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When Reason Breaks
13 Reasons Why meets the poetry of Emily Dickinson in this gripping debut novel perfect for fans of Sara Zarr or Jennifer Brown.
A Goth girl with an attitude problem, Elizabeth Davis must learn to control her anger before it destroys her. Emily Delgado appears to be a smart, sweet girl, with a normal life, but as depression clutches at her, she struggles to feel normal. Both girls are in Ms. Diaz’s English class, where they connect to the words of Emily Dickinson. Both are hovering on the edge of an emotional precipice. One of them will attempt suicide. And with Dickinson’s poetry as their guide, both girls must conquer their personal demons to ever be happy.
In an emotionally taut novel with a richly diverse cast of characters, readers will relish in the poetry of Emily Dickinson and be completely swept up in the turmoil of two girls grappling with demons beyond their control.
A Goth girl with an attitude problem, Elizabeth Davis must learn to control her anger before it destroys her. Emily Delgado appears to be a smart, sweet girl, with a normal life, but as depression clutches at her, she struggles to feel normal. Both girls are in Ms. Diaz’s English class, where they connect to the words of Emily Dickinson. Both are hovering on the edge of an emotional precipice. One of them will attempt suicide. And with Dickinson’s poetry as their guide, both girls must conquer their personal demons to ever be happy.
In an emotionally taut novel with a richly diverse cast of characters, readers will relish in the poetry of Emily Dickinson and be completely swept up in the turmoil of two girls grappling with demons beyond their control.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published February 10, 2015
44 people are currently reading
6450 people want to read
About the author
Cindy L. Rodriguez
9 books121 followersHi! I’m Cindy L. Rodriguez. My books are: WHEN REASON BREAKS (2015), VOLLEYBALL ACE (2020), DRILL TEAM DETERMINATION (2021), GYMNASTICS PAYBACK (2021), THE DOOMED SEARCH FOR THE LOST CITY OF Z (2021), THE MOUNT EVEREST DISASTER OF 1996 (2022) and THREE POCKETS FULL: A STORY OF LOVE, FAMILY, AND TRADITION (2022). I also have an essay in LIFE INSIDE MY MIND: 31 AUTHORS SHARE THEIR PERSONAL STRUGGLES (2018), and I have contributed to DOLL HOSPITAL #2. Coming in 2024 is LOLA REYES IS SO NOT WORRIED. I work for an educational publisher and live in CT with my husband, daughter, and two dogs.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 224 reviews
February 2, 2016
I never trust the ratings of books that feature sensitive topics because I feel that readers often bump up their reviews for fear of insulting anyone. While I appreciate authors writing about harder materials, I don't think that warrants an automatic star bump.
This novel did not work for me, I feel that when it comes to addressing depression in a novel, especially a YA novel, it can easily turn into an unintended parody. I personally suffer from depression, yet the suicidal character inspired no sympathy from me. To be quite honest by the end of the book my only response was “Boo F***ing Who”.
At the end of the day this novel came across more as Teen Angst: Extreme Edition, rather than a sensitive tale of two teenagers dealing with difficult circumstances. Then again maybe I'm just a bitch. /shrugs
Buy, Borrow or Bin Verdict: Bin
Note: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
November 14, 2015
Originally reviewed on The Hardcover Lover.
When Reason Breaks by Cindy L. Rodriguez is an ambitious YA novel with a very intriguing concept. As an English teacher and lover of literature, I was immediately drawn to this book at the mention of Emily Dickinson. Then I made the E.D. connection. Two girls - Emily Delgado and Elizabeth Davis - share their initials with Emily Dickinson. Cool, right? Of course it's cool!
I enjoyed this book, but I didn't love this book. I loved the concept, but I felt like there was too much going on for it to be a complete, graspable book. In a way, it makes sense for Rodriguez to do that because Emily Dickinson had quite an interesting and complicated life, but it makes for a very complicated and intricate book. There was one thing that happened in this book that created grief and aggravation for me; Rodriguez spoils her audience at the beginning of the book! She doesn't completely spoil it, but for readers like me, who read in between the lines, the one detail that is given away at the beginning of the book makes it so much easier to figure out what really happens.
I was expecting a little more character development from Rodriguez. In the beginning of the book, I confused Emily and Elizabeth a lot. Differentiating the two becomes easier as the book moves along, but it is annoying to confuse characters. I liked how Emily Delgado was characterized, but boy... I had problems with Elizabeth Davis. From the synopsis, I was expecting someone a little more rough around the edges, but she didn't really appear that way to me. I kind of thought of her anger as fluff instead of real anger. I really thought there would be more to her than what Rodriguez includes.
That being said, there are many great things about this novel, and I applaud Rodriguez for its creation. First of all, there are so many diverse characters in this book. Rodriguez includes Latino characters and culture in this book, which is something I've yet to come across in the YA books I've read. Secondly, I love the integration of Emily Dickinson's poetry. Emily Dickinson is an important piece of American history, and seeing how lines from her poems relate to the plot is awe-inspiring. I can only hope that teens will be more likely to go to the library and read Dickinson's poems after reading this book.
Overall, When Reason Breaks is an enjoyable read, especially if you are a fan of Emily Dickinson or retellings. There are some minor flaws, but there are also some really great moments that overshadow most of the flaws. I hope that readers will take something away from those great moments.
When Reason Breaks by Cindy L. Rodriguez is an ambitious YA novel with a very intriguing concept. As an English teacher and lover of literature, I was immediately drawn to this book at the mention of Emily Dickinson. Then I made the E.D. connection. Two girls - Emily Delgado and Elizabeth Davis - share their initials with Emily Dickinson. Cool, right? Of course it's cool!
I enjoyed this book, but I didn't love this book. I loved the concept, but I felt like there was too much going on for it to be a complete, graspable book. In a way, it makes sense for Rodriguez to do that because Emily Dickinson had quite an interesting and complicated life, but it makes for a very complicated and intricate book. There was one thing that happened in this book that created grief and aggravation for me; Rodriguez spoils her audience at the beginning of the book! She doesn't completely spoil it, but for readers like me, who read in between the lines, the one detail that is given away at the beginning of the book makes it so much easier to figure out what really happens.
I was expecting a little more character development from Rodriguez. In the beginning of the book, I confused Emily and Elizabeth a lot. Differentiating the two becomes easier as the book moves along, but it is annoying to confuse characters. I liked how Emily Delgado was characterized, but boy... I had problems with Elizabeth Davis. From the synopsis, I was expecting someone a little more rough around the edges, but she didn't really appear that way to me. I kind of thought of her anger as fluff instead of real anger. I really thought there would be more to her than what Rodriguez includes.
That being said, there are many great things about this novel, and I applaud Rodriguez for its creation. First of all, there are so many diverse characters in this book. Rodriguez includes Latino characters and culture in this book, which is something I've yet to come across in the YA books I've read. Secondly, I love the integration of Emily Dickinson's poetry. Emily Dickinson is an important piece of American history, and seeing how lines from her poems relate to the plot is awe-inspiring. I can only hope that teens will be more likely to go to the library and read Dickinson's poems after reading this book.
Overall, When Reason Breaks is an enjoyable read, especially if you are a fan of Emily Dickinson or retellings. There are some minor flaws, but there are also some really great moments that overshadow most of the flaws. I hope that readers will take something away from those great moments.
August 11, 2014
I had the pleasure of reading this ARC as part of the Fearless Fifteeners' tour. I'm incredibly impressed by the plot and pacing of this novel. While it's not a thriller, it's definitely a page-turner. It took a few chapters to really grasp the story (which is done intentionally, as the characters are so similar), but I found it heartbreaking and, yet, full of hope, too.
There are many books out there the deal with suicide, but this one tackled the subject in an authentic and gripping story with characters you will relate to, fall in love with, cry for, and not soon forget. Have your tissues ready.
There are many books out there the deal with suicide, but this one tackled the subject in an authentic and gripping story with characters you will relate to, fall in love with, cry for, and not soon forget. Have your tissues ready.
Read
April 8, 2015Important topic and I've always been a big fan of Emily Dickinson!
The story follows two different girls with a multitude of issues and relationships and because there was so much going on, some of the issues and subplots felt a bit underdeveloped to me. Then there was the incorporation of some Emily Dickinson poetry and biographical elements (in the afterword, the author explains how different elements of the book were inspired by different aspects of Dickinson's life.) For me as a reader, it was a lot to try to absorb. I felt that if this story had been pared down a little it might have had even greater emotional impact.
As the book opens, it's clear that one of the two main characters (both named Emily) is going to attempt suicide. I liked that the girls were different - not just superficially different with one goth and one conservative - but one had anger and emotions which was seemed more outer-directed and the other was the exact opposite.
I think it's important that books like this are written. Readers who are interested in books about mental health and suicide should definitely give it a try. 2015 has featured a lot of YA books about suicide. For a complete list, check out my blog post here at YA Romantics
And thanks to Bloomsbury for sending me a copy. I'll be featuring this AND some book spine poetry on the blog on April 8.
