Customer Reviews

The Shattering

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Shattering was amazing. At first, from the summary, I thought it'd just be a book about murders (which I love, btw!), but it's so much more. I'm awed at the amount of complexity this book packs together--suicide, murder, bullying, being gay, and magic.

Yeah, you heard that: there's magic included in this book. And it's not like waving wands or anything, but more Wicca magic. White magic and black magic and oh my god, so amazing.

What I really loved about The Shattering is it's told in three points of view: Keri, Janna, and Sione. And it's set in New Zealand. Summerton, specifically, and it's CREEPY once you figure the book out.

I don't know what to say without spoiling the book or gushing about it. I don't have to say everything about it (because I LOVE IT SO MUCH) or just gush (again: I LOVE IT SO MUCH) about it either. So let's go with the characters:

Keri. She's smart, knows what to do, but when her brother kills himself, she doesn't have a plan and this throws her life in chaos.

Janna. Janna, Janna. Janna can sometimes be a bitch, but she's also nice at times. And she's in a band called Vikings to the Left (love that name!)

Sione. Oh, my poor Sione. He's the one who's being bullied most of the time and god, every time it happened, I wanted to kick somebody's ass. He doesn't deserve to be treated like they treated him!

Also, since it's told in three points of view, I must say this: they're distinctive. Keri's POV is told in first person while Sione's and Janna's are in third person. And even if they were all told in one narrative, I think you'd still be able to figure it out. Janna's voice is a bit rougher at times, while Keri's is soft--but she also has a rough edge, and Sione. Sione sounded like a wounded puppy or a turtle stuck in its shell. He was just so wounded that I really do want to give him a hug and kiss him.

And all the issues? They were tackled neatly and not like you were being pounded over the head with a message. This is one book I'm definitely going to have to shove in people's hands at bookstores. So much love! <3

I also believe this is a standalone novel. The ending (not the climax, mind you) takes place a year later, so I do believe it is a standalone novel. High five!

First Impressions: I was initially interested in this book because of the suicide factor. I haven't read many books that deal with suicide so I thought that this book would be something different for me to read and ponder about. The cover art is also pretty cool, and as you all know, I'm a sucker for books with cool covers.

First 50 Pages: What I found I initially liked about The Shattering is that it is written from three different POV's: Keri, Janna, and Sione. I typically like this sort of thing because it gives each character's perspective on whatever the situation is. Some people may find it annoying, but it didn't bother me and I quite enjoyed it. I also loved the setting of the story. It takes place in New Zealand and it introduced me to a culture I didn't know very much about, actually, I didn't know anything about. For the first couple of chapters, I had to keep looking up cultural terms that were in the book that I didn't understand, but it wasn't that big of a deal. I like to broaden my horizons!

Characters & Plot: I felt like each of the characters were well developed and made to be believable. They felt very real to me, especially Keri. She was the character I could connect with the most and I really enjoyed her part in the story. I didn't always like each of the characters but they were made to have their flaws and not be perfect.

As for the plot, the best way I can describe it would be that it has a touch of magic mixed with a murder mystery. Towards the middle of the book, the plot became highly predictable and that was a bit of a disappointment to me. I really enjoy books where I can't figure out what is going to happen with some twists and some turns. This book just didn't have that and it was a let down. I would have preferred a little more unpredictability. Despite that, I enjoyed the ending of this book and I feel like the author did a good job wrapping everything up well.

Final Thoughts: I think that that book would be suitable for an older teen, since it does deal with some tougher issues. I enjoyed the author's writing style and especially loved the realness of her characters. Like I had said before, the plot is kind of predictable, but the characters and the messages this book brings makes up for that flaw. If you are looking for a book that isn't really paranormal, dystopian, or whatever else is flogging up the YA shelves right now, I'd recommend trying out this book!

The Shattering by Karen Healey is a murder mystery with magic. Awesome.

I had the book figured out before reaching the halfway mark and I was tempted to put it down for being predictable, but the characters kept me going. I'm glad I kept on. There came a twist that I wasn't expecting and a revelation that left me, at first, like "oh" and then I realized what it meant and was like "ooooh." And then I felt an emotion of the sad kind. I'm pretty sure my heart broke at the same time as the unnamed character's (unnamed so as not to give spoilers). Otherwise, until that moment, I found the story to have lost its pace. The beginning was awesome, the middle was so-so, and the end was great.

