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Split
Wade Jackson has always felt split, his love for playing and writing music competing with his ambition to do well in school. But when his mother dies, this need for order competes with his desire to leave it all behind. What follows is a split in his consciousness that takes him to two very different worlds. Told in alternating chapters that together form one cohesive story, Split follows both Wades as they pursue what they think is the correct path. One Wade continues working hard in school, pulling all-nighters to write a computer code he believes will save the world. The other Wade pursues the dream of being a dive-bar singer, pulling all-nighters to party, gamble, and live on the edge. But when these two worlds begin to collide, each Wade will need to find a balance between control and abandon, order and chaos, life missed and life lost, in order to save himself.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published March 16, 2010
5 people are currently reading
120 people want to read
About the author
Stefan Petrucha
338 books273 followersStefan Petrucha (born January 27, 1959) is an American writer for adults and young adults. He has written graphic novels in the The X-Files and Nancy Drew series, as well as science fiction and horror.
Born in the Bronx, he has spent time in the big city and the suburbs, and now lives in western Massachusetts with his wife, fellow writer Sarah Kinney, and their daughters. At times he has been a tech writer, an educational writer, a public relations writer and an editor for trade journals, but his preference is for fiction in all its forms.
Born in the Bronx, he has spent time in the big city and the suburbs, and now lives in western Massachusetts with his wife, fellow writer Sarah Kinney, and their daughters. At times he has been a tech writer, an educational writer, a public relations writer and an editor for trade journals, but his preference is for fiction in all its forms.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
December 25, 2010
After the death of his mother, Wade Jackson is torn: stay in school or quit to become a dive singer. His problem? He "just couldn't choose." The result? A split in his consciousness.
This story is told in alternating parts, with each following one Wade as he continues along his chosen path. When these paths begin to collide... the story gets pretty interesting.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. Surprisingly, I couldn't put it down and finished it in one sitting. The quote by Chuang Tsu at the beginning really added to the tale and definitely provided some food for thought. I heartily recommend it for fans of Ray Bradbury's "A Sound of Thunder," in that they both explore the possibilities relating to the Butterfly Effect.
This story is told in alternating parts, with each following one Wade as he continues along his chosen path. When these paths begin to collide... the story gets pretty interesting.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. Surprisingly, I couldn't put it down and finished it in one sitting. The quote by Chuang Tsu at the beginning really added to the tale and definitely provided some food for thought. I heartily recommend it for fans of Ray Bradbury's "A Sound of Thunder," in that they both explore the possibilities relating to the Butterfly Effect.
November 22, 2020
Split gets points for having an interesting concept... but that's about it.
"Bad" Wade seems like a 10 year-old's image of what a bad boy is: he humiliates his girlfriend for laughs, he takes out large, risky loans so he can burn it all on chocolate bars, and he says "whatev" in response to any character saying anything remotely serious to him. At first I thought the author might've been pressured to water down the content for marketing purposes, but the book later goes on to mention weed, crack, alcoholism, and rebound sex... Even if the author was pressured to keep these topics to a minimum, he chose to bring them up using irrelevant background characters instead of in ways that were impactful to the story, which gave off the impression that he wasn't brave enough to actually make Bad Wade or his inner circle "that bad".
The plots of "Good" and "Bad" Wade were fine in concept, but both seemed really underdeveloped and there wasn't much overlap between them until the last 50-ish pages. The Wades seemed like completely separate characters, as opposed to two sides of the same coin. Each Wade gets maybe one or two sentences briefly mentioning the interests they've had to abandon because of their lifestyle (for Good Wade it's music, for Bad Wade it's computers), and the execution makes it seem like the author forgot they were supposed to be the same person. The overlap between the timelines seemed rushed and underdeveloped as well, leaving the last act and the ending feeling very unsatisfying.
"Bad" Wade seems like a 10 year-old's image of what a bad boy is: he humiliates his girlfriend for laughs, he takes out large, risky loans so he can burn it all on chocolate bars, and he says "whatev" in response to any character saying anything remotely serious to him. At first I thought the author might've been pressured to water down the content for marketing purposes, but the book later goes on to mention weed, crack, alcoholism, and rebound sex... Even if the author was pressured to keep these topics to a minimum, he chose to bring them up using irrelevant background characters instead of in ways that were impactful to the story, which gave off the impression that he wasn't brave enough to actually make Bad Wade or his inner circle "that bad".
The plots of "Good" and "Bad" Wade were fine in concept, but both seemed really underdeveloped and there wasn't much overlap between them until the last 50-ish pages. The Wades seemed like completely separate characters, as opposed to two sides of the same coin. Each Wade gets maybe one or two sentences briefly mentioning the interests they've had to abandon because of their lifestyle (for Good Wade it's music, for Bad Wade it's computers), and the execution makes it seem like the author forgot they were supposed to be the same person. The overlap between the timelines seemed rushed and underdeveloped as well, leaving the last act and the ending feeling very unsatisfying.
