The Art of Breaking Things, Laura Sibson
The Art of Breaking Things, Laura Sibson
List: $25.00 | Sale: $17.50
Club: $12.50

The Art of Breaking Things

Author: Laura Sibson

Narrator: Phoebe Strole

Unabridged: 9 hr 47 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 06/18/2019


Synopsis

In the tradition of Laurie Halse Anderson and Sara Zarr, one girl embraces the power of her voice: rules are meant to be broken and she won't stay silent.

Weekends are for partying with friends while trying to survive the mindnumbingness that is high school. The countdown to graduation is on, and Skye has her sights set on escaping to art school and not looking back.

But her party-first-ask-questions-later lifestyle starts to crumble when her mom rekindles her romance with the man who betrayed Skye's boundaries when he was supposed to be protecting her. She was too young to understand what was happening at the time, but now she doesn't know whether to run as far away from him as possible or give up her dreams to save her little sister. The only problem is that no one knows what he did to her. How can she reveal the secret she's guarded for so long?

With the help of her best friend and the only boy she's ever trusted, Skye might just find the courage she needs to let her art speak for her when she's out of words. After years of hiding her past, she must become her own best ally.

About The Author

Laura Sibson worked for years as a career counselor for undergraduates before getting her MFA from the Vermont College of Fine Arts. When she's not writing, counseling, or drinking impossibly strong coffee, you can find her running miles around her home in Philadelphia, walking her dog, or ingesting pop culture (along with great takeout) with her family.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Sophie "Beware Of The Reader" on August 22, 2019

4,5 stars Reading this book was hard for me personally. Not because I went through what Skylar went but because of her behavior toward drugs and boys. Usually the girl is the straight laced one and the hero may be the partying and womanizer type. Having a role reversal forced me to realize that......more

Goodreads review by a. on March 11, 2021

edit : i've remade my blog + the name of the blog has also been changed from oscarthewilder to sapphicfairylights ! find this review & others on my new blog, here! Seventeen-year-old Skye Murray has a secret. It’s a terrible one, one that she hasn’t told anyone about, not even the ones she considers......more

Goodreads review by Dylan on July 07, 2019

3 stars. I hadn't heard of this before finding it randomly on Scribd, but I started immediately because I was intrigued, but it unfortunately just ended up being fine. This book had a pretty big case of not knowing what it wanted to be. It went from this emotional journey about a girl who was molested......more

Goodreads review by Nicole on February 26, 2019

This is an absolutely incredible debut. It's a stunning and accurate depiction not only of the damage that sexual abuse creates, but how the subsequent ways of managing the secret trauma can render the victim less trustworthy in the eyes of those who love them-- and ultimately, renders them unwillin......more

Goodreads review by Booktastically on December 28, 2021

Oh, sorry, I wasn't aware that my heart was going to be one of the participants in this experiment. Did I forget to read the tiny, illegible footnotes once again? Was. my. signature. clarifying. my. consent?? I'm totally reading this book again.......more


Quotes

Raves for The Art of Breaking Things:

“The next time you think you know all about the school slut, the druggie, the vandal—think again. People are more complex than their reputations, and nowhere is that more apparent than in Laura Sibson’s powerful novel about female empowerment.”
—Leila Sales, author of This Song Will Save Your Life
 
The Art of Breaking Things is a precious and daring work; an ode to the healing powers of the creative spirit. Skye breaks your heart just before she mends it back together. From the beginning, readers will believe in Skye because of how deeply and empathetically Sibson depicts Skye’s artistic vision and genuine, searching soul.”
—Cordelia Jensen, author of Skyscraping and The Way the Light Bends
 
“This book is a battle cry for the silent, scared, and shattered places inside us. Unflinching and lionhearted, this powerful novel is going to change lives and heal hearts.”
—Heather Demetrios, author of Bad Romance

“Sibson has created a flawed and likable narrator who attempts to work through cause and effect, shame and secrecy, avoidance and obligation. With layered nuance, the novel brings to light the impact of sexual assault and the importance of consent.... Triumphant.”—Kirkus Reviews
 
“Perfect for fans of Laurie Halse Anderson.”—Booklist