Review – Why We Broke Up
Teenage angst and broken hearts – we’ve all been there, done that, worn (or should I say, Torn) the T-shirt.
In this tale of heartache, beautifully pieced together by Daniel Handler (better known as Lemony Snicket), we accompany Min Green as she exorcises her relationship demons through the removal of various collected items that defined what seemed to be the good times but ultimately were not.
The accompanying letter, upon which the text of this novel is based, captures every intimate moment and gesture of Min’s overwhelming love for Ed Slaterton, only for us to see it all come crashing down around her feet, with a sad, tragic and bittersweet tone.
Maria Kalmans’ beautiful illustrations show us the various objects which have been collected by Min, objects that once symbolised a cute, heartwarming, blossoming relationship but now represent pain, rejection and anger.
It would take a cold heart to not be moved by Min’s tale of heartbreak. Handler gives her heroine a strong, independent and sometimes quirky voice that can only lead us to hope she’ll get through this, her version of the world’s end.
Something tells me, like those T-shirts we’ve all previously Torn… she’ll be okay!
Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler is an Eason’s Children’s Book of the Month for August.
