Eleanor Rosenthal

Novacane Eleanor Rosenthal

I wish I could tell the fourteen-year-old Julia that one day, she'll go to Paris. She'll lay on the beach in the French Riviera, and her soul will be cleansed by the calm waves of the Mediterranean Sea. I wish I could tell her that, yes, there are obstacles awaiting her-that'll make her feel like she's taking a walk through the depths of Hell. But that, there will always be good embedded within the bad; you just have to know where to find it. I wish I could tell the fourteen-year-old Julia that when it seems like there's no light in a given situation, not to worry; there will always be a door, just within reach, bound to let in the light. All you have to do is walk toward it. Novacane is a story of love, heartbreak, friendship, hope, and coming to terms with the past. As the main character unravels stories of her childhood, painting a vivid picture of what it is like to endure psychological trauma, overcome an abusive relationship, and struggle with an eating disorder-you will find bits and pieces of yourself. It is sometimes the moments that we are least proud of that lead us to the path we are meant to walk on.