'Brad's Girl' Mirrors Some Real-Life Teen Relationships

I was so happy to be Brad's Girl.

Bradley Jennings was his name. Brad was the boy that had managed to steal my heart.

He was also the boy who would kill me.---From "Brad's Girl"

DID YOU KNOW?

• 1 in 3 teenagers report knowing a friend or peer who has been hit, punched, kicked, slapped, choked or physically hurt by their partner?
• Nearly 1 in 5 teenage girls who have been in a relationship said a boyfriend had threatened violence or self-harm if presented with a break-up13% of teenage girls who said they have been in a relationship report being physically hurt or hit?
• 1 in 4 teenage girls who have been in relationships reveal they have been pressured to perform oral sex or engage in intercourse?
• More than 1 in 4 teenage girls in a relationship (26%) report enduring repeated verbal abuse?
• Nearly 80% of girls who have been physically abused in their intimate relationships continue to date their abuser?

Boys can be abused too? Some research shows that males are hit by girlfriends as often as females are hit by boyfriends, although males are much less likely to sustain physical injury than girls and less likely to report abuse. This issue is controversial, but the fact is that it is NEVER okay for anyone to hit anyone else.
---From pbs.org

'Brad's Girl' by Author Shay Collins is a short story that shines light on an alarming situation: teen dating violence. The author penned the book with the hopes of 'helping the save the life of at least one teen.' The book, published by Borderhouse Publishing is part of an initiative to help end domestic violence among teens.

 'Brad's Girl' is available on Amazon.com.