The story follows two different girls with a multitude of issues and relationships and because there was so much going on, some of the issues and subplots felt a bit underdeveloped to me. Then there was the incorporation of some Emily Dickinson poetry and biographical elements (in the afterword, the author explains how different elements of the book were inspired by different aspects of Dickinson's life.) For me as a reader, it was a lot to try to absorb. I felt that if this story had been pared down a little it might have had even greater emotional impact.
As the book opens, it's clear that one of the two main characters (both named Emily) is going to attempt suicide. I liked that the girls were different - not just superficially different with one goth and one conservative - but one had anger and emotions which was seemed more outer-directed and the other was the exact opposite.
I think it's important that books like this are written. Readers who are interested in books about mental health and suicide should definitely give it a try. 2015 has featured a lot of YA books about suicide. For a complete list, check out my blog post here at YA Romantics
And thanks to Bloomsbury for sending me a copy. I'll be featuring this AND some book spine poetry on the blog on April 8.
January 11, 2015
I read this book in about 2-3 sittings, which is unprecedented for me -- others have noted the swift thriller-like pacing which I found to be incredibly true. There's such a depth and emotional impact to the story, the characters are all fully realized and the ending just guts you -- it had me in tears. The clever ties to the life and turmoil of Emily Dickinson are just a bonus -- this is a standout and standalone story of friendship, identity and preservation. Highly recommend.
March 15, 2015
I requested this book strictly off of seeing the comparison to "13 Reasons Why". I haven't read a lot of poetry by Emily Dickinson, so I was especially curious.
Emily and Elizabeth are both interesting. They're both struggling for different reasons and find a sort of connection through an English assignment. There were some great secondary characters and a few I didn't care for, but it makes sense in the story.
The anonymous letter writing was a great way to keep me guessing who was going to attempt suicide. There were a few other hints from each of the girls that kept it pretty ambiguous. I still wasn't sure until a very specific scene.
I didn't care for the constant POV switch. It didn't switch between too many people, but it would be one person for a few pages, then someone else for a paragraph. That got mildly irritating, but mostly because I couldn't find a rhythm to the narrative.
However, all in all, it was an interesting premise written in a very clever way.
**Huge thanks to Bloomsbury for sending me the arc**
Emily and Elizabeth are both interesting. They're both struggling for different reasons and find a sort of connection through an English assignment. There were some great secondary characters and a few I didn't care for, but it makes sense in the story.
The anonymous letter writing was a great way to keep me guessing who was going to attempt suicide. There were a few other hints from each of the girls that kept it pretty ambiguous. I still wasn't sure until a very specific scene.
I didn't care for the constant POV switch. It didn't switch between too many people, but it would be one person for a few pages, then someone else for a paragraph. That got mildly irritating, but mostly because I couldn't find a rhythm to the narrative.
However, all in all, it was an interesting premise written in a very clever way.
**Huge thanks to Bloomsbury for sending me the arc**
February 15, 2015
Please visit What Sarah Read for this review and more!
I went into this book expecting to be thoroughly depressed and ,to be honest, this kind of story is not normally one I read. But something about the summary spoke to me and I decide to give it a try. I’m so happy that I did because this book was so beautiful. Yes, it was sad and definitely had its moments where I felt so upset for the characters, but when I finished the last page I was left with such a sense of hope. Hope for life, that it can be beautiful, if only we reach out to those around us. When Reason Breaks proves, through such heart-wrenching emotion, that the power of love is unstoppable, if only we allow it.
What I enjoyed most about this book was the relationship between the two main characters. Elizabeth and Emily come from two totally different worlds, but their struggles are so similar, and throughout the story their lives become more and more intertwined. So much so, that sometimes it’s hard to truly know which POV some of the passages are coming from. This is a good thing though, as the vagueness of whose view we’re experiencing only serves to develop the book even further. Both of these girls are hurting and the words could be from either one of them. For the most part the dual POV switches back and forth between the two girls, but every once in a while you get one that isn’t so clearly defined and the mystery deepens.
That’s not to say the two girls aren’t fully developed and distinct characters. They each have their own personalities and their own ways of handling emotion that makes them unique from each other. It’s the way in which the author pulled these two girls together through their shared experiences that was so authentic and moving.
The use of Emily Dickinson’s poetry as a plot device was genius! From using lines of her work as chapter titles to the use of it as a lesson plan in the main character’s classroom, it just mirrored the experiences of Elizabeth and Emily so perfectly. By having these girls connect so deeply to Dickinson’s poetry, allowed me as a reader to connect even deeper to their experiences.
When Reason Breaks is beautiful, suspenseful and thought-provoking. It was an emotional rollercoaster that made me feel a lot of things and by the end of the book I was in tears. If you’re a fan of Gayle Forman’s books If I Stay or I Was Here, then this debut novel by Cindy L. Rodriguez would be a perfect choice for you.
I went into this book expecting to be thoroughly depressed and ,to be honest, this kind of story is not normally one I read. But something about the summary spoke to me and I decide to give it a try. I’m so happy that I did because this book was so beautiful. Yes, it was sad and definitely had its moments where I felt so upset for the characters, but when I finished the last page I was left with such a sense of hope. Hope for life, that it can be beautiful, if only we reach out to those around us. When Reason Breaks proves, through such heart-wrenching emotion, that the power of love is unstoppable, if only we allow it.
What I enjoyed most about this book was the relationship between the two main characters. Elizabeth and Emily come from two totally different worlds, but their struggles are so similar, and throughout the story their lives become more and more intertwined. So much so, that sometimes it’s hard to truly know which POV some of the passages are coming from. This is a good thing though, as the vagueness of whose view we’re experiencing only serves to develop the book even further. Both of these girls are hurting and the words could be from either one of them. For the most part the dual POV switches back and forth between the two girls, but every once in a while you get one that isn’t so clearly defined and the mystery deepens.
That’s not to say the two girls aren’t fully developed and distinct characters. They each have their own personalities and their own ways of handling emotion that makes them unique from each other. It’s the way in which the author pulled these two girls together through their shared experiences that was so authentic and moving.
The use of Emily Dickinson’s poetry as a plot device was genius! From using lines of her work as chapter titles to the use of it as a lesson plan in the main character’s classroom, it just mirrored the experiences of Elizabeth and Emily so perfectly. By having these girls connect so deeply to Dickinson’s poetry, allowed me as a reader to connect even deeper to their experiences.
When Reason Breaks is beautiful, suspenseful and thought-provoking. It was an emotional rollercoaster that made me feel a lot of things and by the end of the book I was in tears. If you’re a fan of Gayle Forman’s books If I Stay or I Was Here, then this debut novel by Cindy L. Rodriguez would be a perfect choice for you.
July 12, 2017
الیزابت دیویس و امیلی دِلگادو دو قطب مخالف در مدرسه هستن. الیزابت به دلیل خیانت پدرش، عصبیه. در واقع خشمگین شدن متعددش باعث شده که چند بار توی دردسر بیوفته. از طرف دیگه امیلی خیلی آرومه و همگام با دوستانش جلو میره و توانایی اینو نداره که حق خودشو بگیره. این دو نفر سر کلاس با هم توی یه گروه می افتن و باید اشعار امیلی دیکنسون رو با بقیه افراد کلاس بشناسونن.
داستان جذاب و هیجان انگیز پیش میره و نحوه رفتار این دو نفر با همدیگه خیلی جالب توصیف شده. نثر ساده ای داره و سرعت پیشروی مناسبی داره.
داستان جذاب و هیجان انگیز پیش میره و نحوه رفتار این دو نفر با همدیگه خیلی جالب توصیف شده. نثر ساده ای داره و سرعت پیشروی مناسبی داره.
May 31, 2018
NOPE.
February 21, 2015
The book starts off with one girl attempting suicide, and the reader has no idea which of the two main characters it was. From the start, you know that this book will be dealing with some heavy issues.
What Worked for Me:
I felt that the mental health piece was appropriately portrayed, and that the aftermath was dealt with well too.
There were many relationships playing out during the book. We get to see romantic relationships, familial relationships, and platonic friendships all evolving and struggling and forming throughout the book, which is quite realistic, especially in a high school setting.
There were some very, very poignant lines in the story. Lines that I know other people will relate to, because I related to them.
The writing was really lovely, and even though I am not a huge poetry fan, the Dickinson poems really worked in context. I'm Nobody! Who Are You? really was appropriate in this situation and stuck with me the most.
What Didn't:
Honestly? I think this book would be a home run for a younger crowd. I think this book is a fantastic read for a younger crowd. I will purchase this book for my own daughter one day. Sadly, I am not that crowd. I think it just falls a little more on the younger end of the YA spectrum.
