From the Publisher
Raves for The Art of Breaking Things:
“The next time you think you know all about the school slut, the druggie, the vandal—think again. People are more complex than their reputations, and nowhere is that more apparent than in Laura Sibson’s powerful novel about female empowerment.”
—Leila Sales, author of This Song Will Save Your Life
“The Art of Breaking Things is a precious and daring work; an ode to the healing powers of the creative spirit. Skye breaks your heart just before she mends it back together. From the beginning, readers will believe in Skye because of how deeply and empathetically Sibson depicts Skye’s artistic vision and genuine, searching soul.”
—Cordelia Jensen, author of Skyscraping and The Way the Light Bends
“This book is a battle cry for the silent, scared, and shattered places inside us. Unflinching and lionhearted, this powerful novel is going to change lives and heal hearts.”
—Heather Demetrios, author of Bad Romance
“Sibson has created a flawed and likable narrator who attempts to work through cause and effect, shame and secrecy, avoidance and obligation. With layered nuance, the novel brings to light the impact of sexual assault and the importance of consent.... Triumphant.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Perfect for fans of Laurie Halse Anderson.”—Booklist
School Library Journal
05/17/2019
Gr 10 Up-Sibson's debut novel explores the cracks that form following the unspeakable betrayal of a family member. When Skye was 11, her mother's boyfriend molested her, tearing a rift between Skye and her family and setting her down a path of drinking, drugs, and sex as self-harm. Now a senior in high school, Skye knows her future hinges on securing a scholarship to art school, but her life spirals further out of control as her mother's boyfriend reenters their lives, forcing Skye to confront the damage he caused and the threat he still poses. Beautifully written and informative without being preachy, this book delves into a truly disturbing and common issue. Sibson has tapped into the teenage perspective and language in a way that feels natural and authentic, which is important when dealing with subject matter as heavy as this. VERDICT This moving story is recommended for mature fans of realistic fiction such as Thirteen Reasons Why.-Emily Grace Le May, Williams School, New London, CT
Kirkus Reviews
2019-03-13
Does 17-year-old Skye Murray break things because she is broken, or are these fractures the only way she can try to fix the damage of her past?
Skye breaks her mother's rules, betrays her younger sister Emma's trust, and disappoints her art teacher's expectations, all because she's trying to deal with the fallout of an event that happened when she was 12 years old. Her only healthy way of coping is making art, although she often chooses to get high or hook up with boys instead. Despite her strong support system, which includes best friend Luisa; art buddy Ben (who sometimes feels like more than a buddy); single, hardworking mother; and spirited sister, Skye often feels like she doesn't belong. Her only ticket out of her small town near Philadelphia hangs on a scholarship to the Maryland Institute College of Art. Skye knows she grew up too fast and she's doing her best to make sure that doesn't happen to Emma. But when her mother's ex-boyfriend re-enters their family, Skye is unsure whether she'll be able to protect herself, let alone Emma. All characters are assumed white. In this moving debut, Sibson has created a flawed and likable narrator who attempts to work through cause and effect, shame and secrecy, avoidance and obligation. With layered nuance, the novel brings to light the impact of sexual assault and the importance of consent.
A somber yet triumphant tale of family and fortitude. (Fiction. 14-18)
