What Unbreakable Looks Like by Kate McLaughlin
- Publisher: Wednesday Books, June 23rd 2020
- Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
- Format: eARC
- Page Count: 336 pages
- My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
Lex was trafficked, and in that life, she was Poppy. When Lex’s aunt Krys came to take her home after the police’s rescue, she had the chance to live as Lex again. But soon, her new boyfriend and his friends sexually assaulted her. Would Lex decide to own her past and fight back as an activist?
Lex was trafficked, and in that life, she was Poppy. When Lex’s aunt Krys comes to take her home after the police’s rescue, she has the chance to live as Lex again. But soon, her new boyfriend and his friends sexually assault her. Will Lex decide to own her past and fight back as an activist?
TW: human trafficking, drug abuse, sexual assault, violence, bullying.
When I finished What Unbreakable Looks Like, I realized I had been crying since page one. And during this emotionally intense reading, I fell in love with both Krys and Lex’s friend Zack. I also found myself immensely proud of Lex.
It must be nice to live in a world where you don’t see the darkness in people.
McLaughlin did not gloss over the fact that many trafficked girls never made it out far enough to stay alive. She also acknowledged the painful truth that bad people exist, and that there are always people siding with oppressors. What Unbreakable Looks Like pictures the world as it is, and the story is ugly, beautiful, painful, and amazing all at the same time.
“I can’t imagine what you’ve been through, but I want to understand you, okay? I want to help you get through this. If you want to talk, I’m here. If you don’t . . . well, I’m still here. Always.”
Krys
I am not even going to pretend that I understand Lex. She has gone through trafficking and her journey of rediscovering herself after being Poppy is far from an easy read. Told in first-person narrative, Lex is always a little emotionally removed. It is her way of coping with the past she does not want. She is also brutally honest with herself, and we know what she is not ready for, when she is unsure, and all the potentially guilty things she is happy about. Since Lex tells everything as it is, her modulated tone allows us readers to also feel our own emotions on top of hers. It is as overwhelming as it should be.
In part two of the story, which is titled “lex,” there are a lot of flashbacks. Through the many flashbacks, we catch a glimpse of what Lex has been through as well as her interactions with her closest friend Jamie during that time. There is enough information for the readers to infer Lex’s life as Poppy with as little triggering details as possible. I think McLaughlin deliberately used flashbacks to provide authentic stories while not derailing from the present, more hopeful main plot.
“You did nothing wrong. I’m going to keep telling you that until you believe it.”
Krys
Despite the many evil and horribly misguided people in the story, there are still wonderful friends and family Lex deserved. Krys and Jamal, Lex’s aunt and uncle who invited Lex home at her worst, are a beautiful pair. Their relationship demonstrates what healthy intimacy looks like. And Lex’s friends Elsa and Zack are both loving and supportive. Other great supportive characters includes Detective Willis, Dr. Lisa, Dr. Bradley, etc. I love how many of these lovely people are of color or queer. Though I usually feel disconnected with picture perfect characters, these almost flawless characters are open and vulnerable and very real. I wish there were more people like them. And I aspire to be like Krys, Elsa, and Zack, who love fiercely, give everything they have to understand their friends, and are just the warmest people ever.
Me against the world is frightening. Us against the world is comforting.
Everyone should read What Unbreakable Looks Like. It is an ugly story on human trafficking, and a beautiful journey of healing, love, owning your past, and finding your voice. [24 Jun 2020]
I received an e-ARC from Wednesday Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