Maybe because of the last point, I found it to be very predictable, and even a bit cliched at times. I knew who was attempting suicide, I knew pretty much exactly how all the twists would turn out.
I know that this was done on purpose and had a point, but having the characters named Emily and Elizabeth (whose real name was Emily) was really hard to keep straight. Especially in POV switches. The good thing was that the girls were different, so it wasn't impossible to tell apart, but sometimes just a minor aggravation.
I would have liked to get a better picture of each girl's struggle and life. Especially Emily's family situation, it was brought up frequently, but never really delved into in great detail.
Bottom Line: This book has an awesome message, especially for a younger teen. There's a bit of everything: Friendship, family, love, heartbreak, and of course, mental health issues. A solid read for a younger group, but still told an important message for everyone.
**A copy was provided from the publisher via Netgalley for review**
This review was originally posted on It Starts at Midnight
What Worked for Me:
I felt that the mental health piece was appropriately portrayed, and that the aftermath was dealt with well too.
There were many relationships playing out during the book. We get to see romantic relationships, familial relationships, and platonic friendships all evolving and struggling and forming throughout the book, which is quite realistic, especially in a high school setting.
There were some very, very poignant lines in the story. Lines that I know other people will relate to, because I related to them.
The writing was really lovely, and even though I am not a huge poetry fan, the Dickinson poems really worked in context. I'm Nobody! Who Are You? really was appropriate in this situation and stuck with me the most.
What Didn't:
Honestly? I think this book would be a home run for a younger crowd. I think this book is a fantastic read for a younger crowd. I will purchase this book for my own daughter one day. Sadly, I am not that crowd. I think it just falls a little more on the younger end of the YA spectrum.
Maybe because of the last point, I found it to be very predictable, and even a bit cliched at times. I knew who was attempting suicide, I knew pretty much exactly how all the twists would turn out.
I know that this was done on purpose and had a point, but having the characters named Emily and Elizabeth (whose real name was Emily) was really hard to keep straight. Especially in POV switches. The good thing was that the girls were different, so it wasn't impossible to tell apart, but sometimes just a minor aggravation.
I would have liked to get a better picture of each girl's struggle and life. Especially Emily's family situation, it was brought up frequently, but never really delved into in great detail.
Bottom Line: This book has an awesome message, especially for a younger teen. There's a bit of everything: Friendship, family, love, heartbreak, and of course, mental health issues. A solid read for a younger group, but still told an important message for everyone.
**A copy was provided from the publisher via Netgalley for review**
This review was originally posted on It Starts at Midnight
June 14, 2015
Warning: This review/book could be a Trigger for depression, suicidal thoughts, suicide, etc. Please read with caution.
When Reason Breaks was a heart-wrenching, realistic portrayal of two girls fighting to stay in control of their lives while battling depression. This book pulled me in from the very first page and refused to let me go until the very last page. My emotions were all over the board with this book - I laughed a few times, grinned like an idiot a few times and, of course, cried for nearly the entire ending. It had a wonderful, highly important plot and a definite must-read. You'll feel for the characters and race through the book until you find out which character was in that first, heart-breaking chapter.
Emily Delgado and Elizabeth Davis were two very different girls on the outside, yet both were hurting on the inside. Emily was the quiet popular girl with a big group of friends, good grades and a seemingly perfect family. She was really good at hiding her depression and faking a smile. Elizabeth was the quiet outcast who spoke her mind, dressed the way she wanted and didn't care what others thought - at least, on the outside. On the inside, she was dealing with a broken family and feeling lonely and depressed. This book breaks every stereotype known to YA literature, just by proving that what someone shows the world on the outside, doesn't always match how they feel inside.
Abby and Sarah, Emily's friends, were tough to like, especially Abby and especially in the beginning. But as I kept reading, I realized something: Sometimes, some people who are depressed are so good at faking a smile, even their close friends and family can't tell how they actually feel. So maybe Abby and Sarah can't be blamed for being so oblivious - Emily was just really good at keeping them in the dark.
I adored Kevin. At first, he seems like the stereotypical popular guy, but then he broke every high school relationship stereotype and proved that good guys do still exist. He loved Emily and wanted to be with her for all the right reasons. Even when she flipped out on him a few times, he didn't throw his hands up and walk away. Rather, he calmed her down and spoke to her, gave her space when she needed it. But he never gave up on her. I thought Kevin and Emily were adorable together and completely shipped them.
I really liked Tommy. He was the friend Elizabeth desperately needed. I hated the few times they fought, especially that moment near the middle/end that set things in motion.. It was incredibly sad and frustrating. When they weren't fighting, they were so sweet together.
The social interactions in this book were epic, as well. There weren't any obvious cliques, though you could tell who would be in what group if there were. But otherwise, everyone kind of hung out with everyone and everyone had friends that crossed the invisible cliques. Best example: Elizabeth is the tough-girl outcast who skips class and Emily is the relatively normal popular girl, yet Kevin hangs out with Tommy and sits with him and Elizabeth at lunch, instead of sitting at the "popular" table.
I loved Ms. Diaz. She was the kind of English teacher I would have loved. She reminded me of some of my past english teachers, as well, so I could picture exactly what class with her would have been like. Although if I had actually had her in high school, I probably would have been mentally checked out and overwhelmed because even though poetry is beautiful, I never understood it or could analyze it.
As a little (random) side-note, I have to say that Cindy Rodriguez did a wonderful job of capturing high school life. I didn't realize at first, but I was actually picturing my 12th grade English classroom as Ms. Diaz's classroom. Also, the hallway outside that classroom. So when she stood at the door to greet the students, I pictured the characters walking down the hallway in my high school and entering my old classroom, etc. Random, I know, but I wanted to throw that in there. It just shows how realistic and well-done this book was and how much it spoke to me.
Throughout the book, there were letters, class assignments, etc, that were meant to show us which girl was suicidal and why. Though I had a very firm opinion about this before I even started reading the book - based on the synopsis and what I'd heard from other people - Rodriguez did an incredible job of keeping which girl it was a mystery until the very end. The build-up to the reveal and the moments after were heart-wrenching, emotional and intense. I pretty much couldn't stop sobbing throughout the entire ending, from the build-up to the very last page.
The message that I took from When Reason Breaks is that you never know what someone is feeling, just by looking at them. They might look "normal" on the outside, or they might seem like the "outcast." But you can't judge someone based on the face they show the world. Because inside, they could be hurting. They might be surrounded by people all day, yet still feel alone. But the bottom line is, you're never as alone as you feel. And there's always someone who cares.
Overall, even though I don't think my review adequately expresses how this book made me feel, I loved it. It was sad and emotional and difficult to read, but it's definitely a must-read. It's an important book in the mental health discussion and I highly, highly recommend it.
You can also find more from me on my blog: Pandora's Books
When Reason Breaks was a heart-wrenching, realistic portrayal of two girls fighting to stay in control of their lives while battling depression. This book pulled me in from the very first page and refused to let me go until the very last page. My emotions were all over the board with this book - I laughed a few times, grinned like an idiot a few times and, of course, cried for nearly the entire ending. It had a wonderful, highly important plot and a definite must-read. You'll feel for the characters and race through the book until you find out which character was in that first, heart-breaking chapter.
Emily Delgado and Elizabeth Davis were two very different girls on the outside, yet both were hurting on the inside. Emily was the quiet popular girl with a big group of friends, good grades and a seemingly perfect family. She was really good at hiding her depression and faking a smile. Elizabeth was the quiet outcast who spoke her mind, dressed the way she wanted and didn't care what others thought - at least, on the outside. On the inside, she was dealing with a broken family and feeling lonely and depressed. This book breaks every stereotype known to YA literature, just by proving that what someone shows the world on the outside, doesn't always match how they feel inside.
Abby and Sarah, Emily's friends, were tough to like, especially Abby and especially in the beginning. But as I kept reading, I realized something: Sometimes, some people who are depressed are so good at faking a smile, even their close friends and family can't tell how they actually feel. So maybe Abby and Sarah can't be blamed for being so oblivious - Emily was just really good at keeping them in the dark.
I adored Kevin. At first, he seems like the stereotypical popular guy, but then he broke every high school relationship stereotype and proved that good guys do still exist. He loved Emily and wanted to be with her for all the right reasons. Even when she flipped out on him a few times, he didn't throw his hands up and walk away. Rather, he calmed her down and spoke to her, gave her space when she needed it. But he never gave up on her. I thought Kevin and Emily were adorable together and completely shipped them.
I really liked Tommy. He was the friend Elizabeth desperately needed. I hated the few times they fought, especially that moment near the middle/end that set things in motion.. It was incredibly sad and frustrating. When they weren't fighting, they were so sweet together.
The social interactions in this book were epic, as well. There weren't any obvious cliques, though you could tell who would be in what group if there were. But otherwise, everyone kind of hung out with everyone and everyone had friends that crossed the invisible cliques. Best example: Elizabeth is the tough-girl outcast who skips class and Emily is the relatively normal popular girl, yet Kevin hangs out with Tommy and sits with him and Elizabeth at lunch, instead of sitting at the "popular" table.
