Because I Am Furniture

This was a pretty good book. The way it was written was very interesting. It follows a young girl in an abusive family. She's the only one that is not really abused because it is almost as if she is stuck in the background but she continually sees the way her father beats her mother and siblings. And eventually, she decides to do something about it. She wants to gain the attention of her father because perhaps abuse is a form of love. Good read, quite emotional and sad.

Anke's father is abusive to her siblings but not to her - she's thus a witness to his horrors warranting no attention. She's passive and frightened, until she joins the volleyball team at school and learns how to build confidence and her own voice both on the court and at home. A different story of abuse and recovery evolves in a strong young adult tale of courage and exactly how it takes shape.

I always find it hard to say a lot about verse novels so this will be a short review. Because I Am Furniture is one of those books that once you start, you lose track of time until you flip the final page. It's powerful, emotional, and, unfortunately, will hit home with some readers. This is the first time I've read anything where the MC was only an on-looker to abuse at home and I'd never really thought about it before. Anke is a character easy to relate to, especially since we don't know that much about her. Characterization doesn't really happen in verse novels so you never know anything about the characters that isn't extremely pertinent to the plot. However, the plot moved fast enough that none of the characters fell flat. The ending of Because I Am Furniture is my favorite because everything fell together but still left a lot of room for you to imagine what happened next. The appearance of Kyler was also very nice. =) Definitely recommended.

I picked Because I Am Furniture off a cart of books being processed this afternoon and started paging through it. I was a little put off by the "in verse" style, but after reading the book jacket, decided to give it a try. Wow. Although this is a heavy subject, the book is easy to read. I am in awe of Chalta's storytelling; every word counts and there is no filler. We are in Anke's head, and it's not an easy place to be. She is vaguely aware of the abuse her father piles on her mother and two older siblings, but the family is in a conspiracy of silence. She understands that it's pathetic to feel left out of the abuse, but one can't help what he or she feels. Being spared means being ignored, being ignored means being worthless. Entering high school, she defies her father by joining the volleyball team. This decision has unforeseen consequences on the entire family. Once Anke discovers her sense of self-worth, she becomes a force to be reckoned with. Highly recommended!

Smashingly well done. The verse takes you into the story in a most unexpected way, what you might imagine if being allowed to step into another person's mind for a visit. Hauntingly authentic, inspiring and a must read.

Thalia Chaltas' BECAUSE I AM FURNITURE is on a short (very short) list of books that have impacted me as a person, not just a reader. I was hooked from dedication to final line and had to read the book buried under my covers. The novel is a chilling look at abusive relationships and I hope other girls will read it and find their voice. Eagerly awaiting Thalia's next novel.