The art of breaking things

Format:

Book

Title:

The art of breaking things

Author:

Sibson, Laura author

ISBN:

9780451481115

Publication:

New York : Viking, 2019.

Physical Description:

390 pages ; 22 cm

Summary:

Skye turns to her best friend Ben when she is forced to confront her abuser after her mother rekindles her relationship with a former boyfriend.

Art school is Skye's ticket out; all she has to do is survive her senior year, not get too drunk at parties, and be there for her little sister, Emma. Then her mom's ex-boyfriend slithers his way back into her family. They have no idea about the dark secrets about him -- and Skye never thought she would have to face him again. After years of hiding her past, she must protect her sister from the monster in their midst.-- adapted from jacket.

Subject(s):

Sexually abused children -- Juvenile fiction.

Mothers and daughters -- Juvenile fiction.

Friendship -- Juvenile fiction.

High school students -- Juvenile fiction.

Sexually abused children -- Fiction.

Mothers and daughters -- Fiction.

Friendship -- Fiction.

High school students -- Fiction.

Genre:

Holds:

Available:*

Library	Call Number	Status
Searching... Salem Main Library	TEEN Sibson, L.	Searching... Unknown
Searching... Monmouth Public Library	YA Fic Sibson, L. 2019	Searching... Unknown

Bound With These Titles

On Order

Summary

In the tradition of Laurie Halse Anderson and Sara Zarr, one girl embraces the power of her voice: rules are meant to be broken and she won't stay silent.

Weekends are for partying with friends while trying to survive the mindnumbingness that is high school. The countdown to graduation is on, and Skye has her sights set on escaping to art school and not looking back.

But her party-first-ask-questions-later lifestyle starts to crumble when her mom rekindles her romance with the man who betrayed Skye's boundaries when he was supposed to be protecting her. She was too young to understand what was happening at the time, but now she doesn't know whether to run as far away from him as possible or give up her dreams to save her little sister. The only problem is that no one knows what he did to her. How can she reveal the secret she's guarded for so long?

With the help of her best friend and the only boy she's ever trusted, Skye might just find the courage she needs to let her art speak for her when she's out of words. After years of hiding her past, she must become her own best ally.

Author Notes

Laura Sibson worked for years as a career counselor for undergraduates before getting her MFA from the Vermont College of Fine Arts. When she's not writing, counseling, or drinking impossibly strong coffee, you can find her running miles around her home in Philadelphia, walking her dog, or ingesting pop culture (along with great takeout) with her family.

Reviews (3)

Horn Book Review

Ever since her mom's one-time boyfriend molested her when she was a preteen, Skye has been caught in a cycle of self-destructive behavior. Now, at seventeen, she desperately wants a chance to start over at art school--but then her abuser reenters her family's life. Sibson's debut offers a thoughtfully written portrayal of trauma and its lasting consequences. (c) Copyright 2021. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Kirkus Review

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) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Booklist Review

Skye is a talented artist who can't wait to attend art school after graduation. In the meantime, she loves making art, getting stoned, and partying with her friends. When Skye's mother's ex-boyfriend, Dan, a sleazeball in academic clothing, comes back into her world, Skye doesn't know what to do. Dan is demanding and critical, and his presence chafes against the damage he inflicted on Skye when she was 12. As a result, Skye feels the need to abandon her scholarship and shield her 12-year-old sister. Facing the truth she's suppressed since that night while camping, Skye is empowered and sheds the guilt she's carried for years. Sibson's beautiful debut runs the gamut of emotions, allowing her protagonist to fail and make bad choices without judgement, so that Skye can find the courage to positively use her voice. In this realistic, heartrending portrayal of the lasting harm caused by sexual abuse, Skye's memories are parsed out, giving her space to explore the conflicting emotions and questions they incur. Perfect for fans of Laurie Halse Anderson.--Jeanne Fredriksen Copyright 2019 Booklist