I loved Ms. Diaz. She was the kind of English teacher I would have loved. She reminded me of some of my past english teachers, as well, so I could picture exactly what class with her would have been like. Although if I had actually had her in high school, I probably would have been mentally checked out and overwhelmed because even though poetry is beautiful, I never understood it or could analyze it.
As a little (random) side-note, I have to say that Cindy Rodriguez did a wonderful job of capturing high school life. I didn't realize at first, but I was actually picturing my 12th grade English classroom as Ms. Diaz's classroom. Also, the hallway outside that classroom. So when she stood at the door to greet the students, I pictured the characters walking down the hallway in my high school and entering my old classroom, etc. Random, I know, but I wanted to throw that in there. It just shows how realistic and well-done this book was and how much it spoke to me.
Throughout the book, there were letters, class assignments, etc, that were meant to show us which girl was suicidal and why. Though I had a very firm opinion about this before I even started reading the book - based on the synopsis and what I'd heard from other people - Rodriguez did an incredible job of keeping which girl it was a mystery until the very end. The build-up to the reveal and the moments after were heart-wrenching, emotional and intense. I pretty much couldn't stop sobbing throughout the entire ending, from the build-up to the very last page.
The message that I took from When Reason Breaks is that you never know what someone is feeling, just by looking at them. They might look "normal" on the outside, or they might seem like the "outcast." But you can't judge someone based on the face they show the world. Because inside, they could be hurting. They might be surrounded by people all day, yet still feel alone. But the bottom line is, you're never as alone as you feel. And there's always someone who cares.
Overall, even though I don't think my review adequately expresses how this book made me feel, I loved it. It was sad and emotional and difficult to read, but it's definitely a must-read. It's an important book in the mental health discussion and I highly, highly recommend it.
If you or someone you know is feeling suicidal, please speak up. Speak to an adult you trust.
Important Links:
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline website
Stop Bullying website
NOH8 Campaign website
Heather Brewer, a young adult author and a big advocate of mental health and bullying prevention, has a special message for you, too. Check it out here.
You can also find more from me on my blog: Pandora's Books
March 16, 2015
For some reason, this seems to have become the year of "suicide" in YA Contemporary fiction. I've read at least 5 books since the start of 2015 on this topic, and I honestly have to say that I'm getting a little tired of it. I like this theme in general, but it's all getting to be a little much for me! But, having said that, When Reason Breaks is easily my favorite "suicide book" of 2015 so far!
This book is centered around two teenage girls, both named Emily (one of whom is nicknamed "Elizabeth" after her middle name, so it's not hard to tell them apart), who are both suffering from depression, for very different reasons and expressing their pain in very different ways.
At first, I didn't realize that there were actually two different main characters whose perspectives alternate each chapter, so I was kind of confused, but I quickly realized what was happening and it all fell into place. When Reason Breaks is told in third person, so it's really easy to tell each perspective apart — I never became confused between the two, which usually happens a lot to me with these types of books — and even though this book doesn't make use of the more-relatable first-person narration, I found myself really connecting with each of the characters and enjoying the author's decision to write this in third person.
Both of the characters became so important to me over the span of this pretty short book. I didn't want it to end! I related to Emily a lot, but Elizabeth managed to make herself a special place in my heart as well. It was so easy to connect with each of them, and I had a lot of trouble putting this book down, because I really wanted to keep reading and find out how it was all going to end for them.
I also really liked the author's decision to include a lot of Emily Dickinson references throughout the book. Emily and Elizabeth are in the same English class, and their teacher, Ms. Diaz, loves Emily Dickinson, and they focus on her a lot in their classwork. I loved the inclusion of the Dickinson poems and how each girl seemed to represent a facet of Emily Dickinson's personality.
It was almost like a retelling, but I wouldn't quite call it that exactly. There is just a lot of Emily Dickinson elements found throughout the book. So, I probably wouldn't recommend this to readers who aren't fans of poetry. It's a huge theme in this novel, and I don't think that you will be able to fall in love with it as much as I did if you don't at least have a curiosity about poetry and Emily Dickinson.
One of my favorite parts of this book was how Rodriguez portrayed the relationship between Ms. Diaz and her students. I haven't come across this a lot in books, where there's a really close bond between teacher and student that doesn't ever veer into sexual or inappropriate territory. The thing that I loved most about high school was my relationships with my teachers, and they are what I miss most about that time in my life. I had some really close friendships and strong bonds with my high school teachers, and I almost never see that represented well in YA. But it's shown perfectly in When Reason Breaks, and I really really enjoyed that aspect of it.
Another awesome part of this book is how Rodriguez was able to diversify this book in such a subtle, natural way. There are multiple Hispanic and gay characters, and it's portrayed in this totally not-a-big-deal (*wink*) way. And it was great!! I thing it's so, so cool when authors do that in their books, because even though it shouldn't be a big deal that minority groups were included in this novel, IT IS. And I applaud Rodriguez for doing this, and for doing it in a way that didn't call attention to it at all. I almost didn't even notice! It was perfect.
All in all, When Reason Breaks is just a superb example of YA fiction that I would highly, highly recommend to all readers of this genre. Even though suicide is a theme within this novel, I wouldn't say that it's what the entire book is about. It was much more about depression, and I loved how Emily and Elizabeth were able to portray two different types of very common forms of depression for the readers, to show that both kinds are normal and understandable, and that there are things you can do to help heal yourself and people to ask for help. It was all around just such an incredible book, and I couldn't be more excited about how amazing it was! I seriously cannot believe that this is a DEBUT, and I'm so, so ready for Rodriguez to come out with, like, a gazillion more books for me to read!
This book is centered around two teenage girls, both named Emily (one of whom is nicknamed "Elizabeth" after her middle name, so it's not hard to tell them apart), who are both suffering from depression, for very different reasons and expressing their pain in very different ways.
"Compared to others, her life and her problems were pretty ordinary. So why did it all FEEL like she was in an epic battle? Why did every snarky remark become a festering wound? Why did she always feel like she was pinned to the mat and crushed under their weight?"
At first, I didn't realize that there were actually two different main characters whose perspectives alternate each chapter, so I was kind of confused, but I quickly realized what was happening and it all fell into place. When Reason Breaks is told in third person, so it's really easy to tell each perspective apart — I never became confused between the two, which usually happens a lot to me with these types of books — and even though this book doesn't make use of the more-relatable first-person narration, I found myself really connecting with each of the characters and enjoying the author's decision to write this in third person.
Both of the characters became so important to me over the span of this pretty short book. I didn't want it to end! I related to Emily a lot, but Elizabeth managed to make herself a special place in my heart as well. It was so easy to connect with each of them, and I had a lot of trouble putting this book down, because I really wanted to keep reading and find out how it was all going to end for them.
I also really liked the author's decision to include a lot of Emily Dickinson references throughout the book. Emily and Elizabeth are in the same English class, and their teacher, Ms. Diaz, loves Emily Dickinson, and they focus on her a lot in their classwork. I loved the inclusion of the Dickinson poems and how each girl seemed to represent a facet of Emily Dickinson's personality.
It was almost like a retelling, but I wouldn't quite call it that exactly. There is just a lot of Emily Dickinson elements found throughout the book. So, I probably wouldn't recommend this to readers who aren't fans of poetry. It's a huge theme in this novel, and I don't think that you will be able to fall in love with it as much as I did if you don't at least have a curiosity about poetry and Emily Dickinson.
One of my favorite parts of this book was how Rodriguez portrayed the relationship between Ms. Diaz and her students. I haven't come across this a lot in books, where there's a really close bond between teacher and student that doesn't ever veer into sexual or inappropriate territory. The thing that I loved most about high school was my relationships with my teachers, and they are what I miss most about that time in my life. I had some really close friendships and strong bonds with my high school teachers, and I almost never see that represented well in YA. But it's shown perfectly in When Reason Breaks, and I really really enjoyed that aspect of it.
Another awesome part of this book is how Rodriguez was able to diversify this book in such a subtle, natural way. There are multiple Hispanic and gay characters, and it's portrayed in this totally not-a-big-deal (*wink*) way. And it was great!! I thing it's so, so cool when authors do that in their books, because even though it shouldn't be a big deal that minority groups were included in this novel, IT IS. And I applaud Rodriguez for doing this, and for doing it in a way that didn't call attention to it at all. I almost didn't even notice! It was perfect.
All in all, When Reason Breaks is just a superb example of YA fiction that I would highly, highly recommend to all readers of this genre. Even though suicide is a theme within this novel, I wouldn't say that it's what the entire book is about. It was much more about depression, and I loved how Emily and Elizabeth were able to portray two different types of very common forms of depression for the readers, to show that both kinds are normal and understandable, and that there are things you can do to help heal yourself and people to ask for help. It was all around just such an incredible book, and I couldn't be more excited about how amazing it was! I seriously cannot believe that this is a DEBUT, and I'm so, so ready for Rodriguez to come out with, like, a gazillion more books for me to read!
