Christine Kohler

Jul 20, 2013 5:40 AM EDT

Another recent book dealing with rape is Alina Klein's, RAPE GIRL. Alina was actually raped as a teenager and she unflinchingly deals with the aftermath on a young woman's life.

- Shannon Hitchcock

Jul 20, 2013 10:47 AM EDT

Thank you, Shannon, for adding this title by Alina Klein. I have not read this novel nor had the privilege of meeting Alina. Beth Fehlbaum has also been very open about having been sexually abused as a child and so her books deal more directly with the active abuse and aftermath than my book does.

It would be interesting to know if Alina's book is being taught in schools and how teachers have handled the topic.

- Christine Kohler

Jul 15, 2013 4:28 AM EDT

I think that, just like everything else in literature, you can't make blanket statements about whether something "should" or "shouldn't" be in a novel. You make valid points both for and against prologues, so the answer is (and always will be)..."it depends." Great article!

- Kym Brunner - author of Wanted: Dead or In Love

Jul 15, 2013 5:01 AM EDT

As a writing teacher, my guideline for prologues was that they should be necessary to both the internal and external arcs of the story.
Or put another way, if you need it, use it. If you don't, don't.
Blanket rules about writing don't do much for me. There always are exceptions, the trick to success being: whatever it is, do it brilliantly.

- Cynthia Leitich Smith

Jul 16, 2013 6:03 PM EDT

I agree wholeheartedly with you both, Kym and Cyn. And thank you for expressing the 'test' so brilliantly, Cyn!

- Christine Kohler