Reference Reviews

Doug's Student Reference Room

Self Mutilation. Edited by Mary E. Williams. Detroit, MI: Greenhaven Press, 2008. 228 p. ISBN 13: 978-0-7377-3828-5; ISBN 10: 0-7377-3828-6. $36.20

Self Mutilation When Patricia McCormick’s novel “Cut” was published six years ago, our high school library could not keep that book on the shelf, and it remains among the most popular titles in our collection today. The growing phenomenon of self-mutilation is a topic of great interest to teens, either through empathy or natural curiosity, and this Opposing Viewpoints volume does a thorough jog of examining the issue. The opening chapter is particularly strong, addressing the question, “How Serious a Problem is Self-Mutilation?” The first essay addresses the audience directly and is clearly written with teens in mind, emphasizing the seriousness of the problem and offering specific advice to get help. This is followed by a first-person account of a person who acted on her physician’s advice to stop cutting, only to fall into deeper psychological trouble, emphasizing the importance not just of changing behaviors, but of paying attention to the psychological needs behind them. Without minimizing the seriousness of the disorder, the third essay emphasizes the contradictory point that self-mutilation does not indicate a greater risk of suicide and may even be a survival strategy. The chapter closes with a piece reminding us that contrary to popular perception, self-injury extends not just to females, but to males as well. The second chapter explores the connection between body modification—tatooing, piercing, and even cosmetic surgery—and self mutilation. The third chapter offers several theories about causes for self-mutilation, while the final chapter looks at the most effective responses to the behavior. In the best sense, much of this volume is not opposing viewpoints per se, but rather, a deep examination of the topic through a variety of lenses. Each chapter begins with an overview and concludes with a bibliography of periodical articles; an annotated list of helpful organizations, a bibliography of related books, and an extensive index follow the chapters. Highly recommended for high school, public and college libraries.

—Doug Achterman