Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Publication
Ember (2012), Edition: Reprint, 288 pages
Description
Young Adult Fiction. Young Adult Literature. HTML:A riveting portrait of life after abuse from an award-winning novelist. Sixteen-Year-Old Jace Witherspoon arrives at the doorstep of his estranged brother Christian with a re-landscaped face (courtesy of his father's fist), $3.84, and a secret. He tries to move on, going for new friends, a new school, and a new job, but all his changes can't make him forget what he left behind�??his mother, who is still trapped with his dad, and his ex-girlfriend, who is keeping his secret. At least so far. Worst of all, Jace realizes that if he really wants to move forward, he may first have to do what scares him most: He may have to go back. Award-winning novelist Swati Avasthi has created a riveting and remarkably nuanced portrait of what happens after. After you've said enough, after you've run, after you've made the split�??how do you begin to live again? Readers won't be able to put this intense page-turner down. From the Hardcover edition… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member ShouldIReadIt
The sad tale of domestic abuse is told in this dramatic story of two brothers, who have been mercilessly beaten by their father over a period of years, trying to come to grips with their past so they can have a future. Along the way, they need to learn how to forgive their mother who has endured
Show More
her own share of abuse for 25 years, and accept that she needs to make her own decisions about her future. Show Less
LibraryThing member shazjhb
First time author who writes about an extremely difficult topic and gets it right. Liked the people in the book. Quick read.
LibraryThing member Sandra305
Ms. Avasthi has done a beautiful job of dealing with the sensitive issue of domestic violence. Her main characters are very real as are their ways of dealing (or not dealing) with their problems. I found both brothers' girlfriends very appealing, and they provided an extra emotional dimension which
Show More
gave us additional insight into the psychological makeup of both brothers. Highly Recommended! Show Less
LibraryThing member rivkat
Wow, this was great. I actually bought a copy before my ARC arrived from [personal profile] deepad, and I’m glad I did. The action begins with just the right amount of tension: Jace shows up at his older brother Christian’s, still bleeding. As you find out why, Jace is both sympathetic and
Show More
legitimately dangerous. Both Jace and Christian have secrets and occasionally behave badly despite their attempts to take care of each other, and as Jace struggles to fit in to his brother’s new life and a new school, he has to deal with what he couldn’t leave behind: himself, and his connections to his mother and father. When is it okay to get out of a terrible situation, knowing that you’re leaving others you love behind to suffer, and knowing that if you reach out to them you’re much more likely to get pulled back in than you are to help? Is forgiveness for terrible acts ever justified, and how does that relate to change in the person who did them? There are no easy answers here; the story was powerful and ultimately hopeful. Show Less
LibraryThing member GirlonaMission
The best word to describe this novel is unforgiving. It takes a knife and slices you where your heart is and doesn't even apologize for it. This is one of the most emotional, and raw novels I've read in a long time.
Main character Jace is definitely one of a kind. He's a collector of Queen pieces
Jace has grown up seeing his father hit his mom and then the abuse began to include his older brother Christian. Christian moves out and Jace is left to fill his spot. One night it gets really bad and Jace leaves with hardly any money and his brother's address in hand.
Flashbacks of the way things were before he left give the reader piece by piece of the whole picture. These boys went through so much physically and mentally. Their story happens everyday. This is the story of what happens AFTER the abuse and the affects it has. Jace tries to make a new life for himself in Albuquerque with his brother. But everyone knows that the past has a way of catching up with us.
Listening to this book literally made me laugh out loud at how sarcastically funny Jace was. Though sometimes it made my heart ache. Living in an abusive home can be the hardest thing to go through and getting out can be even harder.
Main character Jace is definitely one of a kind. He's a collector of Queen pieces
Show More
from Chess boards but he doesn't play Chess. He's blunt and has a hard time keeping his mouth shut but I love him for it. Because of his past he's not very good at letting people in. He's one of those guys that can come off as an asshole but he really has good intentions. I get him!Jace has grown up seeing his father hit his mom and then the abuse began to include his older brother Christian. Christian moves out and Jace is left to fill his spot. One night it gets really bad and Jace leaves with hardly any money and his brother's address in hand.
Flashbacks of the way things were before he left give the reader piece by piece of the whole picture. These boys went through so much physically and mentally. Their story happens everyday. This is the story of what happens AFTER the abuse and the affects it has. Jace tries to make a new life for himself in Albuquerque with his brother. But everyone knows that the past has a way of catching up with us.
Listening to this book literally made me laugh out loud at how sarcastically funny Jace was. Though sometimes it made my heart ache. Living in an abusive home can be the hardest thing to go through and getting out can be even harder.
Show Less
LibraryThing member taramatchi
This was a really good look at the repercussions of domestic violence. Jace and Christian are brothers raised in a household where the father abuses their mother...then abuses them as they try to protect her. They are very different and get out of the situation in different ways, but they are both
It is not a book with a happily ever after, but the end is satisfying. Overall, it is well-written and has a good plot.
Show More
affected by their upbringing. I think that Avasthi does a nice job with constructing these emotionally flawed characters, and with the characterization of the friends and loved ones that ultimate help them. It is not a book with a happily ever after, but the end is satisfying. Overall, it is well-written and has a good plot.
Show Less
LibraryThing member YAaddict
I went into Split expecting a thoughtful piece on an abuse victim. I did not expect it to tear my heart out and check it at the door. I did not expect it to keep me enthralled, to keep me up late at night, anxiously flipping pages top find out what would happen next. But it happened. Split is the
I can't tell you how much my heart was hurting for Jace. You are seeing a story from the aftermath of the abuse. But through Jace's memories we slowly see bit by bit just how terrible life has been for his family. To be honest, I usually get bored in long memory scenes. Not in Split. I was drawn into Jace's memories, both anxious and afraid to get another piece of the puzzle. Asvasthi did a remarkable job at showing all sides of an abuse case. She showed what abuse does to everyone involved.
The characters were all fleshed out wonderfully detailed. Jace is interesting, sad, unique, funny, messed up, sweet, talented and so many other things. It was bitter-sweet learning his story. Bitter, for how he was raised and what he has been through, and sweet, for getting to know the person he is. Jace's brother, Christian, was also a wonderful character. He was so woven into Jace's memories and thoughts that it was impossible not to care for him as well. But besides Jace, Merriam was my favorite character. At first I thought she'd just be Christian's bitchy girlfriend. But she turned out to be a remarkable character. Some of my favorite scenes were the conversations between her and Jace.
The ending was perfect. It didn't tie everything up in a big, yellow bow. It answered enough questions to satisfy the reader, yet some remained open with the promise of hope. This unbelievably, yet realistic tale is one no one should miss. This one is going to help many teens to come, I just know it.
Show More
poster child for what a beautifully-broken story should be like.I can't tell you how much my heart was hurting for Jace. You are seeing a story from the aftermath of the abuse. But through Jace's memories we slowly see bit by bit just how terrible life has been for his family. To be honest, I usually get bored in long memory scenes. Not in Split. I was drawn into Jace's memories, both anxious and afraid to get another piece of the puzzle. Asvasthi did a remarkable job at showing all sides of an abuse case. She showed what abuse does to everyone involved.
The characters were all fleshed out wonderfully detailed. Jace is interesting, sad, unique, funny, messed up, sweet, talented and so many other things. It was bitter-sweet learning his story. Bitter, for how he was raised and what he has been through, and sweet, for getting to know the person he is. Jace's brother, Christian, was also a wonderful character. He was so woven into Jace's memories and thoughts that it was impossible not to care for him as well. But besides Jace, Merriam was my favorite character. At first I thought she'd just be Christian's bitchy girlfriend. But she turned out to be a remarkable character. Some of my favorite scenes were the conversations between her and Jace.
The ending was perfect. It didn't tie everything up in a big, yellow bow. It answered enough questions to satisfy the reader, yet some remained open with the promise of hope. This unbelievably, yet realistic tale is one no one should miss. This one is going to help many teens to come, I just know it.
Show Less
LibraryThing member resugo
I would never have picked up this book if I hadn't heard two recommendations. I must say that they were right on with this book: it was fabulous.
Jace is kicked out of the house by his physically abusive father when he decides to fight back. With nowhere to go, he travels across four states to find
This book is about Jace and Christian's new relationship, Jace's struggles with his own anger, and letting go of regret and loss. Okay, that sounds kind of lame. But it really is a great book! Jace is such a good kid and he tries really hard to do the right thing. Which is really difficult.
What's also awesome is that the author is a woman. I never would have guessed and was half way through the book before I saw her picture in the back. Her teen, male voice rings true.
there is a lot of swearing, including the f-word, and the abuse can get graphic.
Jace is kicked out of the house by his physically abusive father when he decides to fight back. With nowhere to go, he travels across four states to find
Show More
the brother who disappeared five years earlier in an attempt to escape the same abuse. This book is about Jace and Christian's new relationship, Jace's struggles with his own anger, and letting go of regret and loss. Okay, that sounds kind of lame. But it really is a great book! Jace is such a good kid and he tries really hard to do the right thing. Which is really difficult.
What's also awesome is that the author is a woman. I never would have guessed and was half way through the book before I saw her picture in the back. Her teen, male voice rings true.
there is a lot of swearing, including the f-word, and the abuse can get graphic.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Tatiana_G
16-year old Jace unexpectedly shows up on his brother Christian's doorsteps with bruised up face. He has nothing with him but his car, his camera case and a couple of dollars. So, what's the deal? How did he find Christian who had disappeared years ago? Did he finally manage to escape from his
So starts Split. As you can very well guess, this is that type of YA literature, a book about "issues." And the issue here is domestic abuse. How it affects families, the family members who are victims of abuse and those who just witness abuse from a distance. How people escape it or don't. How people become victims or abusers. And how they overcome the aftermath of living in such dysfunctional environment.
I admit, never have been abused, I often get frustrated with such stories, with women who accept beating days after day and do nothing to protect themselves and their children. But this story does what many other similar stories fail to do. It makes you understand and witness how many women are conditioned to get used to domestic violence and why some are easier targets than others. Swati Avasthi, having worked with thousands of abused women, knows how such things work very well and, luckily, has strong writing skills to relay this knowledge to the readers. There are some poignant passages of "apologies" and "forgiveness" in Split that literally made my skin crawl. And some passages that made me realize I shouldn't be too quick to judge participants on both sides.
I also want to applaud Avasthi for her ability to write from a male POV. It is very convincing and not often properly done in YA fiction.
The only reason I am giving this novel 4 stars instead of 5 is that I feel the ending missed some opportunities. I am surprised Avasthi chose not to have a big confrontation with the abuser. Everything in the book was leading to it and it never happened. I think with such scene the novel could have had a bigger impact than what the author offered.
Show More
monster father? Did their mother come along with Jace? Is she even alive? And why did Jace break up with his girlfriend and can't date any more?So starts Split. As you can very well guess, this is that type of YA literature, a book about "issues." And the issue here is domestic abuse. How it affects families, the family members who are victims of abuse and those who just witness abuse from a distance. How people escape it or don't. How people become victims or abusers. And how they overcome the aftermath of living in such dysfunctional environment.
I admit, never have been abused, I often get frustrated with such stories, with women who accept beating days after day and do nothing to protect themselves and their children. But this story does what many other similar stories fail to do. It makes you understand and witness how many women are conditioned to get used to domestic violence and why some are easier targets than others. Swati Avasthi, having worked with thousands of abused women, knows how such things work very well and, luckily, has strong writing skills to relay this knowledge to the readers. There are some poignant passages of "apologies" and "forgiveness" in Split that literally made my skin crawl. And some passages that made me realize I shouldn't be too quick to judge participants on both sides.
I also want to applaud Avasthi for her ability to write from a male POV. It is very convincing and not often properly done in YA fiction.
The only reason I am giving this novel 4 stars instead of 5 is that I feel the ending missed some opportunities. I am surprised Avasthi chose not to have a big confrontation with the abuser. Everything in the book was leading to it and it never happened. I think with such scene the novel could have had a bigger impact than what the author offered.
Show Less
LibraryThing member ericajsc
Jace’s story isn’t an easy one. He is full of conflicting emotions about almost everyone and everything in his life. As Jace reveals more and more of his stormy past, it is obvious that he’s seen and experienced more in his life than anyone ever should. But he doesn’t want to be just
With this book, Avasthi has taken a horrible reality and turned it into a beautiful and emotional narrative of life after abuse. Though it is beautiful, it is difficult to read.
There was one particularly brutal flashback that had me wincing its entire ten pages (and afterward, too – I’m doing it even now just thinking about it). Although the abuse he endured has done a lot to define Jace, he is determined that it won’t control him, even when that sometimes seems inevitable to him. He is forced to deal with the person he will become, to make a conscious choice every moment of the day to be that person.
One of the greatest aspects of this book is that every character has texture. Never is someone the cliché they may seem. The dumb jock, vapid popular girl, nosy girlfriend, cheating ex-girlfriend – they all have layered stories that prevent them from being one-dimensional characters. The way Jace interacts with all of them, his feelings about his parents, and how he views himself make him a character that is hard to define but easy to respect.
Show More
another statistic.With this book, Avasthi has taken a horrible reality and turned it into a beautiful and emotional narrative of life after abuse. Though it is beautiful, it is difficult to read.
There was one particularly brutal flashback that had me wincing its entire ten pages (and afterward, too – I’m doing it even now just thinking about it). Although the abuse he endured has done a lot to define Jace, he is determined that it won’t control him, even when that sometimes seems inevitable to him. He is forced to deal with the person he will become, to make a conscious choice every moment of the day to be that person.
One of the greatest aspects of this book is that every character has texture. Never is someone the cliché they may seem. The dumb jock, vapid popular girl, nosy girlfriend, cheating ex-girlfriend – they all have layered stories that prevent them from being one-dimensional characters. The way Jace interacts with all of them, his feelings about his parents, and how he views himself make him a character that is hard to define but easy to respect.
Show Less
LibraryThing member amusingmother
This one nearly missed my radar. I found the story compelling, the characters very well developed, and the disorders well researched. The author digs in deep and uncovers the contempt, hatred, and love the family members have for one another. She also presents a conundrum. I just love that
Judge Witherspoon is all about appearances. If you live in his house (and you WILL), you will abide by his rules. A complete narcissistic personality lawyer type. Excellent.
The mother is beaten down emotionally and physically. She sees no way out. Interesting symbolism of the Queen chess pieces and Jace's compulsion to save/steal them and what he eventually does with his collection.
Christian gets out after careful planning and makes a life for himself with conditions. He will never, ever risk being found by his dad and he will never allow abuse in his home.
Jace was one of his father's favorite punching bags. When he left, he also left some secrets. In order or healing to occur, all secrets will be spilled, consequences will follow and Jace may alienate his brother.
I loved the complexity of the characters and the circumstances. I loved the exploration of Jace's feelings for himself, Lauren, Dakota, his mom, and his dad. I loved that Jace's appearance is the catalyst for Christian developing true intimacy with Mirriam, the voice of logic in this story.
The story is told through Jace's POV, although in third person. The present time is given but Jace's mind flashes back and fills in the holes. Particularly compelling is the detail used to describe the first time Christian is used as a punching bag, the consequences, and the way the Judge responds to each of the characters. It. Was. Incredible.
Show More
word.Judge Witherspoon is all about appearances. If you live in his house (and you WILL), you will abide by his rules. A complete narcissistic personality lawyer type. Excellent.
The mother is beaten down emotionally and physically. She sees no way out. Interesting symbolism of the Queen chess pieces and Jace's compulsion to save/steal them and what he eventually does with his collection.
Christian gets out after careful planning and makes a life for himself with conditions. He will never, ever risk being found by his dad and he will never allow abuse in his home.
Jace was one of his father's favorite punching bags. When he left, he also left some secrets. In order or healing to occur, all secrets will be spilled, consequences will follow and Jace may alienate his brother.
I loved the complexity of the characters and the circumstances. I loved the exploration of Jace's feelings for himself, Lauren, Dakota, his mom, and his dad. I loved that Jace's appearance is the catalyst for Christian developing true intimacy with Mirriam, the voice of logic in this story.
The story is told through Jace's POV, although in third person. The present time is given but Jace's mind flashes back and fills in the holes. Particularly compelling is the detail used to describe the first time Christian is used as a punching bag, the consequences, and the way the Judge responds to each of the characters. It. Was. Incredible.
