Shattered, A Story of Betrayal and Courage in The Insecure Writer's Support Group Book Club

Dec 02, 2021 Jacqui rated it it was amazing

I'm not a YA (Young Adult) reader, but I will read anything C. Lee McKenzie writes. Her stories are always about a teen faced with impossible situations that would defeat most of us--even most adults--except McKenzie shows us how to survive, even thrive.

In Shattered (Evernight Teen 2021), high school senior Libby Brown is a shoo-in for the US Olympics team until she’s run over by a snowboarder during a practice and paralyzed from her waist down. Now she must figure out how to move on with her li ...more

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Jan 29, 2022 Damyanti Biswas rated it it was amazing

Having read Shattered, I can confidently say that we need more stories like this one in the YA space. Libby’s journey from top skier to paraplegic, to putting her life back together is inspiring without being didactic. We see such little representation of the disabled in literature, and even fewer stories that show reality for what it is. The mystery sub-plot provided excellent relief from the heaviness of Libby’s struggles in certain moments. Overall, this was an engaging, emotional and well-wr ...more

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Jan 16, 2022 Bish Denham rated it it was amazing

Shelves: young-adult

I may be a little prejudice, as the author asked me to read this story in its early stages and specifically asked me if I thought it was worth pursuing. I thought it was and here we are.

I feel this touches on several issues that an active young adult might face when suddenly rendered paraplegic.

Libby is not likable. She is, understandably, rather selfish and self-centered. She is, understandably, angry about what has happened, that her Olympic dreams have been suddenly and irrevocably ended. Sh ...more

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Dec 20, 2021 Joylene Butler rated it it was amazing

I highly recommend SHATTERED and can vouch for my 5-star rating. Our niece is a paraplegic, so I hesitated to read this novel. I saw myself crying too hard to enjoy the book. I'm glad I changed my mind. It's a wonderful tale of courage, determination, and honour. Libby is on her way to Olympic gold when she's severely injured on the slopes. In short order, I realized Libby is very much like our niece. She's a fighter. She's not going to let her injuries stop her from experiencing the best life ...more

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May 04, 2022 Louise rated it really liked it

C. Lee McKenzie’s recently published contemporary novel ‘Shattered’ is an uplifting story about a young woman whose life is shattered by a devastating accident. The novel is written for young adults, but it can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It is a timeless story about overcoming despair and rebuilding your life, not the life you imagined for yourself, but a good and rewarding life nonetheless.

I have enjoyed reading a number of Lee’s books, so I was anticipating a good read. I was particula ...more

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Aug 22, 2023 J. Dorner rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: bout-of-books-38-aug-2023

This book was an emotional powerhouse. I've followed this author for years, have read four other books by her, and share membership in several online communities with C. Lee McKenzie. This review is my honest and unbiased opinion. I won a paperback copy of this book in November 2021.

This is listed as a Teen and YA book in the disabilities category. I can imagine recommending this to former coworkers and friends, such as physical therapists who would pass it along to teen patients struggling to This book was an emotional powerhouse. I've followed this author for years, have read four other books by her, and share membership in several online communities with C. Lee McKenzie. This review is my honest and unbiased opinion. I won a paperback copy of this book in November 2021.

This is listed as a Teen and YA book in the disabilities category. I can imagine recommending this to former coworkers and friends, such as physical therapists who would pass it along to teen patients struggling to adapt to their new reality.

A bright, sunshiny character who is recovering from a life-altering injury, one of those optimistic types who joyfully tackles every challenge life offers, plays the mentor and new best friend. The main character is Libby, who experiences pain, devastation, heartbreak, and hopelessness. Her dreams and goals are taken away, her boyfriend dumps her, and her friends fade away. There's about a fifth of the book where everyone wants her to be strong, overcome, and buck up. But she's not made of sunshine and hope, she's devastated and afraid. It's the more frequent reaction to such trauma. However, the first third of the book is hard, it packs an emotional punch (more so if the feelings are identifiable). In the next chunk of the book, Libby grows and gradually gets adjusted. It isn't until nearly the end that she isn't weighed down and held back. There's a happy enough ending full of hope and possibilities. The ending chapter really ties everything together and is kind of a "where are they now" type of ending.

