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Book Review of The Art of Breaking Things

The Art of Breaking Things
virgosun avatar reviewed on + 886 more book reviews


This story will resonate to those who've experienced sexual abuse and the spiraling behaviors that often develop when attempting to numb their traumatic experiences. Skye is an everyday type of teen who makes unwise choices and uses art to channel her emotions. She's a good kid with a bad reputation who determinedly protects her younger sister and tries to hide her growing attraction to her best friend, Ben, for the sake of preserving their solid friendship. And even though she's got a lot on her plate to deal with, and despite the topic, this is not a heavy read. I especially like the way Skye takes mental snapshots of her family and friends while naming the scene and type of medium she'd capture it in. It gives the reader who doesn't know anything about art insight into how creatives find art in everyday stuff. It's very cleverly done and inspiring, too, to see how Skye and Ben transform from stoners/drinkers to clear-eyed young adults making cognizant choices. I loved it! 4.5 stars.