March 9, 2015
When Reason Breaks is Cindy L. Rodriguez's debut novel and I have to say that I really enjoyed this heartbreaking young adult novel.. Rodriguez's sheds light on a dark topic and the delicacy by which she does is admirable. Weaving in bits of Emily Dickinson's life and poetry while simultaneously telling the story of two troubled teen girls, Rodriguez delivers a good young adult debut.
Emily "Elizabeth" Davis and Emily Delgado are both very different from each other. They have different friends and widely different home lives. But both are very emotionally trouble girls. The story begins with one girl attempting suicide and leaving behind a final letter to her teach that tried so hard to save her but was too late. Told in alternating third person point of view, you get to see each girl's inner turmoil through their eyes.
Emily is from a very prominent family in town. Her father is an attorney and city councilman. Her life is defined by the pressures that her family and her popular friends put on her. As the story moves forward you begin to see the toll it takes on her as she slips into a very deep depression. Meanwhile, Elizabeth doesn't have the same affluent upbringing that Emily does. Her mom and sister are all she has after her dad left them. Her mom is so focused on keeping the family afloat financially and doesn't take the time to sit down and listen attend to Elizabeth's needs. In English class, their teacher Ms. Diaz starts teaching a unit on Emily Dickinson, pairing the two girls up together on a project.
It was hard for me to be fully invested in the book until the latter part of the book. This is very character-driven book, rather than a plot-based book, so I kept that in mind as I read. Nonetheless, even with that reminder, I still felt like the book dragged quite a bit.
One thing I really liked was the author had very intricately worked in a lot of Emily Dickinson references and discussed a lot of her poetry in detail. Dickinson's life and morose poetry was mirrored in this book through Emily and Elizabeth's pain. I've never experienced the level of depression these girls went through, but the author really dealt with the subject matter in a respectful way, treating it with care and drawing awareness to it.
"Compared to others, her life and her problems were pretty ordinary. So why did it all feel like she was in an epic battle?
I really appreciated the small subtle changes in Emily and Elizabeth (Emily especially) as they both sank into despair. The changes in their character were small minute changes that eventually turned into something big and obvious. For example, Emily went from being very social to isolating herself from her two friends
The great mystery in this book was which girl was the girl who attempted suicide. Obviously, I'm not going to mention it, but I had theories throughout the book. Overall, I liked this book. I would recommend it to those who love "issue books" and enjoy very character-driven types of stories.
3 stars
*I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
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December 30, 2015
I’m always a bit leery about reading stories in this genre, sometimes they are incredibly heavy, and horribly depressing and if I’m being honest, I prefer to stay away from those for personal reasons. That said, I still wanted to give this a try. There was just something about the summary that intrigued me… maybe it was the idea of weaving the poetry of Emily Dickinson into it, I’ve never been much of a poetry reader, and I don’t know much of her stuff so I thought this might be an interesting way to experience that in addition to an interesting story.
I have to say that I wasn’t disappointed in the least.
Elizabeth Davis and Emily Delgado couldn’t be further apart in the high school social spectrum. Elizabeth, is the goth girl who has anger issues and a chip on her shoulder… Emily appears to be the smart, sweet girl who has everything she needs.
But what no one knows is that these two have way more in common then it may seem on the outside. Both are battling inner demons, that are threatening to engulf them and as the summary states, one of them actually gives in to this war waging inside.
I think that my favorite part of this book is the developing friendship between two unlikely characters. It’s not your typical friendship either, they are sitting around chatting about boys and gossiping about school… friendship isn’t even really acknowledged until the very end, but you can see the build and the connections and I loved that.
I will say that I kind of suspected what the author was going to do in this story with these characters. I’m not going to go into detail on this, but once you read it, you’ll know what I mean. I don’t think there was any trickery intended, only the idea that you never really know what might be happening with someone on an emotional level, and appearances aren’t necessary everything.
Now on to the Emily Dickinson aspect of this story. As I said, I’ve never really been a poetry reader. I should probably change that, because I love the dissection of poetry and trying to get to the bottom of what an author might actually mean and how it can be different based on a person’s experiences and background, and that is what I really enjoyed about it being woven in here. I loved that the characters really dug into her work and shared conclusions about her with us. I loved that the author shared Emily Dickinson’s history with us in the back and I really liked that it allowed me this additional insight into the characters when we got their interpretation of the writing.
I have to say that the end of this story could have gone many different ways, but I was incredibly happy with the way Rodriguez wrote it. It offers a serious look at mental health issues, but also hits on a couple other major issues that are prevalent in high school these days. What it left me with when I turned the last page though was hope and I think that that’s something sorely needed in books that fall into this genre.
If you’re looking for a wonderfully written, and moving story about depression and suicide, definitely give this one a read. I’ll definitely be checking out Ms. Rodriguez’s next titles when they arrive.
I have to say that I wasn’t disappointed in the least.
Elizabeth Davis and Emily Delgado couldn’t be further apart in the high school social spectrum. Elizabeth, is the goth girl who has anger issues and a chip on her shoulder… Emily appears to be the smart, sweet girl who has everything she needs.
But what no one knows is that these two have way more in common then it may seem on the outside. Both are battling inner demons, that are threatening to engulf them and as the summary states, one of them actually gives in to this war waging inside.
I think that my favorite part of this book is the developing friendship between two unlikely characters. It’s not your typical friendship either, they are sitting around chatting about boys and gossiping about school… friendship isn’t even really acknowledged until the very end, but you can see the build and the connections and I loved that.
I will say that I kind of suspected what the author was going to do in this story with these characters. I’m not going to go into detail on this, but once you read it, you’ll know what I mean. I don’t think there was any trickery intended, only the idea that you never really know what might be happening with someone on an emotional level, and appearances aren’t necessary everything.
Now on to the Emily Dickinson aspect of this story. As I said, I’ve never really been a poetry reader. I should probably change that, because I love the dissection of poetry and trying to get to the bottom of what an author might actually mean and how it can be different based on a person’s experiences and background, and that is what I really enjoyed about it being woven in here. I loved that the characters really dug into her work and shared conclusions about her with us. I loved that the author shared Emily Dickinson’s history with us in the back and I really liked that it allowed me this additional insight into the characters when we got their interpretation of the writing.
I have to say that the end of this story could have gone many different ways, but I was incredibly happy with the way Rodriguez wrote it. It offers a serious look at mental health issues, but also hits on a couple other major issues that are prevalent in high school these days. What it left me with when I turned the last page though was hope and I think that that’s something sorely needed in books that fall into this genre.
If you’re looking for a wonderfully written, and moving story about depression and suicide, definitely give this one a read. I’ll definitely be checking out Ms. Rodriguez’s next titles when they arrive.
March 27, 2015
Did Emily Dickinson pull away from the world because it was easier and safer to hide than face it all? Or did something inside of her crack? Was something really wrong with her, the way something was really wrong with me? No one seems to know for sure about her. No one really knew about me.
Un buen libro. Entretenido y en parte conmovedor. Aunque he estado leyendo varios libros del mismo tipo, éste ha sido el más aceptable. Sin embargo, sigo pensando que estos autores no terminan de utilizar todo el potencial de sus historias. When Reason Breaks pudo haber dado mucho, mucho más. Mi mayor problema es que se queda en el camino de una lectura casi memorable. Rodriguez no profundiza en algunos personajes, y su manejo del tema fue de manera muy superficial.
Me gustó que al principio la autora hiciera una gran spoiler. Un personaje comete suicidio al comienzo de la historia. Luego retrocedemos ocho meses para conocer a los personajes principales: Emily Delgado y Elizabeth Davis. A mí me encantó Elizabeth porque en el exterior era alguien un poco arrogante, guerrera y algo distante, cuando en el interior se estaba derrumbando y nadie parecía notarlo. Emily fue un caso distinto. Me hubiese gustado conocer más sobre su vida y su familia. Ella debía ser la chica perfecta que hace siempre lo correcto porque su padre era un figura pública, pero apenas podía lidiar consigo misma. Lo que no me gustó fue el poco control parental en la vida de ambas adolescentes. Nadie supo que ambas lidiaban con diferentes niveles de depresión sino hasta que fue muy tarde.
La pluma de Rodriguez no me mató. El que incluyera poesía de Emily Dickinson fue una gran decisión. Me empezó a gustar su libro desde el momento en que los personajes iniciaron el análisis sobre el trabajo de ese autor. Lo que menos me sorprende es que se repita lo ocurrido en libros como The Perks of Being a Wallflower: se tocan temas interesantes -la depresión, el daño que les hace el divorcio de los padres a un adolescente, el suicidio- pero sin realmente darles el desarrollo que se merecen. Y es un pena porque estos temas, manejados de la forma correcta, pueden resultar en grandes historias.
