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claire_s_stories's review against another edition
3.5; This dealt with microaggressions in a way that I've never seen before and thought was smart and interesting. The voice didn't click with me, but I gave it to a student who is loving it.
cwhooley15's review against another edition
4.0
This young adult novel discusses social issues that pertain to Native American high school students from the perspective of a young woman who experiences these issues firsthand. I appreciated the first-person point-of-view that was believably from the perspective of a high school senior. However, because of the quick pace of a young adult that I typically enjoy, it tends to cut off on different topics to end a chapter, causing the perspective on the issues of racism and growing up to be less deep. Despite this, I would still recommend this to any middle school classroom (particularly eighth grade though this might be okay for seventh) that shows students how their voices could impact civil discourse on social issues. Specifically, I could see this being used as an option in literature circles for a unit on when it is right to take a stand. I would have each student focus on a role that would allow them to bring a different perspective to their groups such as summarizer, illustrator, and word watcher that would allow the group to understand the text and its topics better. I can see this text being a mentor text for deeper discussions on how students can best take a stand.
joykirr's review against another edition
3.0
Although too mature for my seventh graders (especially in the jeep during the tornado), this book weaves a lot of complex issues into this romance. There were a TON of characters (I think to capture the diversity of this school in Kansas), and I often had to go back to see who they were (although sometimes it didn't matter). After the vandalism, my favorite quote was, "Every breath is a victory." I loved Lou's family, but didn't really get to know the other characters in the story. I also loved the journalism aspect of this story. I did not like learning about Frank Baum, but it was so integral to the story and I needed this information in my life.
glaseramy's review against another edition
4.0
Such a wonderful book from a young Native American’s POV. I am glad to know about the awful racist attitudes of a certain author mentioned in this book. Knowledge is power, and hopefully we can learn from the past.
ashapiro1021's review against another edition
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
rjleamon11's review against another edition
3.0
There's a lot to like in this novel, not least that it centers a Native (Muscogee) young woman who takes no crap from anybody, and Smith does a good job of writing a high school story. However, even though I zipped through the first 1/4 or so, the overall quality of the writing and structure started to slow me down, and then, eventually, bug me. There are a lot of disconnected scenes and lines, and, unfortunately, the antagonists are really not fleshed out at all--they're just bad, apparently for no reason.
Many reviews posted below spell out the other issues with the book--which had a lot going for it, but, ultimately, left me thinking that a strong editor could have made this into a much better book.
Many reviews posted below spell out the other issues with the book--which had a lot going for it, but, ultimately, left me thinking that a strong editor could have made this into a much better book.
alizontheamazon's review against another edition
3.0
This book brought up so many good issues around identity and race, but I wanted a little more from it than could really be accomplished in the length of this story. I want more!
literaryfeline's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
4.0
Hearts Unbroken was the February selection for the Diverse Romance Book Club I am in. I haven't read much in the way of contemporary YA fiction, so this was a tad outside my norm. I enjoyed this romantic coming of age tale about Louise Wolfe during her senior year of high school. She is smart and not afraid to stand up those she cares about, even if only sometimes herself. Along with the everyday challenges teens face, Cynthia Leitich Smith tackles the serious issues of racism and discrimination, including zeroing in on microaggressions and more overt acts of bigotry.
I enjoyed the high school newspaper setting and the way the student reporters show up for one another and their dedication to reporting the truth despite internal and external pressures. Joey, Louise's love interest, was a sweetheart and although I wish his character could have been fleshed out a little more, I thought he and Louise were well matched--much more so than Louise and Cam, her ex. Shelby, Louise's best friend, is another great character.
I adored Louise's family and how supportive they are of each other. Louise and her family are Native Muscogee (Creek), relatively new to Kansas, having moved there from Texas during the middle of Louise's junior year. Kansas appears to be a conscious choice for the setting given the musical at the heart of the controversary (set in Kansas); adding to that Wizard of Oz author L. Frank Baum's racist editorials about Native Americans. The uproar by groups like the Parents Against Revisionist Theater regarding casting non-white students in roles is very much a real world problem, sadly. In Hearts Unbroken, we see the escalation of the pressure and discrimination against the students and their families as well as the faculty.
The author packs a lot into the novel, and I came away wishing there had been more development of the side characters as well as more attention given to certain aspects of the story for a deeper look into some of the themes presented. Even so, I think the author captures the essence of her teenage protagonist very well. For the seriousness of the topics covered in this romantic YA novel, the strength in community, family, and friends is at its heart. I enjoyed Hearts Unbroken overall.