Break To You

Overall Verdict: A surface level look into the experiences of a teenage detention center, which may appeal to younger YA readers.

2.5/5 Stars

Book Summary: Adriana is sentenced to seven months at the Compass Juvenile Detention Center. As she adjusts to this new life, she continues to write in her journal, the one way she is able to fully express her emotions. One day though, she can’t locate her journal. Adriana discovers is some time later only to realize that someone else has written back to her. A boy, who she is not allowed to see on the girls-only side of the center. Adriana and Jon (who has been at Compass for a long time) begin a correspondence to help them work through their time there. Giving them hope in a challenging circumstance.

My Analysis: I am a HUGE Shusterman fan, so when I saw this coming out I jumped on it immediately. But I was disappointed in this one. It really didn’t feel like his voice was in the story at all. I suppose that is what happens when you have three minds working together to author a novel. I think this is a much needed look into the teen experience of a juvenile detention center. I wish it has dived in deeper though. I feel like I didn’t really get to know all of the characters as well as I would have liked to. And I’ll admit- I found it hard to root for Adriana. I much preferred reading about Jon. The focus was much more on a budding romance than anything else, and I would have appreciated more depth. Something else that stood out to me in this one were the glaring inconsistencies. I know this is an ARC and that a final copy may have these things adjusted (I hope!), but they were noticeable. I did like how the story wrapped up and the ending was satisfying. Overall I think this may appeal more to younger YA readers.