Stained Hardcover – October 1, 2013

This book is best described as bare bones. The characters are either cliched or two dimensional and the story is as thin as the characters are. It's also Full of melodramatic angst that's become eye-rolling in recent young adult novels because these characters are mostly just repetitive. You will never learn anything more about Sara other than she is obsessed with superheroes like an eleven year old (which makes me believe this woman really has never read a comic book) and she has a port wine stain that makes her a victim. Her character in in a sentence. Well that and she's such a good person that she'll stand up for anyone and get on her soapbox. (For example in one of her flashbacks she complains to a store clerk at a comics shop that the women superheroes on the cover have too little clothing. This is not only annoying but pretentious because it's written as though we're supposed to agree with Sara as if this is fresh news the author wanted to dump on us.) Her little boyfriend isn't much better as he's perky and so obsessed with Sara that he'll try and solve the case of her kidnapping himself because he has such a heart of gold. Needless to say he's uninteresting. But let's talk about the biggest problem in this book, besides the fact everything from the bullied, ugly teenager to the kidnapping by self deluded rapist is WAY too cliche in young adult novels, the story. Yeah, the story is mostly either 2 things: either Sara locked in a basement with her kidnapper rapist or her boyfriend Nick trying to find a way to get information on her. And both are boring. Nick never does anything to help Sara but you can't really fault him because he's a kid with no detective experience at all. The heroine trapped in a basement plot is slightly more interesting but not by much. Sine she's trapped in a basement there's nothing much to do but angst over her situation and since she has no original character that's not important either. And the rapist kidnapper is bland. He is every other rapist/kidnapper you've ever seen in real life and fiction. He's psychological messed up, deluded into thinking he's in love with his victims, and kills them out of a sense of love. This character trait makes even less sense when its revealed that the reason he does this is because his sister had a port wine stain like all his other victims and she was killed. So what does he do because of this tragic backstory? If you thought that would mean he'd be compassionate towards less fortunate people with deformities and seek to help them then youre wrong. OBVOIUSLY a person whose siater was killedbecause of her deformity would kidnap other port wine stained girls, rape them and then kill them in order to SAVE them. You know, the OBVIOUS life decision. Oh, and he comes back at the end of the book for a cliched and highly improbable shod won by somehow evading all police and barging into his victims room at her own house. Not well written or original, so don't read it

Stained was hard for me to read. I can't tell you why without giving spoilers. Women who have endured violence at the hands of men should be forewarned that this book may contain panic triggers, but there's a powerful message here for both boys and girls - what's inside is far more important than what appears on the outside.Caroline Cooney released The Face on the Milk Carton in 1990 and Lois Duncan spent the entire 90s writing about being victimized after experiencing personal trauma. I haven't read the author April Henry, who writes with similar themes, but Cheryl Rainfield includes Henry as an influence so I've added Henry to my to-read list.Two, working on three, decades later, there's still a need for books like these to help prepare our kids for this world. Duncan, Cooney, and Henry started telling young adults about violence; Cheryl Rainfield took that premise and built on it. She goes one step further, giving details about what happens after reporting the crime - what happens at the hospital. So many court cases are lost because victims don't know what to do after the crime happens. That's my favorite part of this book.

I have read all of Cheryl Rainfield's books, and each time I am left thinking there is no way she can improve or tell a better story. I am always proven wrong.Stained is not only a very interesting and entertaining read, but it is essential for all young adults. Cheryl Rainfield expertly relies on her own past as she teaches young adults (and older ones as well) the importance of accepting others as well as accepting our selves.In many books I have read, the female protagonist has a hero who comes in and saves the day. In this book, the protagonist is her own hero, a point I try to teach my own girls. I am thrilled to see the importance of saving yourself while not becoming hard hearted taught through Cheryl's writing.I wish I could scream from a mountain top and convince every one I know to buy and READ THIS BOOK! It is definitely worth it.

"Stained" By Cheryl Rainfield is a very intense and fast paced book about the strength we all have inside us. The main character, Sarah, goes through some very troubling times and has to get herself out of trouble. As you go through this journey with Sarah you will cry with her. You will cheer her on and you will find that we all have a little more inside us than we give ourselves credit for. By going through Sarah's story, I was able to find some of the strength inside me that I didn't know I had. It pushes readers to the limit. Forcing them to sit on the edge of their seat turning page after page. I never wanted to put it down. I felt like I was there and was able to learn about how all of us have the power to be our own heroes. Its a must read for anyone who likes a good story.

Just a really great book you have to read it at least once in your Life it really does change your outlook

This was an absolutely amazing book! Sarah is such a strong character and her fighting spirit is an inspiration to everyone to never give up. Of course there was a lot of pain in this book but there was also a lot of love. Much like Sarah, Nick and Sarah's parents never gave up even when it seemed that all hope was lost. This is definitely a book that I will recommend to anyone interested in a good read. I absolutely loved this book.

I found this book invigarating and a brilliant read. I have it on my Kindle and have bought it for a few friends. They also like your books. I like sharing the good books I read. I love Stained and it will be something I will learn to be a survivor just like the main character of this book. I want so much to be like her and survive and go on to have a better life.

Author Cheryl Rainfield has another amazing work on her hands. This book could be triggering but it gives hope. "Sometimes you have to be your own hero!" Is a great moral of the story and to see a STRONG Female lead is great! While not intended for very young audiences this book will give all of its readers someone to lool up to.

I just finished reading Stained. I loved that it was written just the way a 16 year old might think and feel in the situations she found herself in.The protagonist went through the full range of thought and emotions that a child might in such a situation.I loved the way the young lady increasingly got insight into the personality and the possible thinking of the criminal as well.The book feels like it is written by a teenager for teenagers, which shows that the writer remembers how young people feel and think.

Such an amazing writer, I read scars and then had to read this as well. It's not as good as scars (but I had a large personal attachment to scars so of course I was going to prefer it) but it's still such a good book. Cheryl is so lovely, and you can tell her stories really come from the heart and her own exsperence. I really have to disagree with the other reviewer, because I feel as if Cheryl wrights real, honest characters who are flawed. That's why her books are so great, her characters often do bad things, say bad things or aren't perfect, but that just makes them more relatable​ and realistic.

My niece really liked it!