Breaking Beautiful by Jennifer Shaw Wolf
ISBN: 978-0-8027-2352-9
Wolf, J. S. (2012). Breaking beautiful. New York: Walker Publishing Company, Inc.
Plot Summary
Allie does not feel like going to school, leaving the house, or doing anything with her life. Never popular, Allie was hated for seemingly stealing Trip, her boyfriend, away from the beautiful Hannah. Now that Trip is dead from a car accident, nothing stands between Allie and the popular crowd. Though Trip’s death was deemed an accident, rumors run rampant, and Allie finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation. A new police investigator in town zeroes in on Allie and her involvement in the accident. In a fit of anger and remorse, Allie throws all her mementos of Trip into the ocean, and sells the expensive gifts he gave her. When these gifts are mysteriously returned, Allie does not know if Trip is haunting her, or if someone else knows her secrets. As Allie works through her memories of the night, she reveals a relationship with Trip that was not as perfect as everyone else thought. Blake, her former best friend and crush, and Andrew, her twin brother with cerebral palsy both want to help Allie, but also have secrets to hide.
It all leads to two final questions: who killed Trip, and why?
Critical Evaluation
Part mystery, part romance, part typical teen fiction, Breaking Beautiful has a bit of something for everyone. The mystery of a car crash that left Allie’s boyfriend dead is relived in a series of flashbacks from Allie’s point of view. She also hints at the relationship as being unfulfilling in some way. As Allie’s memory begins to returns, and her flashbacks more frequent, it is clear the relationship was abusive. Due to amnesia caused by the accident, Allie herself does not know the events leading up to the accident, or how it was caused. Readers, learning about the events through Allie’s eyes, are also left in the dark, and are left hoping another individual will shed light on what happened. Though the relationship between Allie and Trip was shown to be abusive, he hit her and caused bruising, as well as berated and belittled her, many of the other character interactions are told. Allie’s brother enters into a relationship, but other than Allie explaining what her feelings are about the girl, not much is really known about her. Allie and her brother also have cerebral palsy, though to differing degrees of severity, but both also have their equal strengths that make them individuals and special in their own way. They also have a close brother-sister bond that would be the envy of many parents. Blake plays the male best friend, unrequited crush role perfectly. He is the misunderstood bad boy with a heart of gold that one cannot help but love. The mystery often takes second place when Allie and Blake are together.
Reader’s Annotation
Allie had the perfect boyfriend, until he died in a car accident. As she pieces together the pieces that led up to the crash, Allie realizes she’s not the only one with big secrets.
About the Author
Jennifer Shaw Wolf wrote her first book as a child, sewed the pages together, and gave it to her younger brother. Wolf always knew she wanted to be a writer, and in sixth grade, created her own underground newspaper that lasted two issues. While in high school, she worked on an all-girls yearbook staff and wrote all the sports articles because she had three brothers. Wolf published her first book Breaking Beautiful in 2012 and has a second book due September 2013.
Her childhood years were spent on a farm in St. Anthony, Idaho where she milked cows, attended potato harvests, and took Hunter’s Education. During the summer Wolf jumped off bridges and drove up and down the main street looking at guys from nearby towns. After high school, Wolf attended Ricks College and majored in Broadcast Communications where she helped found KWBH, the campus radio station. While playing volleyball with her roommates, Wolf met her future husband. They married a year later and transferred to Brigham Young University, Provo. Jennifer Shaw Wolf now lives in Lacey, Washington with her husband and four children.
Genre
Contemporary Realistic Fiction/ Mystery
Curriculum Ties
Genetics
Booktalking
If you suspected a friend of yours was in an abusive relationship, what do you think you would do?
How would life be different if a sibling had cerebral palsy or another condition?
Reading Level/Interest Level
RL: 6th grade
IL: 8th grade and up
Challenge Issues
Possible challenge issues include protagonist contemplating suicide and was also in an abusive relationship. Another character is a juvenile delinquent, and his mother is an addict.
In my defense file, I would include the following:
1) Library Mission Statement
2) Library Selection Policy approved by any or all of the following individuals—principal, school board, district librarian OR library manager, city council, mayor.
3) Library Bill of Rights adapted from CSLA Bill of Rights, AASL Bill of Rights and/or ALA Bill of Rights
4) Reviews, both positive and critical, from respected sources such as School Library Journal, VOYA, Booklist
5) Rationale for book inclusion for titles anticipated to be controversial, frequently challenged, or created when a book is challenged including: summary, audience, purpose, controversial issues and how they are handled
6) How the book fits within Common Core Standards or State Standards
7) Reconsideration form for challenger to complete—include a section asking which part was of particular concern, if the entire book was read, and what other similar titles are suggested instead
8) Student reviews from those who have read the book and either enjoyed or disliked the book and why.
Why Included
I really liked this novel, and it was a bit different from something I might normally read. I don’t think I have ever read something where the main character was in an abusive relationship. I found it interesting to read about Allie’s thought-processes and her struggle with how Trip treated her. It also covered some important issues such as bullying, disabilities, and the value of good relationships.
