3.5/5 stars

While this was a pleasant read, I can't say I ever fully bought into the main conflict. There were moments where the story dragged, seeming mired in the mud, and it became a struggle to finish. 

It's a book I would still recommend, and an author I would definitely read again; but this particular book was not everything I had hoped it would be.

I fell in love with Haddix’s writing when I read the 39 Clues series in grade school. I was thrilled to find her middle grade and YA action/adventure books so when I saw her name associated with this book, I was expecting a thrill-ride. What I got was quite different. The Summer of Broken Things is an achingly sad story that delves into real-life problems of today’s teens and their families in a way that leaves the story on your mind. The issues of divorce, fitting in, bullying, body image, awkwardness of growing up, are realistically portrayed as well as a family secret (that I won’t give away). Although the story has a sad tone to it, the reader has a sense of hope and redemption for the 2 main characters. At first I absolutely hated Avery but grew to understand her more and saw she isn’t as shallow as first thought. Kayla was more likable from the start and really “grew up” as a result of the journey the two girls went on. The story is told from the changing point of view of the two main characters. I think this really helps the reader connect and understand them better. The description of Spain is right on par with Haddix’s other works: she sets the scene as if you were there. It was also refreshing to read a YA book devoid of teen romance (and vampires), and utterly clean language. I often have authors tell me they use curse words to make their teen characters more believable – hog wash I say! Haddix hits the feeling of being a teen today through excellent wordsmithing. The book is well suited for a YA or an advanced MG reader.

Ying and Yan right? Avery and Kayla are fairly opposite each other, Avery is a bit more spoiled and self-centered. It was very hard to read things from Avery's perspective because I found she had zero redeeming qualities. I enjoyed the twist but this book took me forever to read because I just wasn't into it.

First sentence: "We need to talk," Dad says.

Premise/plot: The Summer of Broken Things is set in Spain and stars two very different heroines: Avery and Kayla.

Avery Armisted will--like it or not--be accompanying her father on his extended business trip in Spain. When she's told a friend can come, she assumes--for better or worse--that she'll get to pick the friend. That won't be the case. The 'friend' he has in mind is Kayla Butts. These two played together often when Avery was a toddler, but, Kayla has been out of sight and out of mind for practically forever--to Avery's reckoning!

Kayla Butts is nervously excited about this opportunity. On the one hand: she'll actually be leaving her small hometown and going somewhere--out of the country somewhere: Spain. This is an opportunity that is more likely than not once in a lifetime. On the other hand, she'll be living with strangers. Will they get along? Will she be treated like a friend? or like hired help? Will Avery be nice or mean? You see, Kayla is so far from popular. She's used to being treated as less than by her peers. Her friends tend to be decades older. As in living in nursing homes older. Everything will be new-to-her. She doesn't know yet how well she'll adapt to all the new.

The trip doesn't get off to the best of starts. Problems at the airport--both in the U.S. and Spain--make for a rocky start. And Kayla's worst fears are confirmed: Avery looks down upon her and doesn't hide the fact. Avery is so not subtle with hiding her contempt for Kayla. OR for her father for that matter. Avery is argumentative with her father and incredibly disrespectful. Kayla hasn't seen such a messy family this close-up.

What will the summer bring Kayla and Avery?

My thoughts: The Summer of Broken Things kept me reading. I won't say I 'enjoyed' it because can you really enjoy watching someone else's life crumble into a million pieces? But I can say that I found it compelling and well-written.

Kayla is by far my favorite character. As Kayla's coming-of-age story, the book works really well. The trip changes her...and changes her for the better. She is a stronger, more confident, happier person by the end of the book.

Avery is my least favorite character. She isn't the same Avery at the end of the story. Thank goodness! But she's still Avery. She hasn't transformed overnight into a saint. Nor should she. That wouldn't be believable. Perhaps the difference is that Kayla *is* two years older. Avery is fourteen. I appreciate Kayla's maturity and outlook. Avery has potential--but a long path ahead of her. She'll get there. She will. And perhaps she'll look back and say this trip was the start of it all.

The book is an emotional family drama. There are some intense moments. I was right there feeling them all--connected with the story and the characters.

Thought-provoking realistic fiction read for young adults!
Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the opportunity to read and review Summer Of Broken Things by Margaret Peterson Haddix!
I love the color coordinated cover that matches the title perfectly!  Avery is a spoiled, entitled teenager whose father is forcing her to travel to Spain with him for his business trip during her summer vacation. He wants Avery to have a companion so she’s not lonely on the trip. He chooses a girl from her childhood playmates, Kayla. Avery hasn’t spent time with Kayla in years, so things are awkward and uncomfortable. Kayla does her best to get out of her comfort zone and explore the area where they’re staying. Avery pouts and is a party pooper but she’s in for a few shocks that she’s not remotely prepared for. I enjoyed learning about historical sites and the memorials discussed and seeing how Avery and Kayla reacted to them. This book also addresses controversial issues and explains and explores both sides of these issues. Intelligent and eye-opening, Summer of Broken Things is a thought-provoking realistic fiction read for young adults-4 stars!

