Buying Options

Kindle Price:	$13.19
	includes tax, if applicable

Redeem a promotion code or gift card

Share <Embed>

We Can't Be Friends: A True Story by [Cyndy Etler]

Follow the Author

Cyndy Drew Etler

We Can't Be Friends: A True Story Kindle Edition

by Cyndy Etler (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

14 ratings

See all formats and editions Hide other formats and editions

Amazon Price

New from

Used from

Kindle

"Please retry"

$13.19

—

Hardcover

"Please retry"

$25.08

—

Paperback

"Please retry"

$16.19

—

The companion to The Dead Inside, "[An] unnerving and heartrending memoir" (Publishers Weekly)

This is the story of my return to high school. This is the true story of how I didn't die.

High school sucks for a lot of people. High school extra sucks when you believe, deep in your soul, that every kid in the school is out to get you. I wasn't popular before I got locked up in Straight Inc., the notorious "tough love" program for troubled teens. So it's not like I was walking around thinking everyone liked me.

But when you're psychologically beaten for sixteen months, you start to absorb the lessons. The lessons in Straight were: You are evil. Your peers are evil. Everything is evil except Straight, Inc.

Before long, you're a true believer.

And when you're finally released, sent back into the world, you crave safety. Crave being back in the warehouse. And if you can't be there, you'd rather be dead.

Length: 306 pages	Word Wise: Enabled	Enhanced Typesetting: Enabled
Page Flip: Enabled	Language: English	Age Level: 14 - 17
Grade Level: 8 - 12

Customers who bought this item also bought

Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1

Cyndy Etler
41
Kindle Edition
$13.19
Zack Bonnie
56
Kindle Edition
$6.35
Zack Bonnie
8
Kindle Edition
$10.10
Nikki Grimes
80
Kindle Edition
$14.77
Jennifer Longo
25
Kindle Edition
$13.99
Cathy Glass
1,563
Kindle Edition
$8.99

Product description

Review

"Etler's gutsy present-tense narration of her feelings of insecurity and isolation is interwoven with the sublime moments of joy she experiences in music, in writing, and in her relationships; her prose dazzles with infectious verve. A powerful story of a survivor whose irrepressible personality shines throughout even her darkest moments.
" - Kirkus

"This is a gritty, hard-hitting, and, for many readers, unfortunately necessary exploration of what's really behind the lures of self-destructive behaviors, and what real recovery is and isn't.
" - Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books --This text refers to the hardcover edition.

Product details

ASIN : B071J95FB5
Publisher : Sourcebooks Fire (3 October 2017)
Language: : English
File size : 1667 KB
Text-to-Speech : Enabled
Screen Reader : Supported
Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
X-Ray : Not Enabled
Word Wise : Enabled
Print length : 306 pages
Page numbers source ISBN : 1492635766

Best Sellers Rank: 1,300,752 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- 40 in Substance Abuse Social Issues for Young Adults
- 146 in Depression & Mental Health for Young Adults
- 222 in Books on Dating & Intimacy for Young Adults

Customer Reviews:
14 ratings

Customer reviews

5 star		90%
4 star 0% (0%)		0%
3 star		10%
2 star 0% (0%)		0%
1 star 0% (0%)		0%

How are ratings calculated?

Review this product

Write a customer review

Top review from Australia

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

A bold and haunting story

Reviewed in Australia on 27 October 2017

A brave book. I received a free copy of this book, and did not know what to expect. It is a brutal and horrific memoir, and there are no doubt many trigger warnings attached to it. I have read through some of the reviews, and many talk about the horrific cult-like 'rehab' program. The takeaway for me was victim-blaming. This happens to Cyndy throughout - by her mother, her 'friends', her mentors, strangers. She is labelled (incorrectly), forced into rehab because her mother (who seems mentally ill) can't deal with her attempted suicide, brainwashed, and then shamed and blamed for every single thing that happens to her, including being raped repeatedly when she was a child.

This is not a story simply about survival or designed to shock. It is a critical examination of our society, and what we STILL perceive as normal and acceptable. What happened to Cyndy was in NO WAY her fault. Victim-blaming needs to end.

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

La Contessa

For teens and parents who need a little perspective when life gets complicated

Reviewed in the United States on 10 June 2018

Verified Purchase

AMAZING book - recommend for any teen or parent going through the struggle - ANY struggle - drugs, eating disorders, social, academic, family, abuse, trauma - the author's story is at once tragic, funny, uplifting, and ultimately hopeful. If SHE got through all of this as a teen, ANYTHING is possible for us and our kids. It's an easy read as well - she gets the point across about difficult moments without pulling the reader into the darkest, scariest, most depressing moments which I really appreciate as a mom. I recommend this book because if you're looking at this book and reading my review, you know already that there are WAAAAY too many details that are currently happening in your family life that you may not be able to share with anyone. Being a parent with a teen who struggles is isolating, because every other parent you're likely to run into is a dedicated cheerleader and PR agent for letting the world know how amazing/talented/successful/funny/brilliant/well balanced their perfect child is. Trust me - they are leaving out a lot of the uglier details when they recount the semester's highlights. This book reminds me that I'm not alone in my struggle as a parent and more importantly, it lets me know that no matter how crazy and difficult things are today, it will all turn out ok. Things will get figured out. It won't always hurt as much as it does today. From social drama at school to dysfunction at home, Cyndy Etler's story is honest, funny, engaging and authentic and I can't imagine navigating my teen's current set of issues without the context, wit, hope and laughs this book provides.

2 people found this helpful

Marjorie

One of the most important books you will read.

Reviewed in the United States on 23 October 2017

Verified Purchase

Beautifully written. Cyndy Etler is a true artist with the pen. While her story is horrific and frightening, she manages to provide humor and insight into her experiences. This book is extremely important, as it gives children and teens, and especially sexual assault victims, a voice that they don't otherwise have. Hopefully parents and caretakers (teachers, administrators, etc.) will listen to her story. And you will also understand why "we can't be friends".

3 people found this helpful

Deborah M. Jacobs

Great service

Reviewed in the United States on 27 February 2019

Verified Purchase

Thank you!

Kendra R. Schoenfeldt

Good condition

Reviewed in the United States on 26 December 2018

Verified Purchase

Good book my teen likes it

Kristin Torkelsen

Good but not great

Reviewed in the United States on 11 November 2017

Verified Purchase

I read the first book and it was pretty good. This one is good but a lot of it is just 'things happening' and no real direction. I love love love books and love reading but this wasn't as awesome as I thought. First book was better. I still recommend it for closure after the first book and she is a good writer... just didn't love the book.

See all reviews

Buying Options

Follow the Author

Similar authors to follow

We Can't Be Friends: A True Story Kindle Edition

Customers who bought this item also bought

Product description

Review

Product details

Customer reviews

Review this product

Top review from Australia

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Top reviews from other countries