The Summer of Broken Things

Teens and 'tweed will like the realism and the challenges two "family friends" face on a summer too to Spain. When all seems to fall apart for Avery and Kayla, they learn that selfishness doesn't feel good, that being ineffective when trying to fit in and being kind and using your stats trumps all .Haddix knows her audience and doesn't sugarcoat real poblems

In her most recent book, Margaret Peterson Haddix addresses this question. Two girls, aged 16 (Kayla) and 14 (Avery) go on a trip to Spain with Avery's father for the summer. But why did he invite Kayla to come along when the girls haven't been friends since elementary school? A letter comes and changes everything and the girls have to rely on each other during the Summer of Broken Things. With her usual conversational style, Ms. Peterson Haddix brings us two flawed, fascinating girls and a story you won't want to end.

First I am a die hard MPH fan. I loved this book because it was so refreshing and new. Set in Spain, with two very different girls whose life experiences couldn't be more different. I don't want to spoil it - just read it.

Exactly what my daughter wanted for Christmas as one of her gifts, and delivery was on time as promised! Thank you.

Gave it to my niece for her graduation, she was very happy to have it.

Loved it! If you like her other books, all of which have a twist, you'll love this one, too! I love the growth both girls go through.

The Summer of Broken Things is just that, a story about two girls whose worlds seem to collide and fall apart while on summer vacation together, and the ways it changed them.Avery’s father must travel to Spain for the summer and insists that not only she come with him, but that they bring along a girl she once knew as a young child, Kayla. Both girls couldn’t be more different from each other and Avery feels a little resentment that Kayla is tagging along instead of one of her friends. Tension only gets worse when a secret is revealed that connects the girls in ways they didn’t expect. Now the girls must overcome their feelings of hurt and betrayal and find a way to survive the summer together.I love a story with flawed characters. I love watching them make mistakes and learn and grow from them. Teens are practically hard-wired to be a little selfish and moody. I remember those days and cringe, to be perfectly honest. With that said, it can be a little difficult to read when a character is overly shown in such a light and for much of the novel and that’s where I was with The Summer of Broken Things. The novel goes back and forth in the POV of Avery and Kayla. Avery is very disappointed that she’s not spending the summer playing soccer with her friends and constantly took it out on Kayla. And when her world is seemingly turned upside down, it only got worse. I tried very hard to empathize with Avery but she didn’t make it easy and often came off as completely unlikable. She’s very spoiled and somewhat mean, desperately needing some humility and empathy in her life. There was a bit of growth by the end but I can’t say I was completely satisfied with her character’s overall progression. On the flip side, Kayla was much more my speed. She had trouble fitting in with her peers, instead making friends with the elderly she meets at the nursing home where her mother works. She was meek and awkward but sweet and understanding. She also takes the secret hard and struggles a great deal with how to handle it. But by the end she opens up and holds her own in ways she hadn’t before, with much more confidence in herself. There are quite a few squabble between the girls for much of the book but I was somewhat satisfied with how their relationship resolved by the close.I really think this is a story about two girls thrown together, needing to learn life lessons that the other has already conquered. There’s a strong theme of being thankful for what you have and also that no family is perfect. The plot was overall likable and the twist did bring something different to the table but when you have a story relying heavily on the characters, it can be tough to get through when you can’t connect and I think that was my main issue.

The Summer of Broken Things is a heartwarming YA contemporary about how one summer can change everything.WHAT I LIKED:The Dual POV - The Summer of Broken Things alternates between Kayla's and Avery's POVs. Margaret did a great job of switching between them, and I liked how they both sounded unique. Kayla's reflected her upbeat, bubbly personality while Avery's reflected her moodiness.The Characters - Kayla and Avery couldn't be any more different. Avery's always had everything in life handed to her, and her personality shows that. She's temperamental, needy, and selfish, and if she doesn't get what she wants...well, you don't want to be near her. At first, I couldn't connect with Avery. I couldn't believe some of the things she did and said, especially to her father and Kayla. As the book progressed, Avery did begin to grow and mature and I started to like her a bit more. Kayla, on the other hand, hasn't come from much, but what her family doesn't have in money they've made up for in love. I loved the relationship between Kayla and her mother and her grandparents. It was so incredibly sweet, and after seeing Avery's unhealthy relationship with her own family, it was a refreshing alternative. Over the summer, Kayla also experiences some big changes - she learns to be more than just that "butt girl," and she embraces her body. I loved seeing her find her place in her new environment. I also loved Avery's dad. He was such a saint, and it was sweet how much he wanted to give Kayla and Avery a perfect summer.The Setting - The Summer of Broken Things takes place in Spain for the majority of the story. I appreciated that Margaret included bits about Spain's history within the book - some things even shocked me, I couldn't believe I didn't know them - and I loved the descriptions she included. They were so summery and bright, painting a vivid picture. I also appreciated how she intertwined pieces of Spanish into the book through Kayla and Avery's spanish class.The Meaning of "Family" - Margaret does a great job of addressing all the definitions that the word family can take on, and while I won't talk to much about this fact to avoid potential spoilers, I really enjoyed this aspect. Honestly, I think it was my favorite part of the book, especially when it came to the growth and understanding Kayla and Avery experienced because of it.The Ending - At first, I couldn't believe that was it. I so badly wanted more, but after thinking about it for a few hours, I've decided I really liked it. It's open-ended, but at the same time, it gives the kind of conclusion that I hoped for from the beginning, one of positivity and hope for the future.WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:When it comes down to it there's nothing specific I didn't like. I found The Summer of Broken Things to be an fast-paced, enjoyable read; however, I did sometimes with it would've been more unique. I feel like I've read lots of books like this before - learning there's more to life than money, becoming friends with the person you least expect - and while Margaret did give it a fresh set of eyes through the topics she used, I do wish there was a bit more "zazz."Regardless, The Summer of Broken Things is still a book I would recommend, especially to those who love contemporary YA. I look forward to reading more by Margaret in the future.