Split

Gr 11 Up—Told from the vantage point of Jace Witherspoon, 16, Swati Avasthi's novel (Knopf, 2010) is about a family deeply impacted by physical and psychological abuse. Jace has grown up watching his father, a stalwart member of the community and a sitting judge, abuse his mother. She tolerates it until he turns his fists against his oldest son, Christian. The family remains intact until Christian runs away. Jace is left behind and becomes a target. When he retaliates against his father, he's thrown out of the house. On that last night in Chicago, Jace lashed out physically at his girlfriend. Disappointed in himself and desperate for help and a place to live, he tracks Christian down in Albuquerque and begins the hard work of recovery. Can an abused child break the cycle of violence? Jace's highs and lows as well as his sarcastic take on what goes on around him is fully realized in Joshua Swanson's narration. Although the novel includes adult language and depictions of physical abuse, it deals with an important issue and should be included in every young adult collection.—Joan Kindig, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA