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savble23's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
inook_u's review
4.0
4 stars.
A very sad story but with a semi happy ending for the two boys in this story.
This books has so many hard hitting facts about abusive families and the stories Jace shared about his past of what his father did to his brother Christian and his mom.
I had to skip some stories cause I just couldn't handle the graphic nature the father put on them.
Realizing that this sort of stuff does happen to people in real life, just saddens me and makes me what help others in this situation.
But it puzzles me to know that their father is a judge, a person who's meant to go by law and protect society from crime.
Corruption is a key in this book.
This book is like Go Ask Alice or Perk Of Being A Wallflower but with more depth and more emotion.
I would tell you guys to read it but this is one of those books not to take lightly.
A very sad story but with a semi happy ending for the two boys in this story.
This books has so many hard hitting facts about abusive families and the stories Jace shared about his past of what his father did to his brother Christian and his mom.
I had to skip some stories cause I just couldn't handle the graphic nature the father put on them.
Realizing that this sort of stuff does happen to people in real life, just saddens me and makes me what help others in this situation.
But it puzzles me to know that their father is a judge, a person who's meant to go by law and protect society from crime.
Corruption is a key in this book.
This book is like Go Ask Alice or Perk Of Being A Wallflower but with more depth and more emotion.
I would tell you guys to read it but this is one of those books not to take lightly.
lunababybat's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This is a hard one to get through, if you've had experiences with abuse in the past. I felt Jace and Christian's reactions in my chest. It's terrifying to live that way and deal with the ramifications of domestic violence. I'm glad that Jace was able to realize how he hurt others and found ways to not become like his father. Of course, I wish for more closure in regards to their mom, but that's where this book hits close to home; there isn't always closure when it comes to DV.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Violence
abaugher's review against another edition
5.0
Here is an awesome story about two young men struggling in the aftermath of a lifetime of abuse by their domineering and powerful father, who also happens to be a judge who likes to intimidate his family into silence with facts twisted to his advantage.
Jace gets kicked out of his house after his father beats him for trying to stop him from abusing his mother. He drives 19 hours to his brother, Christian, who got out years earlier. His mother promises to come stay with them both soon. They both spend the next few months trying to figure out how to co-exist without violence. There are many layers to the impact it has on them, and they have to work through them to heal.
The audio of this book is probably even better than the print, but I've only listened to it. The narrator does a super job of conveying anger, fear, and other emotions. I'm interested to check out other books by this author, too.
Jace gets kicked out of his house after his father beats him for trying to stop him from abusing his mother. He drives 19 hours to his brother, Christian, who got out years earlier. His mother promises to come stay with them both soon. They both spend the next few months trying to figure out how to co-exist without violence. There are many layers to the impact it has on them, and they have to work through them to heal.
The audio of this book is probably even better than the print, but I've only listened to it. The narrator does a super job of conveying anger, fear, and other emotions. I'm interested to check out other books by this author, too.
avid_reader_96's review against another edition
5.0
This is a very emotional book and I loved it! Books like this tend to be hard to read because it's realistic fiction and people actually go through this and sometimes it makes me uncomfortable because my life is comfortable, uncomplicated, and normal and yet I complain about small things when someone in the world is going through something like this or worse. I really liked this book and didn't want to put it down even when it got really emotional and... dark. Mirriam took sometime to warm up to and so did Christian but if they hadn't started out the way they did maybe I wouldn't have enjoyed this book as much. I would totally recommend this book and Jace... touched my heart. I loved him, hated him, sympathized with him, wanted to hit him, and loved him again. Amazing read, really.
brylkayyy's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Violence
Minor: Rape and Sexual violence
mary00's review against another edition
3.0
This young adult novel is a very well-written, intriguing (although harrowing) read. The depth of the characters is exceptional and the story feels realistic. So why only three stars? For one, the language. Also, the book was about a subject too graphic (physical abuse) to make it a book that I "really like", as higher star rating would indicate. Having said that, I think that Avasthi is an extremely talented writer and I am glad to have read this. I feel that I learned quite a bit about the pattern, signs, and ramifications of domestic abuse.
lindseyembry33's review against another edition
3.0
I got this book from the library as a distraction. It was pretty good. I liked the characters and would have given it four stars but the ending did not wrap up the book in my opinion.
janina_reads's review against another edition
4.0
It has been a while since I read this book (okay, about a month and a half, but I tend to be very forgetful), but I really don't want it to go un-reviewed.
Yes, this is a book about domestic abuse, a topic I normally shy away from. I can't even tell you why, as I do "enjoy" reading so called issue-books, but (together with teenage pregnancy) domestic abuse is not something I am drawn towards in books. It is hard for me to not be frustrated by victims accepting their situation, not reporting their abuser to the police, partly blaming themselves. I know I am in no position to judge as I have never been in a similar position myself, have never suffered under anything comparable, but it is hard to shut out my brain. And I think here lays the most significant strength of Avasthi's storytelling: It made me understand. There are as many different reactions to abuse as there are personalities. Everyone reacts in the way that helps him cope, by running away, by shutting it out, by accepting one’s fate, sometimes even by violence. While I did wish for the ending to go further, I still think Split is a fantastic portrayal of domestic abuse and how it affects not only a family but also friends and partners.
On a whole, I especially loved the two brothers Jace and Christian, and the dynamic in both their relationships to Mirriam, but did not care so much for the romantic aspect focusing on Dakota and Lauren.
Jace is a difficult character, but one I simply had to love. He is torn between wanting to be free of his father’s dominance, wanting to rescue his mother and fighting hard to contain the rage and violence that he himself possesses. I could really relate to his struggles; how awful it was for him to be so much like his father – especially in physical appearance but sometimes also in behaviour – and that he had to work hard to become his own person, to not be labelled by his past and to eventually move on.
For me, this was a book that really made me re-think my viewpoint, with a message that still lingers weeks after reading it. Definitely recommended!
Yes, this is a book about domestic abuse, a topic I normally shy away from. I can't even tell you why, as I do "enjoy" reading so called issue-books, but (together with teenage pregnancy) domestic abuse is not something I am drawn towards in books. It is hard for me to not be frustrated by victims accepting their situation, not reporting their abuser to the police, partly blaming themselves. I know I am in no position to judge as I have never been in a similar position myself, have never suffered under anything comparable, but it is hard to shut out my brain. And I think here lays the most significant strength of Avasthi's storytelling: It made me understand. There are as many different reactions to abuse as there are personalities. Everyone reacts in the way that helps him cope, by running away, by shutting it out, by accepting one’s fate, sometimes even by violence. While I did wish for the ending to go further, I still think Split is a fantastic portrayal of domestic abuse and how it affects not only a family but also friends and partners.
On a whole, I especially loved the two brothers Jace and Christian, and the dynamic in both their relationships to Mirriam, but did not care so much for the romantic aspect focusing on Dakota and Lauren.
Jace is a difficult character, but one I simply had to love. He is torn between wanting to be free of his father’s dominance, wanting to rescue his mother and fighting hard to contain the rage and violence that he himself possesses. I could really relate to his struggles; how awful it was for him to be so much like his father – especially in physical appearance but sometimes also in behaviour – and that he had to work hard to become his own person, to not be labelled by his past and to eventually move on.
For me, this was a book that really made me re-think my viewpoint, with a message that still lingers weeks after reading it. Definitely recommended!