Lo bueno:
-Elizabeth.
-La poesía de Emily Dickinson.
-La poca cantidad de romance.
Lo malo:
-Resulta fácil adivinar quién intenta suicidarse.
-Poco control parental.
-El novio de Emily sabía que ella estaba deprimida y no hizo nada.
-Las amigas de Emily. Ellas no merecen ser llamadas así.
-Muchas similitudes con la vida de Emily Dickenson. Sé que esto fue adrede, pero aun así no me pareció bueno.
-La inclusión de diálogos en español. Habían varios errores gramaticales, y no se sintió fluido.
Como ya dije, un buen libro. Nada extraordinario.
Read
February 28, 2015This one is complicated, especially because no matter what I say, it'll be spoiler-y. So be forwarned.
Pros:
This story features two Latina main characters struggling with depression. The biggest pro is their depression manifests SO differently, and it's utterly refreshing to see that. We have Elizabeth, who wears depression out loud and who people assume has an issue because of that. Then we have Emily, whose depression eats away at her from the inside. It's quiet and insidious, and people would never expect she's wrestling with such miserable demons. . I thought how Rodriguez leads readers through perceptions of depression from those outside the experience -- and how she renders it in third person style -- was smart and did huge service to how we think about depression in other people.
Cons:
There's a suicide attempt. It makes narrative sense, but it's bothersome because it happens so frequently in depression books. Especially recently.
The bigger con for me is the way medication is depicted as being a series of side effects and thus not worth using. Where I can see having these thoughts, I can't help thinking about why she wouldn't ask her doctor or why her doctor wouldn't be forthright about her actual chances of experiencing those things would be. When she attempts suicide, she's hospitalized and she's medicated. Things don't change immediately, but the tune about getting treatment did change a bit. I don't think it undermined the misperceptions of medication and I wish it had.
This one is definitely worth reading, especially because Emily and Elizabeth's stories are compelling. It's refreshing to read such a diverse cast of characters in a way that's normalized because it IS normal. More, seeing people of color struggling with mental illness -- and as Rodriguez notes in (an almost too long and explain-y) her author note, Latinas struggle with depression at extremely high rates and yet, we don't hear these stories. Some of the characters could have been better developed, but they're not problematic nor cardboard, so it works just fine. The mystery was never a mystery to me, but for many readers, I think it will be. But I don't think the mystery element, something that could so easily have been a distraction from the bigger issue of Depression here, doesn't take away from that issue at all.
Pros:
This story features two Latina main characters struggling with depression. The biggest pro is their depression manifests SO differently, and it's utterly refreshing to see that. We have Elizabeth, who wears depression out loud and who people assume has an issue because of that. Then we have Emily, whose depression eats away at her from the inside. It's quiet and insidious, and people would never expect she's wrestling with such miserable demons. . I thought how Rodriguez leads readers through perceptions of depression from those outside the experience -- and how she renders it in third person style -- was smart and did huge service to how we think about depression in other people.
Cons:
There's a suicide attempt. It makes narrative sense, but it's bothersome because it happens so frequently in depression books. Especially recently.
The bigger con for me is the way medication is depicted as being a series of side effects and thus not worth using. Where I can see having these thoughts, I can't help thinking about why she wouldn't ask her doctor or why her doctor wouldn't be forthright about her actual chances of experiencing those things would be. When she attempts suicide, she's hospitalized and she's medicated. Things don't change immediately, but the tune about getting treatment did change a bit. I don't think it undermined the misperceptions of medication and I wish it had.
This one is definitely worth reading, especially because Emily and Elizabeth's stories are compelling. It's refreshing to read such a diverse cast of characters in a way that's normalized because it IS normal. More, seeing people of color struggling with mental illness -- and as Rodriguez notes in (an almost too long and explain-y) her author note, Latinas struggle with depression at extremely high rates and yet, we don't hear these stories. Some of the characters could have been better developed, but they're not problematic nor cardboard, so it works just fine. The mystery was never a mystery to me, but for many readers, I think it will be. But I don't think the mystery element, something that could so easily have been a distraction from the bigger issue of Depression here, doesn't take away from that issue at all.
Read
March 2, 2015WHEN REASON BREAKS is a deeply moving story that addresses the issues of depression and suicide. Teacher Ms. Diaz introduces her students to Emily Dickinson, and her poetry has a tremendous influence on the characters in this novel. Emotionally charged issues of true friendship, dating, sex, and betrayal combined with overpowering parents for one character and a parent grieving from her divorce for another, impact this story.
Beautifully written, people will feel Elizabeth's anger and Emily's struggle with her identity and the emotions that come with it, the confusion that comes with sadness and loss, developing relationships and those relationships that break. I love the complexity Cindy Rodriguez brings to all her characters.
I definitely recommend this novel for anyone who likes a serious contemporary YA. I'm certain the characters will remain with readers long after they finish. Bravo, Ms. Rodriguez for shining a new light on tough issues. In addition, the Dickinson references and Ms. Rodriguez's explanation of those references will introduce Dickinson to young adults—some for the first time. They'll learn more about her life and poetry, which I am certain will get some to explore Dickinson's work further!
Thank you to Bloomsbury for providing the ARC.
Beautifully written, people will feel Elizabeth's anger and Emily's struggle with her identity and the emotions that come with it, the confusion that comes with sadness and loss, developing relationships and those relationships that break. I love the complexity Cindy Rodriguez brings to all her characters.
I definitely recommend this novel for anyone who likes a serious contemporary YA. I'm certain the characters will remain with readers long after they finish. Bravo, Ms. Rodriguez for shining a new light on tough issues. In addition, the Dickinson references and Ms. Rodriguez's explanation of those references will introduce Dickinson to young adults—some for the first time. They'll learn more about her life and poetry, which I am certain will get some to explore Dickinson's work further!
Thank you to Bloomsbury for providing the ARC.
February 27, 2015
Elizabeth, you're such an awesome character i want to hug but you'd probably punch me if i did.
I loved her as a character and i felt like i could connect to her, and a little with Emily too. i thought this book was Elizabeth's story but it was more like Emily's story through Elizabeth's eyes. It felt realistic to me.
I loved her as a character and i felt like i could connect to her, and a little with Emily too. i thought this book was Elizabeth's story but it was more like Emily's story through Elizabeth's eyes. It felt realistic to me.
August 27, 2016
Second book I read that had poems and Emily Dickinson part of the story. The first being the book, And We Stay. This sounded interesting. You have two girls. One of them tries to kill herself. As the story goes along, you wonder who it'll be and what led up to it. I kind figured it out, what with one of them mentions something and then it gets mentioned later again. The writing was good though.
October 24, 2014
Sensitive, moving, well-crafted. A must for teen book clubs
January 13, 2015
A moving story that left me teary-eyed.
February 18, 2015
Ok! I cried! So?!? :-(
February 4, 2015
This review originally appeared at Such a Novel Idea.
I received a copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. It does not affect the outcome of my opinion in any way.
When I see a three star review, it can be as widely varied as "really liked" to "really didn't like". Three stars is that weird in-between middle child of the reviewing world. And so, I typically tend to avoid it. I like to stable my opinion on one side of the fence or the other. But this book is one that I truly felt both sides (like, dislike). It just couldn't be avoided to keep it in this spot, because I think it worked so well, despite its issues. So for the first time, I'm making a Rory Gilmore pro/con list.
Pro:
-Really great handle of suicide
-Emily Dickinson references!
-Majority of book takes place in an English class (be still, my heart)
-The descendent of Emily's spiral into depression was so well done
-The rage that Elizabeth felt and could not control was passionate, realistic, and completely appropriate to her as a character and a person
-Both girls had amazing personalities that were so much more than ink and paper -- they were living, breathing humans
-The amount of work this author did to weave in Emily Dickinson's life, as well as poetry was pretty admirable. I didn't even realize how much of a part it played until I finished the book and read the acknowledgements.
-The absolutely real and devastating response of the teacher who found the letter and the girl. It was more shocking to me than any other part of the book. It really jolted me and put things into a new perspective I never quite got to see in a YA book dealing with suicide.
-The guy characters in this book! They are realistic, yet actually 'nice guys'.
-The romance doesn't overshadow or overpower the story. It is a part of the story, but only a small part.
-This is a suicide book I wouldn't worry about giving to a young YA teen reader. Which is a great thing, because they need to read this subject matter just as much as older teens do.
Cons:
-Some storylines go unresolved/unanswered. There are several friends and family members I wanted to see work through some issues, or at least have a hint of that, and I was only left with questions. I thought they were important to the story, but other things interfered with getting that closure.
