Review: Rage

Author: Jackie Morse Kessler
Pages: 213
Publisher: Harcourt
Source: Library
Synopsis: Missy didn’t mean to cut so deep. But after the party where she was humiliated in front of practically everyone in school, who could blame her for wanting some comfort? Sure, most people don’t find comfort in the touch of a razor blade, but Missy always was . . . different. That’s why she was chosen to become one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse: War. Now Missy wields a new kind of blade—a big, brutal sword that can cut down anyone and anything in her path. But it’s with this weapon in her hand that Missy learns something that could help her triumph over her own pain: control. A unique approach to the topic of self-mutilation, Rage is the story of a young woman who discovers her own power and refuses to be defeated by the world.


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If you thought Hunger was intense, wait till you read Rage.

Rage was brutal and raw. There was no sugarcoating anything. The events that happened were horrific but I could see them happening all the same. Missy's life was real in a way. Even though I was desperately hoping she wouldn't hurt herself, I could at least sympathize if not fully understand her perspective. The people around her were so evil sometimes and I couldn't blame Missy for wanting to hurt them. I admired Missy's strength.

Rage was the story of a girl who cuts and gets the choice whether to die or to become War, one of the four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. The girl chooses to live but has to come to terms with her choice and understand the consequences. I love this idea of Horsemen. I was really interested in all the interactions between them. Especially Death, who I'm extra curious about.

The main idea of the book was control. When Missy was angry and wanted to lash out, that line, control stayed with her. Missy's battle with control was realistically done. The book also got me thinking about violence. War, for all her scariness and destructive tendencies did give some lines that really make you think. Everyone wants something but so many people deny it. The idea of being who you are and having people accept that was well written in a non clichéed way.

Only other thing I can remark on is that these books clearly have a purpose and that's probably why they're so short. They stun you with the emotions, but they don't overwhelm you. It's an interesting balance.

All in all, Rage was beautifully written, honest and just an incredible story. I was hooked. 4 stars,

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