Anna remembers a time when her mom would hold her close and tell her that more than anything in the world, she wanted a little girl; a little girl so she wouldn't be alone anymore. But Anna wasn't enough, and her mom moves from one marriage to the next, leaving Anna alone to raise herself. Anna quickly learns that boys can fill the void in her life, but at what price?

USES FOR BOYS is a stunningly powerful novel. Anna's struggle to find love and family is starkly and beautifully written, pulling the reader deeper into Anna's world. The prose grips you from the very first sentence and doesn't let go because Anna is a complex and fascinating character. Her fear of being alone pushes Anna into using sex to build a family of her own, but the downfall of her actions is that she continually alienates the other girls at school and boys her own age laugh at her.

I highly recommend USES FOR BOYS, but be aware that this YA novel involves explicit sexual content. While the sex isn't graphic in nature, (insert-tab-b-into-slot-a type writing), Ms. Scheidt doesn't shy away from the various encounters and how Anna feels about them. Without giving away the entire plot, there are also several references to subjects that always make the banned book list. I'm never for banning a book, but I am for parents being an active part of their teen's education, especially the uncomfortable talks about sex and drug use. As a parent, I encourage you to read the same books as your child or teen. As a teen, I encourage you talk about these complex issues with your parent. Having said that, I wish I'd been given this book to read as a teen. The struggle to learn who you are and where you fit into the world doesn't have to be done alone and USES FOR BOYS emphasizes that.

USES FOR BOYS deftly and sensitively explores the complex and varied ways teen girls explore their sexuality. Written in stark and evocative prose, Erica Lorraine Scheidt crafts a powerful novel about hope and love.