This story is unflinching in its subject, but you still can’t look away. I can’t say I enjoyed it, but it was definitely powerful. Three middle-school girls (from a low socio-economic class) play a game with the boys at recess. They wear colored bracelets and the boys come over to choose what sex act they will get from the girls under the bleachers. When a new girl comes to town, unkempt, clutzy, sweet Grace, the girls take her under their wing and in an interesting reversal, connect with her and the innocence they have lost. Their “game” stops and they just enjoy spending time with the new girl. However, as things tend to go, Grace responds to the girls’ adult dress, games, etc. and they end up reluctantly teaching her how to steal, put on makeup, dress provocatively. She then wants to play the bracelet game. The girls are disgusted that their innocent friend has become “dirty.” The story ends with Grace going to the boys with her bracelets on and the girls don’t know what happens to her.

I have a young daughter, so this was an unpleasant to read, but it was still an interesting way to go about telling this tale (many have heard of these types of games). I liked the switch up of these girls responding to innocence; I didn’t expect that. But the progression of Grace from innocent to not I did expect. I also didn’t expect the girls’ dislike of it. This was a very provocative tale that did get me thinking about the sexualization of young girls in today’s society and how a return to innocence might be what they could be looking for. Again, this isn’t for the faint at heart, but it’s definitely intriguing.