-Plot that tried to disguise itself, yet was fairly obvious
-Main characters took too long to establish a voice that was different enough from one another. I had to read the first few chapters three times and I was still not sure who was who until about 20% into the book. When you have characters who are similar and have such similar names, it is important to establish strong voices who don't overshadow one another. Although, I do think it was interesting that the closer they got to one another, the further apart they sounded. Perhaps this was the intention of the author, but to me it was a distraction. Not knowing who was talking to me only confused the story and left me backtracking or losing my pace, which threw me out of the story and world I was in. I think it was easily fixable, especially considering how different the girls sound by the end.
-There was lots of Spanish in the book that wasn't put in context or referenced in some way. I spent a lot of time out of the story trying to figure out what they were saying, which again, broke me out of the intense story. While my bestie Lo hates when they say something in another language and then repeat it in English, I don't mind if it is done in a subtle way. You don't have to take me to the pond, but you do have to lead me there.
-The girl side characters felt one-dimensional and a bit self-serving to the story. While one was a bit more likable than the other, they just came off as means to an end, rather than real people.
-I was able to predict who was the girl in the beginning before I ever opened the page. So that predictability, while making me feel 'smarter' left the parts of the story that were there to make you 'wonder' a bit of a let down. Just because I like being right doesn't mean I don't like to work to figure it out. However, I don't know that there is anything anyone could have done about that, because the story worked the way it played out. It needed to end that way and I think it will make a huge impact as a result.
So in the end, while it wasn't perfect, it handled depression and suicide in such a delicate and realistic way, that I think a lot of teens would get something out of it. I wouldn't have any reservations about giving this to a middle school teen who is dealing with depression or knows someone who is -- and that isn't something you can say about every book on this subject matter.
I received a copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. It does not affect the outcome of my opinion in any way.
When I see a three star review, it can be as widely varied as "really liked" to "really didn't like". Three stars is that weird in-between middle child of the reviewing world. And so, I typically tend to avoid it. I like to stable my opinion on one side of the fence or the other. But this book is one that I truly felt both sides (like, dislike). It just couldn't be avoided to keep it in this spot, because I think it worked so well, despite its issues. So for the first time, I'm making a Rory Gilmore pro/con list.
Pro:
-Really great handle of suicide
-Emily Dickinson references!
-Majority of book takes place in an English class (be still, my heart)
-The descendent of Emily's spiral into depression was so well done
-The rage that Elizabeth felt and could not control was passionate, realistic, and completely appropriate to her as a character and a person
-Both girls had amazing personalities that were so much more than ink and paper -- they were living, breathing humans
-The amount of work this author did to weave in Emily Dickinson's life, as well as poetry was pretty admirable. I didn't even realize how much of a part it played until I finished the book and read the acknowledgements.
-The absolutely real and devastating response of the teacher who found the letter and the girl. It was more shocking to me than any other part of the book. It really jolted me and put things into a new perspective I never quite got to see in a YA book dealing with suicide.
-The guy characters in this book! They are realistic, yet actually 'nice guys'.
-The romance doesn't overshadow or overpower the story. It is a part of the story, but only a small part.
-This is a suicide book I wouldn't worry about giving to a young YA teen reader. Which is a great thing, because they need to read this subject matter just as much as older teens do.
Cons:
-Some storylines go unresolved/unanswered. There are several friends and family members I wanted to see work through some issues, or at least have a hint of that, and I was only left with questions. I thought they were important to the story, but other things interfered with getting that closure.
-Plot that tried to disguise itself, yet was fairly obvious
-Main characters took too long to establish a voice that was different enough from one another. I had to read the first few chapters three times and I was still not sure who was who until about 20% into the book. When you have characters who are similar and have such similar names, it is important to establish strong voices who don't overshadow one another. Although, I do think it was interesting that the closer they got to one another, the further apart they sounded. Perhaps this was the intention of the author, but to me it was a distraction. Not knowing who was talking to me only confused the story and left me backtracking or losing my pace, which threw me out of the story and world I was in. I think it was easily fixable, especially considering how different the girls sound by the end.
-There was lots of Spanish in the book that wasn't put in context or referenced in some way. I spent a lot of time out of the story trying to figure out what they were saying, which again, broke me out of the intense story. While my bestie Lo hates when they say something in another language and then repeat it in English, I don't mind if it is done in a subtle way. You don't have to take me to the pond, but you do have to lead me there.
-The girl side characters felt one-dimensional and a bit self-serving to the story. While one was a bit more likable than the other, they just came off as means to an end, rather than real people.
-I was able to predict who was the girl in the beginning before I ever opened the page. So that predictability, while making me feel 'smarter' left the parts of the story that were there to make you 'wonder' a bit of a let down. Just because I like being right doesn't mean I don't like to work to figure it out. However, I don't know that there is anything anyone could have done about that, because the story worked the way it played out. It needed to end that way and I think it will make a huge impact as a result.
So in the end, while it wasn't perfect, it handled depression and suicide in such a delicate and realistic way, that I think a lot of teens would get something out of it. I wouldn't have any reservations about giving this to a middle school teen who is dealing with depression or knows someone who is -- and that isn't something you can say about every book on this subject matter.
August 28, 2020
2.5 Stars
I think most of my issues with the book are because I just don't vibe with most YA anymore. Especially at the beginning, the characters were too eye-roll inducing. That being said, I do think this book can be critiqued for its ending. The author wraps everything up too nicely for the subject matter. But it's still an emotional story that gets its message across.
Also...maybe my high school experience was different, but the way these teens used social media was laughable to me. Seemed very out of touch.
I think most of my issues with the book are because I just don't vibe with most YA anymore. Especially at the beginning, the characters were too eye-roll inducing. That being said, I do think this book can be critiqued for its ending. The author wraps everything up too nicely for the subject matter. But it's still an emotional story that gets its message across.
Also...maybe my high school experience was different, but the way these teens used social media was laughable to me. Seemed very out of touch.
December 15, 2014
When Reason Breaks was an intense read for me. It had my emotions all over the place and that's one of the main things I liked about the story. It made me think. A lot. For instance, I was so sure about which girl would reach her breaking point and decide to end her life, but I certainly had a wake up when I realized that I was judging based on stereotypes. Sure, that character seemed the most likely to commit suicide, and with the way she dealt with her feelings of anger throughout the book, it seemed fitting. So that was a great twist by the author in order to let people know that you can't just make a decision about someone based on what you see on the outside. Sometimes it's the one that appears to be okay that is the most troubled. With that said, I should talk about the characters.
Emily seemed like the girl with everything, but once you develop an understanding of her family life and see how much pressure she was under to paint a perfect picture on a daily basis, then you could understand her inner suffering and even relate to her. In the beginning, I thought it wasn't as bad in comparison to what Elizabeth was going through. She had a violent outburst after witnessing something hurtful and basically skated down a painful path after that. Her relationship with her mother appeared dead, and it was as if her mother wasn't even trying to change things. She was so quick to scold Elizabeth and hardly ever listened to her daughter, so that along with other things were taking a toll on Elizabeth and I sympathized more with her in the first few chapters because her life just seemed so much more sad. But I was wrong. There's no weighing when it comes to someone's pain. No one feels it more than the other. The ending proved that to me.
Aside from the overall concept and the great way in which Rodriguez delivered such a moving story, I was intrigued by the Emily Dickinson poems she used and very impressed by how well the author intertwined Emily's words to her own. As you read, you can definitely see how each poem attributes to a character. To be honest, I've never delved that much into Dickinson's works but after reading When Reason Breaks, I'm fascinated enough to want to learn more. That's how good this book is.
Back to the writing. Superb is the one word that keeps coming to me when I think of Rodriguez' writing style. It's lucid in the sense that it's easy to read and you'll absorb word after word without ever wanting to stop. I liked her descriptions and how I could see every scene and feel every emotion. I also liked that the story wasn't too fast or too slow. It was just right. There was never a moment that I felt bored or thought that it was dragging. Every detail mattered and every chapter pulled me in deeper. I wanted so badly to find out which one of the characters ended up in the woods after reaching her breaking point, and I wanted to know what would happen to her. If she would survive and if so, how she would face life afterwards. I can't say enough how much I liked When Reason Breaks, and I'm blown away by the fact that this is a debut. It's as if the author has been writing for ages. I highly recommend this one. It's such a good story and I look forward to reading Cindy Rodriguez' next book.
Emily seemed like the girl with everything, but once you develop an understanding of her family life and see how much pressure she was under to paint a perfect picture on a daily basis, then you could understand her inner suffering and even relate to her. In the beginning, I thought it wasn't as bad in comparison to what Elizabeth was going through. She had a violent outburst after witnessing something hurtful and basically skated down a painful path after that. Her relationship with her mother appeared dead, and it was as if her mother wasn't even trying to change things. She was so quick to scold Elizabeth and hardly ever listened to her daughter, so that along with other things were taking a toll on Elizabeth and I sympathized more with her in the first few chapters because her life just seemed so much more sad. But I was wrong. There's no weighing when it comes to someone's pain. No one feels it more than the other. The ending proved that to me.
