Straw People illustrates the relationship between the past and the present, straw people populating the shadowy mindscape like puppet masters manipulating the marionette's disjointed, disturbing dance. Kasey's fists are bloodied against the story, pounding away until spent and breathless on a snowy winter day meant to represent hope, forgiveness and rebirth. The style is sharp, not wasting a single word. Yet, nothing is left to happenstance or guess, creating wonderfully detailed images through the eyes of our protagonist, fifteen-year-old Debra in the aftermath of her rape. The clines and colors are not soothed under this artist's loving hand. Graphic sex and violence are depicted in this book, which could be disturbing to some readers.