the book is about acceptance, self-esteem, and sexuality. While I did see where sexuality comes in, I don't understand how it is about acceptance. the description also states that Constance is a tough, sentimental, independent girl. She is sentimental, alright. I understand that she is a middle schooler and needs time to make friends and express herself. But there was a whole lot of anger issue and destroying stuff at home because she can't understand what her mother is trying to say. There was no character development or a change in the protagonist anywhere in the book. The only part I found alright was how she was attracted to a girl and figured out her sexuality. I don't think I'd ever recommend this book to anyone unless you want to waste your time.

[Madds · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't even know how to begin to list all of the problems I had with this book... I guess I'll start from the get-go:
1) The description is off. Her name is Constance, not Geena (though I can't tell which one is worse) and her best friend, Kara, is the one that "changed" her life, not Sean, who is barely in the book at all. I could probably count on two hands the number of times he's mentioned.
2) The writing style is so BASIC. I legitimately picked up this book thinking I would get a heart-wrenching story about finding yourself amidst pain, struggle, and discrimination, but that's the opposite of what I got.
3) There was basically no change described whatsoever. The book barely talks about her mental process, and how she got from the bottom of the emotional spectrum to the top. It was just too abrupt and not very well explained.
4) The conventions in this book were awful. I'm only a sophomore in high school, but at least I can correctly place a comma. Maybe I'm just a super-freak grammar nerd, but this was the issue that bothered me the most throughout this entire book-- I kid you not. The fact that it was missing SO MANY COMMAS that were needed completely destroyed any credibility the author and editors of this book had in my eyes.

Overall, I strongly suggest not reading this book if you don't feel like wasting your time. Thank God it was short; I don't think I could've tolerated any of these shortcomings much longer.

[Rynne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Description is wrong. Main character's name is Constance, not Geena, and it's not her boyfriend Sean that changes her, but her friend Kara.
All in all, an interesting little read, but not much substance to it and a not entirely satisfying ending, although it was nice in the sense that she overcame her insecurities and anger issues with hope for the future.

[Michele · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was not that good. It made things to simplistic to me. Constance is questioning her sexuality. The book spends about 140 pages detailing her problems from junior high to high school. But in 6 or so pages her life is all the sudden getting better. It just didn't work for me.

[Elsa · Rating 3 out of 5]

By no means a great book, but pretty darn good for what it is. Short and easy to read story about a girl who is having her sexuality questioned by herself and others.