I DNFed this. It's not that it was terrible...it just felt so juvenile to me. And maybe that is my own fault because this is about two teenage girls so angst is a guarantee I guess. I just feel like I have definitely outgrown these types of stories. 
I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Another great title from Margaret Peterson Haddix.  Books told in alternating POV are very popular among my library patrons and this book will go on the top of my to recommend list.  I was surprised by the twist towards the end of the story and did not see it coming.  Haddix has provided another great story that I can recommend without reservation, I'm sure it will be a best seller.

I had the pleasure of reading an e-ARC of this title and it was quite a memorable experience.  What starts off as a story of two girls who were once friends and are now miles apart, grows into a tale of secrets kept, and truths hidden in plain sight.  It's a story of broken things, but not in the way you might initially think.  It's not toys and trinkets, mobile phones and washers (though there is a "broken" one of those too); it's broken dreams, friendships, families, trusts, and ultimately...hearts.  As we get to know Avery, she's easier to like...sorry (not sorry!), but she's a bit of a spoiled brat for most of the book, until the wind is unexpectedly knocked out of her sails (for which I am truly sorry)...though Kayla I liked from the start despite her "doormat" tendencies (something she learns how to step away from during this eye opening trip).  They were two peas in a pod that outgrew one another in one way or the other, but the funny thing about roots is that they often run deep...and can be relied on when the going gets tough to act as our safety line, pulling us through to higher ground.  There are definitely bridges to be mended between them, as well as a few other folks you'll discover along the way as the secrets start unraveling, but the end result is definitely worth the effort.

A summer in Spain...

For 16-year-old Kayla, it's a dream come true. She's never traveled abroad and can't wait to experience Spain, learn the language, and the enjoy the adventures it has to offer. 

For 14-year-old Avery, it's a nightmare. All she wants is to spend the summer at soccer camp with her best friends. Getting stuck in Spain with her dad and some country hick girl she hardly even knows is not her idea of fun.

But Spain turns out to be much more than either of the girls ever imagined. Lies and secrets are revealed that threaten to alter each of their families forever.

So I don't normally read YA contemporary as in I have never read a YA contemporary. I had heard of this author's MG series and so I think I thought it might have a bit more something in it than it did. I can't say I hated it because I didn't but I also didn't love it. I struggled with it but at the same time I wanted to see how it ended.I thought it was way to long for a contemporary too at 402 pages.  So if you like YA contemporary I think it might appeal to you just not me. :)

Do you remember that story about the country mouse and the city mouse? This story kind of reminded me of something like that...lol.

Fourteen year old Avery (city mouse) is mad at her father not because she gets to go to Spain but because he won't allow her to take one of her friends. He is making her take a girl who she use to be friends with when they were little but who she doesn't know now. She has no clue why he wants her to come and she is a spoiled brat about it. That drove me crazy.

Sixteen year old Kayla (country mouse) is not sure why Mr. Armistad wants her to go to Spain with him and Avery as they are virtually strangers. She doesn't really remember much about Avery but that they use to play together when they were kids. Her mother is excited for her because she will be able to go out and do something so cool. Kayla's father was injured and bed-ridden and has never been an actual father to her so it's more like her mother raised her. She spends a lot of time in a nursing home because that is where her father is plus her mother works there. They are pretty poor and so a chance to go to Spain is really a cool thing.

While they are in Spain Avery continues to be a spoiled brat about things but Kayla just sort of does her own thing. Avery's father signs both Avery and Kayla up for immersion spanish classes but Avery doesn't go for like a week or so but Kayla does. She enjoys her time in the class and has made some friends.

There are so many difference between the two characters but then something happens that really bothers both of them. It doesn't really hinder Kayla as much as Avery and so I couldn't really get why Kayla was acting so devastated like she was during a good part of the book. I could understand Avery's whining and things because it was a big reveal to her but at the same time I got a bit tired of it.

As the book goes on you do see some character growth with both of the main characters which is probably why I didn't hate it. I was glad to see Avery grow up a little and realize the world doesn't revolve around her. Kayla learns that she can do things on her own and she also finds out what she wants to do with her life and loves Spain.