Show Less
LibraryThing member abbylibrarian
Ever since his older brother left, Jace's dad's abuse has gotten worse and worse. Jace steps up and tries to take as many of the beatings as he can, in order to spare his mom, but one night things go too far and his dad kicks him out. Jace has nowhere to go except to track down the brother who
I was drawn into this story by Jace's authentic voice. Swati Avasthi explores they gray areas of family relations. Recommended for teens who like edgy stuff like Nancy Werlin's The Rules of Survival, Barry Lyga's Boy Toy, or Jennifer Brown's upcoming Bitter End.
Show More
abandoned him. Together, Christian and Jace must figure out how to find peace and how to rescue their mom... if she'll let herself be rescued. I was drawn into this story by Jace's authentic voice. Swati Avasthi explores they gray areas of family relations. Recommended for teens who like edgy stuff like Nancy Werlin's The Rules of Survival, Barry Lyga's Boy Toy, or Jennifer Brown's upcoming Bitter End.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Manderiffic
In Swati Avasthi's debut novel, Split, Sixteen-year-old Jace Witherspoon just wants to be a normal teenager. He dreams of soccer games, girlfriends, and his love for photography that are not tainted by his past. Growing up with an abusive father, a passive mother and a brother who abandoned him
For me, Split was a story that no one ever wants to tell. The pain, abuse and heartbreak that Jace experiences pops from the pages of this truthful read. Written in first person, Jace is able to tell the readers what he is feeling and how he sees himself. The flashbacks to what Jace had to endure living in a home constantly at war will make even the strongest reader's heart break. I felt that Split was as honest as a work a fiction could be in feeling the pain of an abused child and now abusing teen. The voice of Jace is real of a teen boy going through what he went through. Never did I feel that this was written by an adult woman. It was true to the teenage male heart and the teenage male mind. Avasthi really got into her character of Jace and felt his heart and found his voice. If you are a victim of abuse or someone who has never experienced anything like what Jace went through in this book, you will relate to Avasthi's characters in some way and you will feel the need to protect them. Swati Avasthi completely succeeded with Split and I know she will continue to write great things in the future.
Originally posted on my blog Draw A Blank.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Random House Publishing. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Show More
when he needed him the most, Jace is afraid for his future. Finally standing up to his father, he escapes his past that he just can not leave behind and shows up on the doorstep of his estranged brother. New friends, a new school and a new job can not hide his abusive past and the secret he is hoping no one ever finds out. Will Jace escape his horrid past? Will he move on and find the family he always dreamed of? Or will he realize his past has become his future? Read Split by Swati Avasthi to find out for yourself.For me, Split was a story that no one ever wants to tell. The pain, abuse and heartbreak that Jace experiences pops from the pages of this truthful read. Written in first person, Jace is able to tell the readers what he is feeling and how he sees himself. The flashbacks to what Jace had to endure living in a home constantly at war will make even the strongest reader's heart break. I felt that Split was as honest as a work a fiction could be in feeling the pain of an abused child and now abusing teen. The voice of Jace is real of a teen boy going through what he went through. Never did I feel that this was written by an adult woman. It was true to the teenage male heart and the teenage male mind. Avasthi really got into her character of Jace and felt his heart and found his voice. If you are a victim of abuse or someone who has never experienced anything like what Jace went through in this book, you will relate to Avasthi's characters in some way and you will feel the need to protect them. Swati Avasthi completely succeeded with Split and I know she will continue to write great things in the future.
Originally posted on my blog Draw A Blank.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Random House Publishing. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Show Less
LibraryThing member lellis04
This book is excellent. It is very realistic. I like how all of the characters do good and bad things. The characters are rich and well rounded.
LibraryThing member YoungTrek
I finally finished this one, after many starts and stops. A well written, emotionally tense tale of a high school aged boy named Jace who is kicked out by his abusive father and who drives cross country from Chicago to Albuquerque to live with his brother, Christian, who had run away already prior
The nightmarish situations of living with domestic abuse are central to this book. The author, prior to writing SPLIT, coordinated a domestic-violence legal clinic according to the "about the author" notes on the dust jacket. This undoubtedly is a large reason why she is able to at times convey the tension and fear Jace and Christian feel at times when thinking about their father and the things they've witnessed him do and their desperate hope to be able to save their mother from the cycle of abuse.
