Daniel Handler has written for grown-ups under his own name and for younger readers under the name Lemony Snicket. He was dumped at least three times in high school.
Maira Kalman, acclaimed artist and designer, has created many books for both grown-ups and children. Her heart was broken in high school by a boy who looked like Bob Dylan.
* "A bittersweet diatribe of their break-up arranged around
objects....all the more powerful because of how they evoke truth
more than any mere relaying of facts."--Booklist (starred
review)
* "As objects from the box are revealed in Kalman's vividly
rendered paintings, readers are taken beneath the surface of what
will no doubt be one of the most talked-about romances in teen
literature....A poignant, exhilarating tale of a love affair gone
to the dogs."--Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
* "Characters are vivid, and their portrayal is enriched by
realistic dialogue....Hander offers a heartbreaking, bittersweet,
and compelling romance with a unique angle and flare."--School
Library Journal (starred review)
* "Handler is at his best when he's creating verbal collages of
ordinary, recognizable high-school moments....Like the perfect
breakup song, this turns the searing experience of losing your
heart into a cathartic work of art."--The Bulletin (starred
review)
* "Handler shows exceptional skill at getting inside Min's head and
heart...lending real pathos to Min's memorabilia and making her
sorrow all the more palpable."--Publishers Weekly (starred
review)
"Anyone who's ever dealt with a bad breakup will love this
book."--American Cheerleader
"Happiness, passion, betrayal, and despair are detailed in stream
of consciousness....Why We Broke Up is real and
compelling."--VOYA
"It's easy to predict how Handler's story will conclude from the
book's few pages. It's more difficult to take such an everyday
tragedy with a predictable ending and elevate it to an end point of
enduring, emotionally effective art."--Los Angeles Times
"Sure to resonate with all young adults."--Library Media
Connection
"The Lemony Snicket author (writing under his own name)
convincingly inhabits the mind of Min, a teenage girl reeling from
her first heartbreak. This poignant, bittersweet novel centers on a
box of objects infused with memories of her brief, unforgettable
love."--Entertainment Weekly
The Horn Book (starred review)
2012 Printz Honor BookALA Best Fiction for Young Adults TitleSchool
Library Journal Best Book of the YearKirkus Reviews Best YA Book of
the YearBooklist Editor's Choice PickChildren's Book Committee at
Bank Street College Outstanding Book of the Year
Gr 9 Up-Min, short for Minerva, met Ed at her best friend Al's bitter 16 party. They dated, fell in love, and eventually broke up. To get on with her life, Min must dispose of her box of treasures-mementos of their relationship that she has kept since the night of that party. She writes Ed a letter, inspired by every token in the box and the memories surrounding their acquisition, detailing why they broke up so she can leave it all on his doorstep. A classic movie buff, Min compares the events of her life to scenes from her favorite movies and weaves these into her letter. The final CD includes each lovely full-page painting of a memento that introduces each chapter-movie tickets, bottle caps, rose petals, and more. Khristine Hvam's narration has a pleasant cadence and she provides subtle voice changes for the different characters in the novel (Little, Brown, 2011) by Daniel Handler. Her pauses and emphases are a perfect fit for Min's character. There are some f-bombs lightly sprinkled throughout and some mild sexual descriptions. This pleasant story will resonate with anyone who has ever been jilted by the one they thought was the one.-Cynthia Ortiz, Hackensack High School, NJ (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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