When Patricia Cumbie wanted to set her first novel in a working-class neighborhood, she knew exactly where it should be.

"To me, Rubberville and Racine, it's as much of a character in the book as anyone," Cumbie said. "I grew up in a working-class family, and I think Rubberville is the quintessential working-class neighborhood."

Cumbie's novel, "Where People Like Us Live," came out in May. Set in Cumbie's hometown of Racine, the young adult book focuses on a friendship between two girls.

Cumbie, 44, said she wanted to write about a complicated friendship, and what would happen if someone did something about an act of sexual violence. She was driven to write the book because of her own experience as a sexual assault survivor, she said. Cumbie was 18 years old when the assault happened - she had left a party, unaware she was being followed.

"I was so riven with shame," Cumbie said. "It really caused a deep well of self-doubt, as well as a lot of anger."

She started working on recovering from what happened many years later, when she began writing seriously and delving into the subject of the novel. It took her about five years to write the book, and another two years (and 55 rejections) to find a publisher.

The book didn't start out as a young adult novel. While she was looking for a publisher, some agents suggested she try sending it to young adult editors. She said changing the target audience for the novel didn't change her perspective on the story. Instead, it made her excited that her work could be helpful to young girls, she said.

While doing research for the book, Cumbie found that young girls are at the greatest risk for experiencing sexual violence.

"As much as you feel strongly about the topic, it's something that other people don't want to talk about; it makes them uncomfortable," Cumbie said. "It is definitely possible to recover and go on to lead a purposeful and fulfilling life."

Her own life is an example. Cumbie's family moved to Racine, her mother's hometown, from California when she was 3 years old. They lived in Rubberville until she was 8, and then moved around the county. Cumbie graduated from Park High School, 1901 12th St., in 1981.

It was in high school that Cumbie first became interested in writing, working on poetry and stories. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with degrees in English and history, Cumbie moved to Minnesota in 1989. She then started to pursue writing seriously, taking classes and publishing short stories.

Working on "Where People Like Us Live," Cumbie said she was bringing up a subject that affects everyone, but she wasn't sure what people would think about the topic of sexual violence in a young adult book.

"I felt sort of anxious about putting a book out about this topic and what people's reactions would be," Cumbie said. "I've heard so many people share their stories and open their hearts about their own situations."

Stories can be a powerful way to change people's perspectives, Cumbie said, and her book aims to do just that.

"As a culture, we have the power to do a lot more to see the signs of sexual violence in our society," Cumbie said. "I hope the novel gives people tools to do that more readily, opens the door to discussion about how that might change in our own lives."