A sad reality and a constant threat: “Sadie” by Courtney Summers (Warning: contains spoilers!)

Have you ever felt threatened just because you exist?

If not, you’re not a woman.

A book I had to read for school, called Sadie, written by Courtney Summers, talks about crimes against women including sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and even murder. A sad reality and a constant threat for women worldwide.

Before diving into the dark meaning and reality of the book, I want to share how it made ME feel.

Abuse can go unnoticed, it can be hidden and ignored. Either as a coping mechanism or out of fear. Although very aware of it all, living in this world, this book made my soul ache on a deeper level. This book made me think of all the girls, whose youth was stolen from them by disgusting men, it made me think of women whose spark for life was stolen by the same men. It made me think of my mother, of my sister, of my little cousins, of every one of my girlfriends. It made me think and by thinking it made me ache, somewhere deep inside my soul, it made me ache. How the world can be cruel to even the smallest of our girls.

As I mentioned, Sadie is a book about violence and abuse women experience. The story follows a girl, Sadie, who is set on murdering a man she believes killed her 13-year-old sister, Mattie. I won’t write the whole premise here, you can read it on the internet, I will focus on the main themes and what I want to put out into the world with this blog.

In the book, there have been many instances where Sadie was subjected to violence, using her own to counter it. For example, on page 139, where things get heated between her and Silas Baker, he first slams her face on the steering wheel, pulls her out of the car and when she pulls a knife on him, he pushes her on the ground. This is only just an example, and the reality of why he did it and why he was able to do it is, well, she’s a woman. A girl. Physically weaker and smaller than him. Though it does not have to be physical to be noticed, the power that men have. In the beginning of the book, while meeting Caddy, after she asked him about Keith/Darren, he wanted a “favour” in return, a common strategy used to emotionally manipulate women. Though not directly linked to abuse and violence, it is still harassment and generally incredibly degrading to women. Also really disgusting. There is so much of it in this book that I could sit here and write all day.

But I won’t. Instead, I’d like to encourage anyone who might relate to this book, to this blog, to reach out to anyone who might help. There are shelters, there are people willing to listen. For those who can’t relate, raise awareness, learn to recognise the signs of abuse, help each other. It may seem like there’s no hope when the system is against you, but together we can advocate for each other. It is our duty to protect each other.

Furthermore, there’s a dual narrative in the book. A true crime podcast plays a significant role in uncovering Sadie and Mattie’s story. Podcasts like The Girls can be a good thing. They shed light on the reality of the situation and tell a story the victims can’t. However, it’s a sensitive topic. West McCray, the journalist, has a realization that “This isn’t entertainment – it’s someone’s life” showcasing the moral obligation of journalists to prioritise empathy instead of making this a scandal and only bringing attention to it for profit. The podcast in the book, but also true crime podcasts in real life, can be used as platforms for justice if the stories shared are shared responsibly.

Another important thing to mention is where Sadie grew up. In a town where “only the lucky ones get out”, in a trailer. How this corelates to the neglect and the violence in the book is obvious. With limited opportunities many are trapped. With no adequate resources and no external support, it’s hard to survive. The way this is shown in the book is not only in direct quotes, but also in the way the police department wouldn’t go to lengths to find Sadie or Mattie’s killer, and after a while, they stopped looking. No one cared but had it been a big town, had it been a wealthy family, it would’ve been different and there wouldn’t be a book about it.

And I wouldn’t sit here writing this. I wish I didn’t have to. But “I can’t take another dead girl.”

by Anastasija