Monday, January 9, 2012

Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler

Title: Why We Broke UpAuthor: Daniel HandlerIllustrator: Maira KalmanRelease Date: December 27, 2011 (hardcover)Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers LtdPages: 368Source: ARC provided by publisher

Overall: 5 Stars

Summary:

Min Green and Ed Slaterton have broken up, so Min is writing Ed a letter and giving him a box. Inside the box is why they broke up. A movie ticket from their first date, a comb from the motel room they shared and every other memento collected over the course of a giddy, intimate, heartbreaking relationship. Item after item is illustrated and accounted for, and then the box, like a girlfriend, will be dumped.

Why We Broke Up is a sincere and moving portrait of first love, first heartbreak and all the firsts in between. Min’s smart, sharp, devastatingly honest voice is one of the most memorable in contemporary young adult literature.

My Thoughts: It is novels like Daniel Handler's Why We Broke Up, which remind me why I love reading contemporary fiction so much. Within a few pages, I was completely lost in the story of Min and Ed– of how the unlikely couple met and quickly fell in love, and then ultimately, broke apart. And really, I don't think I would have enjoyed the novel as much if it weren't for the unique writing style and letter format, as well as Maira Kalman's accompanying illustrations. The special touch to every aspect of Why We Broke Up made everything about Min's letter to Ed seem all the more real and personal.

There is something so refreshingly honest about Daniel Handler's Why We Broke Up that I can't quite put my finger on. It felt like Min was my best friend and all I wanted to do was warn her about Ed and the heartbreak he would only bring... but I also knew it wasn't really in my place to say anything. I had to let Min make her own decisions and mistakes. Min and Ed had such different personalities; Min was a dreamer and a creative individual with a passion for old classic movies, while Ed fit under the typical jock category. Yet, reading Min's thoughts as she took us on the journey of recounting how she first met Ed and started having feelings for him, you still can't help feeling secretly hopeful they'll beat the odds... even if you're also really wary about what's to come.

Why We Broke Up is a touching and heartfelt account of a teenage girl recovering the pieces of her broken heart with one long letter and a box filled with memories. Daniel Handler has done a wonderful job capturing the whirlwind of emotions that every relationship brings, from the happy and giddy times to the sad moments filled with regret and pain. Even if you've never been in a relationship before, Min's story will effortlessly resonate with readers.

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Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler