If you happened to stop by the library yesterday afternoon around 3:30, you may have seen me sitting in a corner with tears running down my cheeks. No, it wasn’t a super bad day at the library—I was just finishing up All the Broken Pieces by Ann E. Burg. I’ve been meaning to get to this for a while, but hadn’t managed until yesterday. Apparently, it hasn’t grabbed anyone else’s attention either, as I was the first to check it out. Maybe the words “a novel in verse” scares people off. I, on the other hand, am quickly falling in love with this format. When done well, as this one is, the tight, well-crafted verses pack a wallop of an emotional punch. Each word is essential, and cuts right to the heart of the story. And they tend to read very fast—perfect for busy schedules.
All the Broken Pieces tells the story of Matt Pin, a Vietnamese-American boy who was airlifted out of his war-torn home and brought to America, where he was adopted by a physician and his wife. His new parents are kind and loving, but Matt is dealing with the emotional scars left by a traumatic past. He also faces hatred from Americans who also lost loved ones in the unpopular war. This book is both heart-wrenching and incredibly hopeful (don’t let my tears dissuade you—I’m an absolute boob when it comes to books—and Hallmark commercials!). I hope it spends less time on the shelves and more in people’s hands.
