WhenImogen,asixteen-year-oldblackbeltinTaeKwonDo,freezesduringaholdupatalocaldiner,thegunmanisshotandkilledbythepolice,andsheblamesherselfforhisdeath.Beforetheshooting,shebelievedthatherblackbeltmadeherstrongerthaneveryoneelsemoreresponsible,morecapable.Butnowthathersenseofselfhasbeenchallenged,shemustrebuildherlife,aprocessthatincludesredefiningherrelationshipwithherfamilyandnavigatingfirstlovewiththeboywhowasatthedinerwithherduringtheshoot-out.Withaction,romance,andacomplexheroine,Bruisedintroducesavibrantnewvoicetotheyoungadultworldfullofdarkhumorandhardtruths.PraiseforBruisedSTARREDREVIEW"Offeringpsychologicaldramaandanintroductiontomartial-artscodeofbehavior,thebookhasameaningfulmessageaboutpower,control,andtheinternalbruisescarriedbyvictims."PublishersWeekly,starredreview"Herstoryiscompelling,andreaderswillstickwithherasnewinsightsbringaboutabelievableshiftinherbehavior…Thisdistinctivedebutwillbeappreciatedbyfansofcontemporaryfiction."KirkusReviews"Thislayeredfirstnovelexplorestheaftereffectsofthetrauma,convincinglydepictingwhyImogenblamesherselfforasituationoverwhichshehadnocontrol.SkiltonalsosensitivelydepictsthebondandtentativeromancethatdevelopsbetweenImogenandRicky.ThemainstorylineaboutImogen’sstruggletocometotermswithwhatshedid(anddidnotdo)isnuancedandhonest."HornBook"Thisisausefulexplorationofthedifferencebetweenfantasy-styleomnipotenceandthecomplexityofreal-lifehumanstrength."BulletinoftheCenterforChildren'sBooks"Skiltondoesafinejobcapturinghowapsychologicalprocessaftertraumacantaketimeandmightmanifestinunique,sometimesunexpected,ways."