I only gave it 3 1/2 stars here purely on a personal level. This type of realistic fiction is not one of those genres that I am especially interested in. However, I would recommend it to those who do find this genre enjoyable.
Book is one of the Florida Teens Read 2011-2012 nominee titles.
Show More
to that. The two live in fear that their father will discover where they are and also for their mother's safety. Jace is convinced that his mother will also eventually join them if only she can get away. Meanwhile, Jace also lives with the fear that he might become just like his father due to an incident in his recent past when he struck his girlfriend, Alison, in anger.The nightmarish situations of living with domestic abuse are central to this book. The author, prior to writing SPLIT, coordinated a domestic-violence legal clinic according to the "about the author" notes on the dust jacket. This undoubtedly is a large reason why she is able to at times convey the tension and fear Jace and Christian feel at times when thinking about their father and the things they've witnessed him do and their desperate hope to be able to save their mother from the cycle of abuse.
I only gave it 3 1/2 stars here purely on a personal level. This type of realistic fiction is not one of those genres that I am especially interested in. However, I would recommend it to those who do find this genre enjoyable.
Book is one of the Florida Teens Read 2011-2012 nominee titles.
Show Less
LibraryThing member TigerLMS
Jace's dad is a highly respected judge in Chicago, but he mercilessly beats his wife. When 16 year-old Jace tries to step in and stop a particularly nasty beating, his dad kicks Jace out of the house. Jace drives all night to New Mexico, where he arrives on the doorstep of his 22 year old brother
Show More
Christian. The two haven't seen each other in five years, after Christian left the family to escape the beatings he too was suffering. The two brothers struggle to communicate given their histories, and while they establish a temporary home for Jace, the younger brother holds out hope that they can rescue their mom from the abuses of their ever-watchful father. The suspense of whether the mother will join the siblings in New Mexico mixed with Jace's new (but iffy) outlook keep the book moving. An all-too realistic read with an all-too realistic ending. Highly recommended for high schoolers. Show Less
LibraryThing member lilibrarian
Jace's father is an abuser. He beats his wife and his children. After taking beatings for years, Jace's older brother takes off. Now Jace is out of the house after hitting his father back, heading off to find his brother and try to create a life.
LibraryThing member Pickle115
A captivating look into the lives of Christian and Jace. Two brothers who are the victims of their father's extreme abuse. We also hear about their mother, the main target of their father's rage, through the eyes of her two sons. Its a story about the struggle to overcome abuse, moving on and
Show More
learning when to let go. Highly recommended! Show Less
LibraryThing member keely13
Split is a story of a family that is torn apart by domestic abuse. The older brother Christian is no longer able to endure the fathers wrath. He escapes as a young teenager to find a new life. Having to change his name and hide even into adulthood from his father. His father is a Judge and
Show More
threatened death should he ever find Christian. Christian left behind a younger brother Jace who also makes the choice to stand up for the abused mother and alleviate some of her blows only to find himself kicked out with no where to go. When Jace shows up on his estranged brothers door step these two have a lot of pain that confronts them and needs to be worked out. They embark on a journey to try to save their mother who stayed behind and on this journey they work through the years of pain and abandonment. A powerful look at the damage caused by abuse and the strength it takes to move on. Show Less
LibraryThing member periwinklejane
It is so refreshing to read a book narrated by a teenage boy whose voice is fresh and hip and real, but isn't a Holden Caufield clone. Frankly, I'm tired of the "Ooooo, look at me, I'm so troubled and cool" copycats out there, so I was happy to read Jace's story, even though it's a dark one.
The
It's hard for a novel to keep you interested without really surprising you with the plot. There are no big twists in Split, and people act like real people. I love that. It's wonderfully written and the characters are complex, interesting, and they behave like real people do. Why is it so rare to find a book like that?
I was very moved by Split, and though this one hasn't even been released yet (I have an advance copy), I'm really looking forward to Ms. Avasthi's next book.
The
Show More
novel is about a teenaged boy who leaves home to escape his physically abusive father. Jace deals with the guilt of leaving his mother behind to face his father's blows alone, as he tries to make a life with his brother, who left home years before.It's hard for a novel to keep you interested without really surprising you with the plot. There are no big twists in Split, and people act like real people. I love that. It's wonderfully written and the characters are complex, interesting, and they behave like real people do. Why is it so rare to find a book like that?