It also has a mystery woven in, the whodunit of the on-purpose accident which puts her in a wheelchair. Those chapters, each called "The Arrangement," are in third-person so as to not give away who did it. I honestly thought I knew, and I was "right-adjacent," but there was one aspect I hadn't considered. The guilty party not only makes sense, but serves as a wonderful reflection of the growth and change of another character.

This does feel like realistic fiction. There are some romantic parts, but it isn't central to the plot. Libby is more focused on her sporting goals and regaining control of her life than on romance. It is complex and somewhat inspirational. The author feels like an authority on rowing.

Sit-ski was a new term I learned from this book. I live near a few ski resorts (Pocono Mountains in PA) and confess I never knew about any such options.

The title is definitely used in the book, and twice around the end the title really clicks. The cover is very artistic. I like the skier who is sort of blurred on the upper left. (I have the cover with dark blue hues with white accents and words.) Shattered may upset some readers in the first third as Libby is very depressed. There's a pet cat who lives well through the whole book. Some readers may have strong feelings about the various parenting styles in this book. The only possible typos I found were "Then his eyes met nine," {mine} and "She knew what the next three words were" {I knew}, so I would say this book is well-edited.

I believe the theme is one of perseverance, with a sprinkling of patriotism, a heap of friendship and family, and a dash of love. Some of the settings did come alive, mainly the outdoors. The mystery element does hold a mirror up to society in a way I cannot explain without spoiling the book. The Bechdel-Wallace test is certainly passed, as there are named female characters with whom Libby speaks to about subjects that are not men. ...more

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Mar 07, 2022 Tonja Drecker rated it it was amazing

Disappointment and finding new courage weave with touches of romance and a bit of mystery to create an exciting read with tons of heart.

Libby is on her way to the finals, and then, to the Olympics. It's her dream coming true, but during a last run to quiet her nerves before flying to Europe, a snowboard broad sides her, and she wakes up in a hospital room. She has no feeling in her legs, and it the hopes of recovery slip away day by day. Others, even some like her, offer their support in various Disappointment and finding new courage weave with touches of romance and a bit of mystery to create an exciting read with tons of heart.

Libby is on her way to the finals, and then, to the Olympics. It's her dream coming true, but during a last run to quiet her nerves before flying to Europe, a snowboard broad sides her, and she wakes up in a hospital room. She has no feeling in her legs, and it the hopes of recovery slip away day by day. Others, even some like her, offer their support in various ways, but it all boils down to she, herself, finding the will to go on, first, and that isn't easy, especially when the one responsible for the destruction of her dreams and future still hides in the shadows.

When I picked this one up, I did expect more of a thriller but was pleasantly surprised at how it digs into a more emotional direction of overcoming a huge setback and rediscovering meaning in life. The writing is gripping, comes across naturally, and rides along smoothly as Libby first suffers the accident, recovers, and then, goes on a journey to rediscover herself. It's easy to understand her feelings and reactions. She isn't all sunshine, but rather, holds remorse, disappointment and frustration close. The attitude is realistic and draws in.

There is a wonderful pool of support around Libby from family to new friends. I was a bit surprised that she didn't have any close friends before the accident, but the new ones are amazing and vivid. There also family problems woven in, which snuggle in nicely with Libby's plot and offer great messages on that end as well. As to the romance, it is there but is as unsettled as Libby's main plot theme and slides along more disconnected and never draws away from the main plot.

Thrilling moments also exist as the chapters flip from Libby's point of view to those of the ones behind her accident. This adds a nice level of tension and side-plot, but still allows the main theme to remain on Libby's healing.

This was an easy read, which I read in one sitting and enjoyed every page. I do recommend it to those who like a bit of mystery and thrills with dabs at romance, but are more into emotional struggles and tales of finding inspiration to continue on.
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Feb 01, 2022 Diane Burton rated it it was amazing

I was hesitant to read this story. I thought it would be a real downer. Turns out I was wrong. Yes, Libby is injured. Very badly injured. An accident (or was it?) crushed her spine and her hopes of making it to the Olympics. She goes through the stages of grief, as she mourns the loss of her career. Yet, there is hope for her. The title should've clued me in. Courage. Libby's courage drags her from the darkness of despair to the light of hope. She doesn't do it alone. Doctors, therapists, and ne ...more

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Nov 26, 2021 Toi Thomas rated it really liked it

Shelves: diverse-characters, rated, reviewed, general-fiction, mystery

I enjoyed this book because it was a challenging read that offered a satisfying ending.

Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to review this book.

Libby Brown is not a character I could relate to at the beginning of the story, but by the end, I think she's someone I wouldn't mind meeting and spending some time with. Her transformation is drastic, yet she's still the same person, just a more mature and well-rounded person. Aside from the obvious tragedy Libby has to deal with and overcome, the b I enjoyed this book because it was a challenging read that offered a satisfying ending.

Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to review this book.

Libby Brown is not a character I could relate to at the beginning of the story, but by the end, I think she's someone I wouldn't mind meeting and spending some time with. Her transformation is drastic, yet she's still the same person, just a more mature and well-rounded person. Aside from the obvious tragedy Libby has to deal with and overcome, the biggest struggle for her is culture shock. Her reality shifts from being one of the beautiful and privileged of the world, who only has to worry about making her personal dreams come true, to becoming like everyone else- the other, the not so privileged, the marginalized, etc...

It's easy to get caught up in how much this character whines about her situation but if the reader is honest with themselves, they will recognize that they too would act the same way if their reality all of a sudden shifted. Whether that be learning how to live with paralysis, or learning how not to live with a lot of money, or learning how to live in a place where you don't speak the language, or learning how to live in a place where the ruling class has a skin color different than yours, etc... it's a challenge to navigate culture/reality shock and find a way to thrive.

My main issue with this story was the best friend. She's my favorite character but has a major flaw. To me, she wasn't very realistic. I think if she had shown just one moment of vulnerability, it would have made her so much stronger. I love the fact that she was optimistic and inspirational, but she could have as least said something like, "I wasn't always this way..." If this was in the book, it wasn't significant enough for me to remember.

The mystery was a great secondary plot to keep the reader interested when wanting a break from Libby. The ending still has me reeling. I understand that it was for the best, but that's a story I'd like to get more into. The aftermath of that choice would be an interesting book. I can't imagine what it would be like to destroy a family but that's all I'll say. Don't want to give too many spoilers.

Highly recommended! ...more

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Jul 03, 2022 Mary Aalgaard rated it really liked it

I really like what Lee did with this story, placing a person with a disability as the central character and showing us how she gradually adapts to life in a wheelchair. Libby is a very likable character, and you root for her from the beginning. One morning, she is on the slopes, doing a final run before the Olympic trials, and a snowboarder crashes into her, causing a spinal cord injury. She has a difficult road to travel as she recovers from this tragedy. Along the way, she meets Harley, a youn ...more

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Dec 03, 2021 Diane Burton rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I had this book on my TBR list for several days but didn't want to read it. I was afraid it would be too sad. Was I wrong! The sad part happens quickly. An Olympic ski team hopeful suffers a devastating accident. The rest of the story is so uplifting that I'm sorry I waited to read it. After Libby realizes she will never walk (let alone ski) again, she goes through many emotions, comparable to the stages of grief. That made sense since she grieves her lost legs and former life. With the help of ...more

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Nov 11, 2021 Jemi Fraser rated it it was amazing

Powerful!
Libby is a finely-tuned athlete heading for the Olympics when an accident changes everything. Libby has to battle hard to deal with the grief, rage, and despair that grip her following her injury, especially when she discovers it might not have been an accident at all.
This book takes the reader on an emotional journey that is well worth traveling. The characters will pull at your heart, make you smile, and cheer. The twists will keep you turning pages. An excellent read!

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Jan 24, 2022 Shannon Lawrence rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Excellent book with an enduring mystery, an endearing main character, and real heart. Libby wakes up to discover she's a paraplegic after a skiing incident. Having lost her chance for an Olympic gold metal in skiing, she must put her life back together and learn to live with her new limitations, while also figuring out what happened that fateful day on the mountain. She forges new relationships in multiple ways. While she struggles, she also perseveres. Realistic characters. Well paced. A wonder ...more

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