November 7, 2017
The first 50 pages were intriguing and had promise. But the last 200 pages were a bore. Characters were annoying. I hated Bad Wade. The story was all over the place. The writing was off. I legit hated this book.
February 10, 2010
Split by Stefan Petrucha is just one of the many great (or what seem to be great) books coming out today and the one I've been lucky enough to read already. Split is described as 'Sliding Doors meets Fight Club' and the description seems incredibly apt. Main character Wade Jackson feels torn between his love of guitar playing and writing music and his need to be the perfect student.
It all comes to a head when his mother dies (at the start of the book) and he's forced to choose between the two paths, to truly commit himself to one endeavor or the other and whatever path that will inevitably take him on.
But that's where things get interesting in Split. Wade doesn't just turn into the model student or become the on-the-edge rocker....he becomes both. Through a split in consciousness, told in alternating chapters (and alternating worlds really), Split follows the two Wades--each who makes the decisions they feel is the right one--as one becomes the strive-for-the-best student and one lives on the fringe, gambling, dealing with people on the edge of society and working towards being a dive-bar singer. All leading towards when their live(s) just might collide again.
I have to start by saying that I have never read a book like Split. There are a lot of books that alternate chapters and even try parallel worlds or universes or similar things but I don't think I've heard of a book that's actually split the character into, well, two like this one did.
I enjoyed that the two characters (two Wades) were so different but it was obvious that they had both started at the same place, too. They weren't so, so different that it was unbelievable that they'd just made different choices but not similar enough that you couldn't understand how simple choice could change your life. I do think it would have been interesting, though, to have each of them remember more of their past to see how differently they would have seen things-if that would have been possible.
I think that the book will be more appealing to a different audience, however, because the book didn't focus just on the characters but on a rather interesting plot involving particle accelerators in one Wade's world and loan sharks and very, very not upstanding citizens in the other Wade's, both of whom were bringing impending doom to the Wades. Things were definitely interesting and new enough that it kept me guessing at just how all of this was going to come together and how on Earth it all went together.
Using the particle accelerator that could possibly end the world as the center piece for a book about a teen that splits his conscious self in two sounds pretty odd, but it actually works pretty well. And this is one of those YA books that should work for boys as well as (if not better than) girls so points there, too (& it's made me interested in The Rule of Won which I actually wasn't really before).
7/10
It all comes to a head when his mother dies (at the start of the book) and he's forced to choose between the two paths, to truly commit himself to one endeavor or the other and whatever path that will inevitably take him on.
But that's where things get interesting in Split. Wade doesn't just turn into the model student or become the on-the-edge rocker....he becomes both. Through a split in consciousness, told in alternating chapters (and alternating worlds really), Split follows the two Wades--each who makes the decisions they feel is the right one--as one becomes the strive-for-the-best student and one lives on the fringe, gambling, dealing with people on the edge of society and working towards being a dive-bar singer. All leading towards when their live(s) just might collide again.
I have to start by saying that I have never read a book like Split. There are a lot of books that alternate chapters and even try parallel worlds or universes or similar things but I don't think I've heard of a book that's actually split the character into, well, two like this one did.
I enjoyed that the two characters (two Wades) were so different but it was obvious that they had both started at the same place, too. They weren't so, so different that it was unbelievable that they'd just made different choices but not similar enough that you couldn't understand how simple choice could change your life. I do think it would have been interesting, though, to have each of them remember more of their past to see how differently they would have seen things-if that would have been possible.
I think that the book will be more appealing to a different audience, however, because the book didn't focus just on the characters but on a rather interesting plot involving particle accelerators in one Wade's world and loan sharks and very, very not upstanding citizens in the other Wade's, both of whom were bringing impending doom to the Wades. Things were definitely interesting and new enough that it kept me guessing at just how all of this was going to come together and how on Earth it all went together.
Using the particle accelerator that could possibly end the world as the center piece for a book about a teen that splits his conscious self in two sounds pretty odd, but it actually works pretty well. And this is one of those YA books that should work for boys as well as (if not better than) girls so points there, too (& it's made me interested in The Rule of Won which I actually wasn't really before).
7/10
July 16, 2010
Reviewed by Steph for TeensReadToo.com
Wade Jackson just lost his mother. In the chaos that follows the death of a loved one, Wade finds himself being pulled in two different directions with two different ambitions: to do excellent in school or to play his guitar and sing music.
Wade has to decide which ambition to pursue and which will benefit not only himself but humanity, as well.
Petrucha writes an intriguing novel that has an interesting set-up. Every other chapter is told from the different Wade. The first starts with the musician Wade, who doesn't care about school or rules, and the second chapter - with a different font to distinguish between the two Wades - is about the A+ student.
