Want an “at a glance” look at what I thought? Check out my Review On A Post-It or my “Final Thought”
.A teenager is caught cutting at school and is sent to a psych ward for a mandatory 72 hours. During this time she’s forced to confront her addiction to cutting, reflect on what made her start cutting and she meets some other patients along the way whose presence gives her much to think about and make these 72 hours interesting.
I almost put this book down to be honest because I was just really not into it. It wasn’t the novel in verse thing, which I like, it was just that I was pretty much bored and not feeling like I cared what the last page held. But I kept reading it because I was like, “oh what the hell..it’s really short, told in verse and I’ll finish it in less than an hour…which I did.
1. I swear, I felt no emotions during this book: If I could have recorded my face reading it I feel like my face would have been have remained the same the whole time and FEELINGS pretty much did fluctuate at all. I was just turning page after page hoping something would make me care. I mean, I WANTED to care about a young girl who cuts herself and gets caught and Baker Acted (sent to a psych ward for a mandatory 72 hours). I thought I would feel something towards it but I just didn’t. Like at all. I felt nothing really which was strange considering I know it was inspired by this happening to the author’s daughter.
2. From a technical standpoint I thought the novel in verse worked well & the writing was solid: It was poetic and flowed really well. I really LOVE novels in verse and this executed it really well. It really FIT the story well!
3. I will say that I liked that it wasn’t an AND NOW SHE IS FIXED AFTER THIS EVENT type of book but just a snapshot of a girl who can’t help but cut and is forced to reflect on it: It was about a normal girl. Not a girl with a ton of issues or a deep dark secret. But just a girl who got caught up in it for her own reasons (which are revealed). It wasn’t an “AND NOW SHE IS SAVED AND SHALL NEVER CUT AGAIN” book but an honest look at a girl who gets a chance to reflect on it for 72 hours and meet people who will give her even more to think about. It’s that looking back of this is how I got there, this is where I’m at and she gets to think about the path she wants to take when she is released. I FELT like it was a realistic portrayal but I also admit that my experience is limited to this peer pressure induced, wanting-attention-from-a-guy-I-liked week of cutting I had in 7th grade.
+ the writing
– I was so bored, no emotional connection whatsoever
Re-readability: No.
Would I buy a copy for my collection? Not for mine but I plan to donate my copy to the YA section of my library.
fans of novels in verse, people who are interested in novels dealing with cutting
On a technical level I thought Kisses of Broken Glass was well written and the way it was told in verse really fit the story well. I liked the idea of the book but I literally felt nothing at all. No emotion at all which was strange because I should have felt SOMETHING while reading. I should have probably put it down when I thought about how bored I was but I 1) thought it would pick up and 2) it was so short I was like MIGHT AS WELL FINISH.
* Have you read this one? What did you think? Similar or different from me? I would LOVE to hear regardless!
*If you haven’t read it, does this book feel like something you’d be into?
* What are some of your favorite novels in verse??
Michelle @ Michelles Minion says
I’ve been so on the fence about reading this book. For me, I think it’s that I’m not sure I can relate to the cutting thing. I know it’s a serious problem, but I don’t get it. That’s one reason I thought I should read it, so I could have a better understanding of those who are affected by it. I mean, if I get a paper cut I panic, douse it with neosporin and bandaids and debate whether I need professional medical attention.
Jamie says
Hmm I’m trying to decide if I think it’s one that really gets into the head of someone who does it. Like it did a little bit. I mean, I’ve read some where it’s coping because of something awful happened but pretty much she is just a normal girl who kind of gets into it because of peer pressure. It gets into her head but at the same time I didn’t FEEL it. I’d say skip it tbh or just borrow it from the library. VERY quick read…like under an hour!
Trina says
Hmm, I might skip this one then. I heard about it a while back and it’s been on my radar, but not a must-get-my-hands-on-ASAP. Thanks for an honest review! I recently read Rumble by Ellen Hopkins and it was my first time reading a book in verse and I really loved that style! I do want to check out more books in verse and I think that was my primary interest in this one. :/
Niki says
I actually really enjoyed this book. I know the main character might be a little shallow, but i enjoyed the storyline and the fact that it was written in verse as i had never read anything like it at the time. I still really enjoy reading the book from time to time.
Jamie says
I’m glad you enjoyed it more than I did! Have you read any of Ellen Hopkins books? Hers are in verse and they are great! Crank is my favorite!