I was very moved by Split, and though this one hasn't even been released yet (I have an advance copy), I'm really looking forward to Ms. Avasthi's next book.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Victoria22
I've never read a book quite like this one, it was strangely different, in a good way. It kept me reading, because the plot was exciting and well thought out, it could have been executed better though.
LibraryThing member Krissy724
Swati Avasthi first novel, Split, is a beautifully written story about a boy trying to deal with his past. Jace leaves his home in Chicago after his extremely abusive father beats him up and kicks him out of the house. Jace travels to New Mexico to live with his older brother, Christian. Christian
I've read a lot of books that have abuse as a common theme, but this one was different in a wonderful way. Some of the story is told in flashbacks but the majority of it is Jace trying to figure out a life without abuse, and also worrying if he will end up just like his father.
I borrowed this book from the library, finished it within a few hours, then bought a copy for myself at Amazon. Split is a very emotional and raw read. The author does a wonderful job with Jace's narrative and as a reader, I felt everything Jace felt. She even did a great job developing Christian's character who is also dealing with the abuse. Their father was a sick, disgusting man and the brothers, along with Christian's girlfriend, who knew nothing about the abuse until Jace came along, help each other to deal and move on.
This touching novel stays with you weeks after you finished reading it.
Show More
is 22 years old and left home when he was 17 and Jace was 11. Jace had not seen him since then.I've read a lot of books that have abuse as a common theme, but this one was different in a wonderful way. Some of the story is told in flashbacks but the majority of it is Jace trying to figure out a life without abuse, and also worrying if he will end up just like his father.
I borrowed this book from the library, finished it within a few hours, then bought a copy for myself at Amazon. Split is a very emotional and raw read. The author does a wonderful job with Jace's narrative and as a reader, I felt everything Jace felt. She even did a great job developing Christian's character who is also dealing with the abuse. Their father was a sick, disgusting man and the brothers, along with Christian's girlfriend, who knew nothing about the abuse until Jace came along, help each other to deal and move on.
This touching novel stays with you weeks after you finished reading it.
Show Less
LibraryThing member KingRat
Split covers the most important part of child abuse aside from stopping them in the first place, what happens afterward, an under-explored part of the picture. It does so with believable plot and flawed characters I liked. The narrative and author obviously care about kids in these situations,
Split is about recovery. Fucked up, messed up, painful, recovery. The people present don’t drag them down. They build them up. Jace and Christian build relationships. Split is hopeful all the way through, but not so positive as to be a sure thing. Steps forward and steps back, and I read through to the end worried that I would lose my friendships with these characters in one final giant leap backward. Either way, in Ms. Avasthi’s hands, it would have been the right ending.
Show More
making for fine story.Split is about recovery. Fucked up, messed up, painful, recovery. The people present don’t drag them down. They build them up. Jace and Christian build relationships. Split is hopeful all the way through, but not so positive as to be a sure thing. Steps forward and steps back, and I read through to the end worried that I would lose my friendships with these characters in one final giant leap backward. Either way, in Ms. Avasthi’s hands, it would have been the right ending.
Show Less
Awards
Sequoyah Book Award (Nominee — High School — 2013)
Parents' Choice Book Award (2010)
Eliot Rosewater Indiana High School Book Award (Nominee — 2013)
Kentucky Bluegrass Award (Nominee — Grades 9-12 — 2012)
Gateway Readers Award (Nominee — 2013)
South Dakota Teen Choice Book Awards (Nominee — 2013)
Arkansas Teen Book Award (Nominee — 2012)
Florida Teens Read Award (Nominee — 2012)
Black-Eyed Susan Book Award (Nominee — High School — 2012)
Evergreen Teen Book Award (Nominee — 2013)
Georgia Peach Book Award for Teen Readers (Nominee — 2012)
Rhode Island Teen Book Award (Nominee — 2012)
CYBILS Awards (Winner — Young Adult Fiction — 2010)
Minnesota Book Awards (Finalist — Young People's Literature — 2011)
Best Fiction for Young Adults (Selection — 2011)
CCBC Choices (2011)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2010-03-09
Physical description
8.25 inches
ISBN
0375863419 / 9780375863417