Setting up the book in this interesting way is confusing at first, but it soon sucks the reader in. This interesting novel is sure to please any who are willing to get submerged in an alternate reality-type story with many twists and turns.
Wade Jackson just lost his mother. In the chaos that follows the death of a loved one, Wade finds himself being pulled in two different directions with two different ambitions: to do excellent in school or to play his guitar and sing music.
Wade has to decide which ambition to pursue and which will benefit not only himself but humanity, as well.
Petrucha writes an intriguing novel that has an interesting set-up. Every other chapter is told from the different Wade. The first starts with the musician Wade, who doesn't care about school or rules, and the second chapter - with a different font to distinguish between the two Wades - is about the A+ student.
Setting up the book in this interesting way is confusing at first, but it soon sucks the reader in. This interesting novel is sure to please any who are willing to get submerged in an alternate reality-type story with many twists and turns.
August 5, 2010
Wade Jackson is living a double life. One Wade is the definition of tense. He and a friend have coded a simulation that shows that the collider poses a far greater risk than the Prometheus company maintains. The other Wade is a musician, a drop out responsible to no one, not even himself. When one Wade falls asleep, he dreams of the other Wade's life and is left feeling bewildered. The action really steps up when both of them show up at the grave of their mother and relive the moment when she encouraged Wade to pick between his dreams.
This book requires a suspension of disbelief. Much goes unexplained, but the fast paced action in the second half of the book provides entertainment for those who like high stakes and thrillers.
This book requires a suspension of disbelief. Much goes unexplained, but the fast paced action in the second half of the book provides entertainment for those who like high stakes and thrillers.
January 22, 2010
This is a weird book, I liked it, it was a fast paced kept me guessing read. It is told by a two charter point of view, but both characters are Wade.
One day in Wade's life changes everything. On the day of his mom's death the first stranglet is made- then his two sides split. His life is parallel in both worlds, one a hard working, over stressed Wade; and a laid back, don't give a rats ass Wade.
When they both make a mistake that put lives at risk, their worlds will collide. They will have to work together to put their lives, back in order.
Read more: http://www.pageturnersblog.com/?zx=4a...
One day in Wade's life changes everything. On the day of his mom's death the first stranglet is made- then his two sides split. His life is parallel in both worlds, one a hard working, over stressed Wade; and a laid back, don't give a rats ass Wade.
When they both make a mistake that put lives at risk, their worlds will collide. They will have to work together to put their lives, back in order.
Read more: http://www.pageturnersblog.com/?zx=4a...
May 28, 2014
I picked up "Split" by Stefan Petrucha at the dollar store and though I hate to be rude I can't help but see why. The idea of split identities and the butterfly effect is fascinating to me and I think Petrucha's concept is good. I feel though that his execution is lacking. There are not enough descriptions or explanations to explain the two worlds Wade inhabits. It was also very easy to get confused and then just pass over the confusing elements. The story just wasn't engaging or worth investing that much time in.
December 17, 2012
This book definitely is for sophisticated readers. Wade is two different people and although the chapters are identified that way and the font is different it is still difficult to follow. I am curious as to whether or not Wade has a mental illness or if this split personality is more of an alter-ego.
Since Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is one of my favorite books, I kept thinking about the simiarities and differences between the two.
Since Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is one of my favorite books, I kept thinking about the simiarities and differences between the two.
February 6, 2013
The story never really grabbed me. For most of the book it felt like I was reading two separate stories that just happened to have characters with the same names and happened to share the same cover. The connecting of the two storylines at the end felt rather lackluster and the climax of the book was somewhat disappointing. The author getting up on a soapbox at the end didn't help either.
The story isn't bad, you could certainly do worse. I just wasn't really able to connect with it.
The story isn't bad, you could certainly do worse. I just wasn't really able to connect with it.
July 9, 2010
COnsidering how good the cover and the summary is , the story disappointed me. I didn't get it..60 pages down the book and I am still confused about the world where the story took place. Lastly, I want to kill Wade for how he treated his girlfriend.
August 13, 2011
The death of his mother sends teenage Wade over the edge and we see his life from two personalities - the studious teen and the daring death at each turn musician. A heartbreaking look at what grief can do to the psyche.
January 22, 2010
Read for professional review.
March 4, 2010
so far i read that therez a rat thing goin on in the story
July 7, 2010
YUCK!!!
March 8, 2012
This was a very weird book. It was a quick read but I was lost a few times in reading it.
October 15, 2012
sorry, didn't love this one
October 24, 2012
Okay i have to say i was a bit confused with this book at first , but at the end it was AWESOME :)
September 14, 2014
Just ok. A clean read but it bored me a little bit.
April 21, 2015
An interesting idea, it reminds me of the movie "Sliding Doors" a bit. I wish there was a little more explanation though for the split.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews