Reading ‘No Shame’ will hopefully open everyone’s eyes to the injustice of it all, and the wrongly placed blame and encourage people to get angry about the way court works. It’s actual terrible, and made my blood boil on so many occasions but it’s the sad reality for most cases.

There’s further exploration into the way rape cases are perceived by the media/jury/eyes of the law.

The companion is all about the court trial Stacey is convinced by in order to get justice. ‘No Virgin’ is the perfect stepping stone for a dialogue about sexual assault and the effects it has on the victim. I’d really recommend picking up this series if you’re interested in exploring these themes and how they’re portrayed in YA, without being too heavy. Obviously, every rape that you read about, fictional or real, is terrible, but ‘No Virgin’ certainly isn’t as harrowing and dark as the books of Louise O’Neill or ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’. (The ending is particularly supportive, delivering the most hopeful speech when Stacey phones the Rape Crisis Centre.) It’s powerful and important, with a positive message about seeking the support from friends, family and charities that specialise in helping rape victims. The story is unassuming at first, but tinged with something terrible that you can’t avoid thinking about on every page. She lays out the circumstances that led to the horrific event and what happened immediately after. Stacey Woods has been raped and this is her story. *Note: We received ‘No Shame’ from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

No Virgin by Anne Cassidy