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Teen Abuse In Anna Quindlen's Black And Blue

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Anna Quindlen’s “Black and Blue” clearly shows readers the feeling of abuse, and how it affects people. This story is about Fran Benedetto, a young woman married to her abusive husband, Bobby where they live together in New York City. Every day she would falsely smile through all the pain. One day, she finally decides to run away with her young son, Robert. Soon enough, she finally reaches Florida; where kind people help her overcome her past life of abuse. She changes her name to Elizabeth Crenshaw, where she begins life anew. As life passes slowly, and no sign of Bobby, Beth takes Robert to his first day at school in Florida, where she meets Cindy Roerbacker, another mother. Beth and Cindy become good friends and share muffins together while their …show more content…
This element is used quite a bit, especially when Fran feels Bobby’s presence around her at all times, as if he’s watching him, these feelings could ultimately lead up to a conflict between them in the later chapters. Due to the fact that this novel revolves around the plot of teen issues, I feel that this book can also be thought of as a messenger. This novel “Black and Blue” is a way for the author to spread awareness of teen abuse. Although I may have not encountered teen abuse firsthand, I am still able comprehend how disturbing and disgusting it can turn out to be. In Grade 7, a police officer came to our classroom to share real-life stories on “Violence and Abuse” in order to help us understand the cruelness of abuse. Although this seminar was 4 years ago, I don’t believe the contents of that tragic story will ever leave my head. The police officer told us about a female teenager who was in a relationship with a boy. The girl was very loyal to the boy, however he would get aggravated due to the smallest imperfections. If the girl would look at another boy, other than the boyfriend for even a small moment, he would verbally abuse her using the most degrading

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