Though I had issues with the story, Healey writes fantastic three-dimensional characters who have faults and redeeming qualities. They're real people; I didn't like them sometimes and I loved them most of the time. I really had fun getting to know Keri, Janna, and Sione.

It's not a book for everyone, but maybe for someone who is looking to read something different and doesn't need an action-packed story. I didn't hate the book, but I didn't love it either.

When Keri's brother commits suicide, her whole family is devastated. She doesn't understand how this could have happened. Janna's brother had committed suicide too, but she tells Keri she thinks they may have been murdered. Janna knows a boy, Sione, who's brother killed himself too, and he thinks it was murder. There's a pattern to the boys that have been killing themselves, and there's something suspicious about that. The three must come together to figure out what is going on in Summerton and possibly save another young boy from certain death.

This was a really interesting novel. There were a few twists I was not expecting, even though I had read Guardian of the Dead. The story unfolded in three perspectives. We followed Keri in 1st person and Sione and Janna in 3rd. It was interesting watching things unfold from so many different viewpoints, especially when things started to get hairy. If you like mystery and action, make sure you don't skip this one. Despite how much I enjoyed this novel though, it seemed to drag a bit. It felt like I was reading it for forever and not getting any further with the book. Maybe it was just my mood. Maybe it was because there is tons of information in this little book. I love Karen Healey's writing and the story is just fantastic. You can easily get wrapped up in the characters and the chaos that surrounds them as they try to prove to themselves that their brothers didn't really commit suicide. Ir's a touchy subject, but it's handle well and never gets to be too depressing. I can't wait to see what Healey has next for us!

First Line:

"The first time I broke my arm, I was ready for it."

Favorite Line:

"Takeshi smiled straight across the long, light-filled room, and her heart expanded in her chest like an inflatable air bed."

When is suicide not suicide? In the Shattering we meet three characters who share one thing in common, the death of an older brother. Keri is someone who has everything all figured out. She seems to always know what to do in any situation. That is until her brother's death. Enter her friend Janna whose brother died a few years before and Sione who not only lost his brother but believes it was not a suicide. These three begin to stir things up as they are motivated to find out what is really going on in Summerton, New Zealand. Things are definitely not what they seem.

This was an interesting story. I have enough trouble trying to figure out how to write in one POV. Karen Healey has stepped it up a notch. Keri' POV is told in first person, whereas both Janna and Sione have their POV told in third person. Believe it or not this really works for this book. Readers who are not familiar with many of the words used in New Zealand can easily figure them out from the context. For those who like to just skip over those unknown words and hope they can continue on, I am speaking to many of my students, there is a section in the back of the book that can help with that.

The Characters were well developed and believable. They came across as your typical teens. I would not put this on my shelves for my sixth graders to read as the topic can be quite disturbing. However, those more mature students I have will enjoy it. I do keep those books in a closet for my more mature readers and those whose parents have given permission for them to read that particular type of material. The book deals with multiple issues and shows how those issues can be handled inappropriately. So after saying all of that would I recommend this book? Most definitely.

"If you want to find out who murdered your brother, follow me." (from jacket)

The summary of Karen Healey's The Shattering offers a mysterious tale of murder/suicide, with a possible serial killer. I love a good mystery and I was immediately sold on the idea of The Shattering.

Keri, Janna and Sione have one thing in common; they have all lost someone close to them in an apparent suicide. They come together to prove that their loved ones didn't end their lives, but that their lives were actually taken. As they research the multiple deaths in the small New Zealand town, they find a dark pattern amongst the beauty of the seaside tourist spot. Will they solve the mystery before another life is lost? Or will they become victims themselves?

The Shattering brings together many touchy topics such as suicide, bullying, and gays with a magical twist. The magical twist was interesting and was completely unexpected, given the summary. It lightened the plot in some ways but added to the intensity of the story in others.

The pacing of the story was a bit slow, lacking momentum. The characters as individuals were intriguing but didn't seem to fit together very well. Keri's OCD made her almost unlikeable. Janna was a little too tacky for me. Sione was very weak but understandably so. I felt sorry for each of them and their individual life stories, but as a team, they were disjointed.