Aside from the overall concept and the great way in which Rodriguez delivered such a moving story, I was intrigued by the Emily Dickinson poems she used and very impressed by how well the author intertwined Emily's words to her own. As you read, you can definitely see how each poem attributes to a character. To be honest, I've never delved that much into Dickinson's works but after reading When Reason Breaks, I'm fascinated enough to want to learn more. That's how good this book is.
Back to the writing. Superb is the one word that keeps coming to me when I think of Rodriguez' writing style. It's lucid in the sense that it's easy to read and you'll absorb word after word without ever wanting to stop. I liked her descriptions and how I could see every scene and feel every emotion. I also liked that the story wasn't too fast or too slow. It was just right. There was never a moment that I felt bored or thought that it was dragging. Every detail mattered and every chapter pulled me in deeper. I wanted so badly to find out which one of the characters ended up in the woods after reaching her breaking point, and I wanted to know what would happen to her. If she would survive and if so, how she would face life afterwards. I can't say enough how much I liked When Reason Breaks, and I'm blown away by the fact that this is a debut. It's as if the author has been writing for ages. I highly recommend this one. It's such a good story and I look forward to reading Cindy Rodriguez' next book.
December 30, 2014
When Reason Breaks is an amazing story. While I was reading I had this picture in my head of a goth girl wearing all black and being all moody sitting in an English class. I kept laughing to myself and thinking back to my English classes and the people that were in them and I remember this one girl she was a mix of goth and the clown posse and lord everyday she would come in so depressed and sad that I would wonder what was wrong with her. She brought the mood down in the class.
I also love poetry and Emily Dickinson's writing. Cindy put together a great story and made me love poetry even more. The story flowed smoothly and I loved both main characters Elizabeth and Emily. Emily was the normal girl who was depressed and no one knew she was depressed because she hid it well. She went to school and did everything she was supposed to and went home and was the perfect daughter. Then you have Elizabeth, she is angry and can't control it. She wears black all the time and she stays with an angry look so people will leave her alone.
Then something happens in Ms Diaz English class that has both girls taking a serious look at their lives and the people in it. What happens when angry meets depressed meets the uplifting Dickinson? This is a must read story for all poetry lovers as well as all readers who love a good story about two girls just trying to make it instead of breaking it. What will happen to them? Will they live or will they die?
I also love poetry and Emily Dickinson's writing. Cindy put together a great story and made me love poetry even more. The story flowed smoothly and I loved both main characters Elizabeth and Emily. Emily was the normal girl who was depressed and no one knew she was depressed because she hid it well. She went to school and did everything she was supposed to and went home and was the perfect daughter. Then you have Elizabeth, she is angry and can't control it. She wears black all the time and she stays with an angry look so people will leave her alone.
Then something happens in Ms Diaz English class that has both girls taking a serious look at their lives and the people in it. What happens when angry meets depressed meets the uplifting Dickinson? This is a must read story for all poetry lovers as well as all readers who love a good story about two girls just trying to make it instead of breaking it. What will happen to them? Will they live or will they die?
November 30, 2014
I wanted to read When Reason Breaks because mental illness and thoughts of suicide are an issue that is close to my heart. I deal with my own depression and thoughts as well as losing my dad. Books like this are so important to help people understand at least a little bit, and see the power that a kind word, or actually taking the time to care about and listen to someone can be such a big thing.
I could tell this is going to be an emotional one. Elizabeth is one of our main characters and we are seeing her through one of the toughest times in her life. Emily is our second and she is dealing with things on the inside and at the beginning to pulling herself away from the people she cares about stages of depression.
We know going in that their lives have changed in the last year. One if the girls is on the edge of death after taking pills and writing her notes. The book alternates in time showing us her decent into depression and what lead her to that hopeless day, and it shows another's battle to open up to others as well as both getting some healing and encouragement from unexpected places and centering around a teacher who is genuine, passionate and cares about her students.
We see her making choices nearly all teens do but since her dad is a lawyer and in politics her choices reflect on him. This is always hanging over Emily's head, and she is in the public eye and afraid to mess up and be on the news or disappointing her dad. She had friends from when she was younger and it was hard seeing her pull away from them, tell only half truths or hide huge portions of her life. Depression is so isolating, and I have been there where you withdraw into yourself and feel whether rightfully or not that no one else understands and just the sense of differences that seem insurmountable.
Elizabeth has also been going through a hard time herself. She is the more outspoken of the two, and the one that seems the most obvious choice for the opening scene. But then we see her expressing herself through art and trying to let others into her life.
Come to find out they share the same names but Elizabeth goes by middle name. At times it makes it hard to tell which which at times but this is intentional. We don't know which it is at the beginning who is in what could be the last moments of their lives. So they both have Diaz the teacher who cares and the suicide note is dropped off with.
There is so romance but I did like how it wasn't in the front seat, it was the emotions and character development that rightfully took the front stage. What romance was there was helping to show more about the girls and how things hanging over their head and their inner struggles with self image, esteem, pain, and depression.
The ending was well done in my opinion and I like that it was wrapped up but also gives room to imagine what the future could be like in this group of friends, in the girls who connected with their teacher as well as parts of themselves through the poetry of Emily Dickinson.
Bottom Line: Emotional and layered story of girls who are fighting depression and trying to live to the fullest.
Read
March 9, 2015This year is jam-packed with YA books where characters are struggling with depression that manifests into suicidal thoughts or behaviors. In many — all, maybe — of them this year, there’s a weird anti-medication stance within them and little challenging that philosophy. While Rodriguez’s story also falls a bit into this category, she successfully overcomes bringing down the story with it by offering two very different perspectives of what depression looks and feels like. We get more than one narrative of this disease.
Elizabeth Davis and Emily Delgado are both students in Ms. Diaz’s English class, where they’re bonding over another ED, Emily Dickinson. Elizabeth wears her feelings out loud; she’s what you’d imagine a stereotypical goth would be like, but thanks to being a fully-developed character, she’s not simply that stereotype. We just know she’s depressed and isn’t shy about it. Emily, by how it looks on the surface, is well-adjusted, smart, and on the road to great things. But inside, depression and anxiety are eating her alive.
Rodriguez tells this story from the third person point-of-view, which pulls readers away from the character’s internal thoughts in a way that forces us to examine our own biases when it comes to how mental illness looks. On the surface, this is a mystery which unravels through a series of notes delivered to Ms. Diaz; at the heart, this is a story about perception and misperception about depression and how debilitating this disease can be.
A rich, diverse cast and two distinct characters make this a book worth a buy if you’re looking for a solid depiction of depression. We almost never see people of color struggling with their inner selves like this in YA.
From Buy, Borrow, Bypass: Diverse Teen Girl Duos in YA http://bookriot.com/2015/03/09/buy-bo...
Elizabeth Davis and Emily Delgado are both students in Ms. Diaz’s English class, where they’re bonding over another ED, Emily Dickinson. Elizabeth wears her feelings out loud; she’s what you’d imagine a stereotypical goth would be like, but thanks to being a fully-developed character, she’s not simply that stereotype. We just know she’s depressed and isn’t shy about it. Emily, by how it looks on the surface, is well-adjusted, smart, and on the road to great things. But inside, depression and anxiety are eating her alive.
Rodriguez tells this story from the third person point-of-view, which pulls readers away from the character’s internal thoughts in a way that forces us to examine our own biases when it comes to how mental illness looks. On the surface, this is a mystery which unravels through a series of notes delivered to Ms. Diaz; at the heart, this is a story about perception and misperception about depression and how debilitating this disease can be.
A rich, diverse cast and two distinct characters make this a book worth a buy if you’re looking for a solid depiction of depression. We almost never see people of color struggling with their inner selves like this in YA.
From Buy, Borrow, Bypass: Diverse Teen Girl Duos in YA http://bookriot.com/2015/03/09/buy-bo...
January 25, 2015
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Two very different girls battle emotional pain and contemplate Emily Dickinson's poetry. I'll admit that I wasn't completely invested in this book until the last twenty percent. The narrative is initially confusing in an ebook format, and you have to pay attention to chapter headings carefully -- the two narrators, Emily and Elizabeth, switch off chapters, but even their names caused me a lot of trouble until I had a more solid image of each of them in my mind. It seriously took me the first third of the book to sort them out. There is a lot of dull teen drama at the beginning to slog through, so that was work. I also felt like I was sitting in class getting a lesson on Emily Dickinson several times and I didn't want to sit in class -- and I'm an English teacher. However, the last twenty percent made this worth the work. I was very surprised by the ending. It was a twist I didn't anticipate. I also found the author's notes really interesting. Do I think teens will read this? I just don't know. It was a lot of work. Do I think teens should read this? Yes. Language and situations are appropriate for ninth grade and up. Depression and suicide are the main topics, but they are topics that are handled well and ones that need to be openly discussed.
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