Crosses — Shelley Stoehr

An ALA Best Book for Young Adults, an ALA Quick Pick, and an ALA Recommended Book for Reluctant Young Readers

Nancy and Katie are best friends with one big thing in common -- they both cut themselves: “Not by accident, we do it purposely -- and regularly -- because physical pain is comforting, and because now it has become a habit.”
 
Crosses was the first novel for young adults to deal with an increasingly widespread disorder, and “graphically describes the cry for help of many adolescents and how far they have to fall before they are even noticed” (Voice of Young Adults).