Overall, I enjoyed the mystery quality of the story. It was intriguing enough to keep me reading, regardless of the slow pacing. The multiple points-of-view were a tad distracting but allowed for insight into each of the characters. The ending was a complete shock, making the entire novel a worthy read. Readers that enjoy the paranormal, magic, and intense topics will enjoy The Shattering.

In Karen Healey's sophmore release we revisit New Zealand. If you haven't read Guardian of the Dead, go check it out! (I may be giving away a copy of it next month...hint hint).

In The Shattering the three acquaintances have each suffered a horrible loss. Their older brothers have all killed themselves, but they suspect it's actually murder. With a premise like that how can you not be curious, heartbroken, and a bit scared? These poor characters! They've all lost someone over the past few years. Death in general is bad enough, but suicide of loved ones is horrifying.

When the book began I really thought the characters were likely just making connections that were all in their heads. As the story went on I started with my suspicions about who or what was the cause of the mysterious happenings. I was kept guessing - something I, of course, love! Without posting a big spoiler: I'm very curious to know if there is any real (or myth) basis in the story. (If anyone has any English versions of sites or books that have to do with history of New Zealand send them my way! Everything I found was in other languages.)

Each character and their reactions to death, racial bullying, and just friendship struck me as so realistic. Summertown is a character within itself - it's perfect! Just reading about it made me want to hop on a plane and visit New Zealand immediately.

I received my copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.

Keri can't believe her brother would kill himself. She and Jake were very close, and she's astounded that he could do something like that without her having a clue he was troubled. So when a former friend whose older brother also committed suicide suggests Jake may have been murdered, Keri is sure she's right. Especially when Janna point outs a pattern of suicides among older brothers over the years.

The two team up with Sione, who has also lost a brother, to find out who may be killing these boys and why. But their search has not gone unnoticed by those who would rather not be discovered.

The Shattering by Karen Healey is a thriller that also looks at the grief that family members feel after suicide. Keri, Janna and Sione want to know the truth about their brothers' deaths, and they dig up lots of secrets about local townspeople in their quest. But they are also painfully aware that their actions may put them in danger, and they want to avoid hurting their parents any further. Undercurrents of racism, sexual orientation, and social class gives readers a lot to think about as they turn pages to solve the mystery. Teens aged 15 and up should be fascinated by the issues and the twists and turns of the story until the end.

The Shattering combines a smattering of subjects, but does it very well. Karen Healey presents the reader with a town plagued by suicides. Only Janna, Sione, and Keri don't believe they're suicides. They believe the boys that have died over the years - including each of their older brothers - were murdered.

From this springs the hunt for a murderer and three very well-developed and distinctive characters. Keri is one of those strong without really trying types. She exudes confidence, despite the emotional despair she faces with the sudden loss of her brother. Sione is almost the complete opposite of her. He appears meek and quiet, not confident of himself or facing the same dismay over the death of his brother. Then there's Janna, who is outwardly cool, chasing boys and her brother's killer. She's not easily ruffled, but is forced to confront the worst parts of herself as the plot progresses.

In fact, that's one of the best aspects of The Shattering. Healey tackles, suicide, cultural prejudices, sex, love, loss, and even the reality of coming out in a small town; all while ensuring her characters stick to their goals of finding the murderer. Parts are a little predictable, but others aren't. I didn't even see a huge part of the plot coming into play. But I liked it and I really liked how the story played out.

The Shattering is a character driven story that reads like a faster-paced contemporary, but has this tiny paranormal twist to it. The twist works splendidly though because it keeps the story rooted in reality, while making things just a little more complicated for Keri, Janna, and Sione. If nothing else, The Shattering is different from other YA books, as it isn't a love story or about angels or demons or vampires or any other overdone subject. Karen Healey keeps it interesting with her richly detailed setting and characters that jump, scream, and fight off the pages.

(Originally rated on Goodreads) *Spoilers*

Just finished the novel, and I must say....wow. Wow in a good way. I liked the point-of-view changes between the three friends. It went 3rd person for rebellious Janna and the shy Sione. Then it went 1st person for logical, sporty Keri back and forth. I found it an interesting mystery mixed with the paranormal (kinda like a YA version of The Wicker Man). I liked how all the characters developed and grew over the story and moved past their self-doubts and pain for their losses. I also found it interesting that the characters weren't flat-out good or evil. Even the worst (antagonistic) character had reasons for the actions in the story, and let overzealousness take over. The characters had a mission, but they knew the consequences and weighed them out.