Breaking Point [Paperback]

Alex Flinn (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: HarperTempest (2002)
• ASIN: B000OF9R0A
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)

More About the Author

Alex Flinn was born in Syosset, New York. She learned to read at three and wanted to be a writer at five. She received her first rejection letter (from Highlights magazine) at eight. At twelve, her family moved to Miami, Florida, where she had a really hard time making friends, due to congenital shyness and a really bad haircut. So she read a lot and tried to write a novel but never finished because she had no idea what to write about.

Flinn attended a performing arts high school program, similar to that portrayed in her book, Diva, then majored in vocal performance in college. Panicked upon realizing that there weren't a whole lot of jobs for opera singers, Flinn went to law school.

Law school was, it turns out a really good place to learn to write for teenagers. Writing for teens and writing for judges are very similar because both judges and teens have a lot of demands on their time and minimal time for reading. Also, Flinn interned at the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office, trying many domestic violence cases, which were later the inspiration for her first novel, Breathing Underwater.

Breathing Underwater was published in 2001. It received many honors, including being chosen a Top 10 Best Book for Young Adults by the American Library Association. It was followed by Breaking Point, Nothing to Lose, Fade to Black, Diva, and Beastly. Beastly is soon to be released as a motion picture. Her newest book is A Kiss in Time, a modern Sleeping Beauty.

Flinn still lives in Miami with her husband, two daughters, a dog, cat, and African Spur-Thighed Tortoise. She enjoys performing arts, biking, and travel.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Powerful Read, June 17, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Breaking Point (Hardcover)

I've read several young adult novels that deal with school violence and this is really the first one that I feel truly delves into the mind of one of the perpetrators in a realistic way. Paul Richmond could be someone we know, he could be us. Flinn has the courage to remind us that violence doesn't happen in a vacuum, that all of us have a Breaking Point and that many times, our smaller cruelties may be pushing someone else to their Breaking Point. As we follow Paul through his downward spiral we are forced to look at these issues in our own homes and classrooms and wonder, who we know, who is at the edge, who is ready to break. This is a must read for kids and for teachers, too.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars True Friends, December 9, 2005

By 

Butch Shakowski "BuSha" (Kentucky) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Breaking Point (Paperback)

"Being popular isn't everything." If we all only believed this statement, I think life would be a whole lot easier for kids. This is the dream of every kid, "Being Popular," and "Being Cool." Some kids try so hard to fit in with the cool kids they forget about their old friends. Then when you don't fit in with the cool kids to treat you just like you did them. All of this just to be "Popular," its not worth it, people...trust me.

Paul and his mom just moved to a new city knowing no one. With his mom's new job at Gate High, Paul gets into the school without having money like the other kids. Gate is a rich, private school that happens to have nothing but jerks in it, according to Paul. With his dad out of his life and no friends to count on, Paul is lonely. Everything is going terrible for Paul until the most popular, athletic kid comes and knocks on his window at night. Charlie is the kids name and you can pretty much call him THE PERFECT CHILD. He is the kid that everyone wants to be and it leaves Paul astonished when he thinks he's becoming his friend. Now everything has taken a big U-turn in Paul's, not so great life and everything is going pretty good for him, or so he thinks. Is Charlie really his friend or is he using him, is the question that is popping up in Paul's mind. Paul is thrown for a ride on this crazy roller coaster, that you don't want to miss.

It's through the tragic death of David Blanco a kid that got picked on all the time at Gate, that Paul has to find out who his real friends are. David was pushed to the limit at Gate and committed suicide. Why would David do a think like this? Binky warns Paul about Charlie but of course Paul does not pay any attention to her. A weird mysterious note shows up in Paul's locker that says "Ask Charlie about David's dog." This makes Paul really confused and scared. Who left the note in the locker and why would Charlie kill David's dog, it just don't make since to Paul. Paul has to go through many things that Charlie asks but the last task is a little bit more extreme. Will Paul accept the challenge or go back to his normal lonely life.

Paul's desire to be cool and popular leads him into doing some wrong things. Paul is caught in the middle of a tough decision and doesn't know what to do. Will Paul's dream of being popular lead him to devastation? This decision that he has to make with not only effect him but it could hurt many others. What will happen, is Paul big enough to say "No" or will he give in and say "Yes?"

The lesson to be learned in this book is that no matter how cool you think it is, being popular isn't everything. You really have to find out who your true friends are and stick with them. No matter if you're in a big fight with your friends work it out because they could be the only ones that you have. Work it out and try to be there for each other when in need.

This book is great for everyone, no matter what age. This book is a boy; girl read which they would love. Out of all of the books that I have read I would have to say that this is the best one. If I had to choose to recommend this book to only one group of people I would recommend it to the kids who are just starting high school. It is a big transition and can scare many junior high kids. This is another reason this is such a great book because it has such a varied audience.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It always sucks being the new kid..., August 19, 2004

By 

Dead Kennedys (Oz) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Breaking Point (Paperback)

Especially if you fit the category of nerdiness. And that's exactly what it is like for Paul when he first enters Gate, the exclusive school for rich kids. But he gets to go there free because his mother works in the office. At first, school for him is total hell - from coke getting sprayed into his locker to a group of jocks mooning him in the hall. His only friend is the odd and homely Binky, a girl with no friends herself. But then he meets Charlie Good, a very popular, charismatic boy who drags Paul out of the world of nerdiness and into the world of the popular. Paul is mesmerized by Charlie and is so needy for love and acceptance that he will do whatever it takes...even if it means planting a bomb in the school.

Overall, this was a very good book. There were a few disturbing scenes in the book and I wish Paul had more balls to stand up to Charlie and realize that Binky was a true friend, but Alex Flinn's amazing, funny writing style more than makes up for it. She is an excellent writer and I loved her book, Breathing Underwater, which takes us into the mind of an abuser - quite a delicious twist, if you ask me. She is good at creating anti-heroes that we can relate to in one way or another.

I look forward to her next endeavor. I hope she joins the ranks of Chris Crutcher and other popular authors of the YA genre. She is extraordinary!