Breaking Up is Hard to Do [Paperback]

Lynda Sandoval (Author), Niki Burnham (Author), Ellen Hopkins (Author), Terri Clark (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 5, 2008

Niki Burnham, Terri Clark, Ellen Hopkins, and Lynda Sandoval give us four tales about the end of first love. How does anyone survive? Read on and find out. Each story showcases the writer’s signature style: Niki Burnham keeps it smart and sassy; Terri Clark brings a touch of fantasy; Ellen Hopkins tells her story in verse; and no one does funny like Lynda Sandoval. For teens looking for something to get them through the pain, this is just the prescription!

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Although-or perhaps because-these four stories about love gone wrong bear little resemblance to real-life heartbreak, they are likely to go over big with teens in search of solace for their own romantic misadventures. Burnham's protagonist, the lone male narrator, lets readers know right away that he's no "scumbag who only wants you-know-what from a girl"; when he gets pressured by his girlfriend on their one-year anniversary to have sex, he's not ready, and his refusal triggers a breakup. The reversal of typical gender roles could be amusing, except that the author wraps up the story with the tidy entrance of a girl who values the narrator's personality. The other stories send similar messages of empowerment, as in Ellen Hopkins's verse entry about a plain girl whose first boyfriend engineers a makeover, dumps her when she refuses to have sex, then lets her know she was a "practice" girlfriend; she recovers enough to tip off the next girl he approaches. And how many gay girls publicly humiliated by their girlfriends find an ally in the high school football captain, like Lynda Sandoval's heroine? Even so, readers will enjoy the stylish scenarios, projecting themselves into situations they can only wish were true. Ages 14-up.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From School Library Journal

Grade 9 Up—These four short stories center on falling out of love. The first story dumps stereotypes on their ear by featuring a romance rocked by a high school junior who is reluctant to "go all the way" with his gorgeous girlfriend. The second has a fantasy twist—a teen's head injury allows her to "hear" the thoughts of others, and it is readily apparent that there is a huge disconnect between her boyfriend's thoughts and what he says. The third selection is told in verse, revealing a girl's coming to terms with the changes she has made in herself to please her new boyfriend. Finally, the last features a lesbian relationship ruined by the fear of being outed. None of these stories is outstanding, but as a collection, they work well together. Basically, they're like reading only the most exciting parts of a chick-lit novel and leaving all the extraneous narrative behind.—Leah Krippner, Harlem High School, Machesney Park, IL
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 14 and up
  
• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Graphia; None edition (May 5, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0547014996
• ISBN-13: 978-0547014999
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #640,612 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Really Enjoyable, Different Stories, October 25, 2008

By 

Shooting Stars Magazine (Ky,Ma,) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Breaking Up is Hard to Do (Paperback)

Interviews/Reviews/Contests/More: www.shootingstarsmag.blogspot.com


Breaking Up Is Hard To Do is a collection of four short stories all about the angered, pained, and revenge-seeking broken-hearted. First up is Burnham's story about Toby, who is always trying to please everyone else, but when he puts his foot down with his girlfriend, things don't quite work out. Terri Clark's Dee thinks she scored the social lottery when her goth self hooks up with a major jock, but when the two get into a car accident, Dee starts hearing people's thoughts and realize her boyfriend is one great actor!

Next we have Ellen Hopkins, who gives us a short story a la poetry, like her previous work, about a girl named Lisa who feels that she's just plain, but what happens when she scores her first real boyfriend? Last, Sandoval delivers us a great story of Mia, who falls in love with straight girl Paige. Except, all summer long...Paige was in love with her too, right? When things blow up in a very public way, how will Mia face her peers, let alone Paige?

Breaking Up Is Hard To Do took me awhile to finish, but it wasn't because it was a bad book. I actually enjoyed the stories immensely, and felt that even though you knew going in that they would all experience a break up, they still left much to be surprised by.

I was also happy by the authors they chose to contribute, giving each story their own unique twist. Burnham focused on the only guy, Clark dealt with the unreal, Hopkins wrote in a unique way, and Sandoval dealt with the only same-sex couple.

The book was an impressive collection of breaking up stories that will perhaps have you agreeing in sadness, but in the end, cheering with victory!

5.0 out of 5 stars Courtesy of Teens Read Too, April 8, 2008

By 

TeensReadToo "Eat. Drink. Read. Be Merrier." (All Over the US & Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Breaking Up is Hard to Do (Paperback)

First love is the greatest thing in the world. Until it ends. When it does, you wonder if you'll ever make it. Or maybe you decide that guys are jerks and you pretend that it doesn't bother you. The truth is that breaking up sucks, especially the first time. No one likes to grow through it, but everyone loves reading about it.

BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO is the perfect short story collection to read about, well, breaking up.

Four short stories, each by an amazing author, tell the stories of Toby, who loses his girlfriend because he won't have sex; of Dee, who realizes that her relationship was nothing but research for a book; of Lisa, who's changed by her boyfriend and then dumped because she was "practice" and not pretty enough; and of Mia, who realizes her girlfriend can't decide whether she's straight or gay and ends up hurting Mia in more ways than one.

I don't read short stories very often, because I always want more -- but I loved each of the stories in this collection. Each story was unique and written in a very different style (one was even written in verse), but they all went great together. If I had to pick my favorite of these stories, it would have to be the story about Mia. I loved reading about the acceptance club at school and Wade was just amazing.

I would definitely recommend getting this book as soon as it comes out. It's awesome.

Reviewed by: Harmony

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great book is great for any age!!!, May 12, 2008

By 

Denise Duran "Draco" (Chicago, Illinois United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Breaking Up is Hard to Do (Paperback)

I don't think age matters when it comes to reading a great book. Just look at all the adults who have purchased and read the Harry Potter series and the Twilight series. I am 22 years old and I still love checking out the young adult section at my local bookstore. If I didn't I would have seriously missed out on such great titles like this one that has stories from some of my favorite authors like Nikki Burnham and Ellen Hopkins. I was recently dumped by my boyfriend so when I went to Borders to see what new books were available I saw this one. I was very curious to read what some of my favorite authors would write about break-ups. Although mainly the characters were dumped and didn't actually break-up with anyone, the betrayal that their boyfriends/girlfriends did was painful. These stories were nice, light-hearted reads that any 'dumpee' would love reading. I especially loved the way they (the characters) are able to get through the heartaches. They don't always end up finding a new love, but then again in real life you don't either, but the characters are left with positive feelings of brighter days to come. This book also introduced me to two great new authors that I've never read before (Terri Clark and Lynda Sandoval), and I am looking forward to once again checking out the Young Adult section for more books by them!!! Enjoy this book, it was really great and a very fun, fast read. I strongly recommend it!!! It's a fun, light-hearted book to read when you've just been dumped!!! :P