monique polak

Monique Polak's Books

scarredPublisher: James Lorimer, 2007

Becky was once a promising skating star, but these days she feels numb, disconnected, and very lonely. The only way she knows how to relieve pressure is to cut herself. Now a gifted girl she coaches seems to be skating down a similar path.

Will Becky have the strength to help her young friend and face her own past?

--“What I love about this novel is the tight writing. It’s a short book and every word counts. Even as the reader is repulsed by Becky’s actions, they do make sense in a world without choices. I also like the fact that Monique has worked into the story a way to self-heal. This book is … a great read.” – Brantford Expositor

--"Scarred breaks new ground as a novel about self-injury.... Given the obvious dangers with this shockingly common destructive behavior, society at large and schools in particular must directly address this issue. Scarred is a good place to start.... The novel's brevity does not compromise the believability of the characters or the conflict." -- Resource Links

Monique's Blog

05 June 2026
I don't think I've told you yet, dear blog readers, but I'm the Montreal Jewish Public Library's new...

Latest News

Breaking news!

Remember This: The Fascinating World of Memory (Orca) was nominated for both The Lane Anderson Award for Canadian Science Writing -- Young Reader Category, and the Quebec Writers' Federation Janet Savage Blachford Prize for Children's and YA Literature.

Yasmine, Experte en Scènes de Crime (the French translation of Forensics Squad Unleashed) was recently published by Les Editions Héritage. The novel was translated into French by Rachel Martinez.

Vois tout ce qu'il te reste (the French translation of What World Is Left) was recently published by Septention. The novel was translated into French by Rachel Martinez.

The Korean version of Planet Grief was recently published by Changbi Publishers.

 

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