Others in the Series
N/A
References
Wolf, J. S. (2012). About me. Retrieved from http://www.jennifershawwolf.com/about-me.htm
ISBN: 978-0-8027-2352-9
Wolf, J. S. (2012). Breaking beautiful. New York: Walker Publishing Company, Inc.
Plot Summary
Allie does not feel like going to school, leaving the house, or doing anything with her life. Never popular, Allie was hated for seemingly stealing Trip, her boyfriend, away from the beautiful Hannah. Now that Trip is dead from a car accident, nothing stands between Allie and the popular crowd. Though Trip’s death was deemed an accident, rumors run rampant, and Allie finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation. A new police investigator in town zeroes in on Allie and her involvement in the accident. In a fit of anger and remorse, Allie throws all her mementos of Trip into the ocean, and sells the expensive gifts he gave her. When these gifts are mysteriously returned, Allie does not know if Trip is haunting her, or if someone else knows her secrets. As Allie works through her memories of the night, she reveals a relationship with Trip that was not as perfect as everyone else thought. Blake, her former best friend and crush, and Andrew, her twin brother with cerebral palsy both want to help Allie, but also have secrets to hide.
It all leads to two final questions: who killed Trip, and why?
Critical Evaluation
Part mystery, part romance, part typical teen fiction, Breaking Beautiful has a bit of something for everyone. The mystery of a car crash that left Allie’s boyfriend dead is relived in a series of flashbacks from Allie’s point of view. She also hints at the relationship as being unfulfilling in some way. As Allie’s memory begins to returns, and her flashbacks more frequent, it is clear the relationship was abusive. Due to amnesia caused by the accident, Allie herself does not know the events leading up to the accident, or how it was caused. Readers, learning about the events through Allie’s eyes, are also left in the dark, and are left hoping another individual will shed light on what happened. Though the relationship between Allie and Trip was shown to be abusive, he hit her and caused bruising, as well as berated and belittled her, many of the other character interactions are told. Allie’s brother enters into a relationship, but other than Allie explaining what her feelings are about the girl, not much is really known about her. Allie and her brother also have cerebral palsy, though to differing degrees of severity, but both also have their equal strengths that make them individuals and special in their own way. They also have a close brother-sister bond that would be the envy of many parents. Blake plays the male best friend, unrequited crush role perfectly. He is the misunderstood bad boy with a heart of gold that one cannot help but love. The mystery often takes second place when Allie and Blake are together.
Reader’s Annotation
Allie had the perfect boyfriend, until he died in a car accident. As she pieces together the pieces that led up to the crash, Allie realizes she’s not the only one with big secrets.
About the Author
Jennifer Shaw Wolf wrote her first book as a child, sewed the pages together, and gave it to her younger brother. Wolf always knew she wanted to be a writer, and in sixth grade, created her own underground newspaper that lasted two issues. While in high school, she worked on an all-girls yearbook staff and wrote all the sports articles because she had three brothers. Wolf published her first book Breaking Beautiful in 2012 and has a second book due September 2013.
Her childhood years were spent on a farm in St. Anthony, Idaho where she milked cows, attended potato harvests, and took Hunter’s Education. During the summer Wolf jumped off bridges and drove up and down the main street looking at guys from nearby towns. After high school, Wolf attended Ricks College and majored in Broadcast Communications where she helped found KWBH, the campus radio station. While playing volleyball with her roommates, Wolf met her future husband. They married a year later and transferred to Brigham Young University, Provo. Jennifer Shaw Wolf now lives in Lacey, Washington with her husband and four children.
Genre
Contemporary Realistic Fiction/ Mystery
Curriculum Ties
Genetics
Booktalking
If you suspected a friend of yours was in an abusive relationship, what do you think you would do?
How would life be different if a sibling had cerebral palsy or another condition?
Reading Level/Interest Level
RL: 6th grade
IL: 8th grade and up
Challenge Issues
Possible challenge issues include protagonist contemplating suicide and was also in an abusive relationship. Another character is a juvenile delinquent, and his mother is an addict.
In my defense file, I would include the following:
1) Library Mission Statement
2) Library Selection Policy approved by any or all of the following individuals—principal, school board, district librarian OR library manager, city council, mayor.
3) Library Bill of Rights adapted from CSLA Bill of Rights, AASL Bill of Rights and/or ALA Bill of Rights
4) Reviews, both positive and critical, from respected sources such as School Library Journal, VOYA, Booklist
5) Rationale for book inclusion for titles anticipated to be controversial, frequently challenged, or created when a book is challenged including: summary, audience, purpose, controversial issues and how they are handled
6) How the book fits within Common Core Standards or State Standards
7) Reconsideration form for challenger to complete—include a section asking which part was of particular concern, if the entire book was read, and what other similar titles are suggested instead
8) Student reviews from those who have read the book and either enjoyed or disliked the book and why.
Why Included
I really liked this novel, and it was a bit different from something I might normally read. I don’t think I have ever read something where the main character was in an abusive relationship. I found it interesting to read about Allie’s thought-processes and her struggle with how Trip treated her. It also covered some important issues such as bullying, disabilities, and the value of good relationships.
Others in the Series
N/A
References
Wolf, J. S. (2012). About me. Retrieved from http://www.jennifershawwolf.com/about-me.htm
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