I am sure this didn't make a whole lot of since but pretty much Avery had a summer of a lot of broken things and Kayla learns to be herself. I don't want to say anything else which is why I feel like I rambled, but I do see how this could be a book that those who read YA contemporary could really enjoy, so if you like this kind of thing they you should give it a try.

I would rate it at about 2.75 rounded up to 3 stars.

Noteworthy experiences while reading this book:  When I started this book I really sure what I was going to find. I really didn’t care for her other series that my oldest had to read in 6th grade. So I kind of went into this one being a little prejudice against it. But what I found was so much better than I could have ever dreamed of. 

Check out author's other books? YES 
Recommend this book? YES YES YES YES YES

Notes and Opinions: This one is in dual POV with two amazing girls. On one hand we have the rich and snobby girl Avery who thinks that the world revolves for her and her alone. And on the other we have Kayla who is pretty much in the situation that I grew up in. Of course I didn’t have iPads and social media (because I’m old.....ish). I thought it was kind of funny that this book was partially based in Ohio. Which funny enough is where I’m from. I might have grown up in Florida and that is where I live now. But my true home is a small little town called Wooster. And although it seems to me that it’s a lot more up and coming than Kayla’s town. It was still pretty small when I lived there. 

These two girls are tossed together when Avery’s dad has to go to Spain and pretty much forces Avery to take Kayla along. The girls hadn’t ever really been what you would call friends. But there was so much to their story. I won’t spoil anything for you. But the author did an amazing job with revealing it as well as leading up to it. Because what I THOUGHT was going to happen didn’t. 

So after they get to Spain I really thought that each girl held her own. You had bratty Avery and quiet Kayla just trying to make the best of this odd situation. Each girl had their merits and faults. And I really enjoyed seeing each one of them growing throughout the story and finding themselves. I could see a higher young adult book coming out for these two girls finishing out high school.  

The side characters in this one were great as well. Everyone had a part to play. I loved the boys from their Spanish class and would love to see them reconnect in a companion title. 

The events that play out in this one were both dire and not. We have friends and family issues. One major situation and a lot of little issues from low self esteem via Kayla and well to put it bluntly Avery being a b**ch a lot of the story to start with.  Each girl goes through so many things during the story that it’s hard to put into word the way it made me feel.  

That being said I did rate this one 4 Stars. The reason for that was this book was set in our time period. They had iPads and cell phones etc. but a lot of things that Avery who was 14 and Kayla who was 16 were confronted with were times they either didn’t know what something was or they were totally clueless. In this day and age that just doesn’t work. I understand that they were from a small town. But hey most of my high school was Amish. It doesn’t get much smaller than that. (Yes we did have kids coming to school in horse an buggy at least once a week) that was in a very small town that my own mother grew up in called Shreve. So there is just no way that some of these things could have been not known. Other than that and kind of wanting slap both girls upside the head every once in a while. This book was fabulous.

Originally posted on The Crazy Bookworm: http://www.crazy-bookworm.com/2018/04/the-summer-of-broken-things-by-margaret.html

I was in a bit of a reading funk prior to reading The Summer of Broken Things. It wasn't for lack of good books, it was just a lack of motivation to read. Nothing was capturing my attention...but then this book happened. What I thought was just going to be your "run of the mill" coming of age story turned into the one that would break me out of my funk, wrap its pages around me like a warm blanket and tell me a great story!

Firstly, the characters for me were the star qualities of this book. Yes, the story is spectacular but the characters really bring it home. I loved the dual perspective and it was delivered flawlessly. Not once did the characters blend or get lost within one another. Margaret Haddix penned 2 very strong female characters; They really were the stars of the show. Having said that, nowhere did the book fall flat. Haddix crafted a perfectly paced story with twists and surprises that I never expected. Almost like a Russian nesting doll: beautifully detailed and layered.

The Summer of Broken Things went far beyond my expectations. A wonderful story of self-discovery and growth. An in-depth story about 2 girls and family secrets. It was everything I could have asked for in a book!

I first found the THE SUMMER OF BROKEN THINGS appealing because of it's cover and the title. If I saw this book in the bookstore, it is one that I would catch my eye and I would have to check it out. This winter had felt brutal and I needed a book about summer, a little pick me up.

THE SUMMER OF BROKEN THINGS is the first book that I read by Margaret Peterson Haddix and I really enjoyed her writing style with alternating perspectives. Each chapter has a short header that sets the tone of each girl's experience. 

Avery and Kayla couldn't seem more different - partly because of their ages 14 and 16, respectively, but mostly because of their upbringing. Both girls are taken out of their comfort zones in the midst of discovering this new family secret. Their summer vacation becomes about acceptance and finding comfort where it is least expected. 

It's a story of class and privilege, self-discovery and self-reliance, family and friendships. Haddix really tackles it all in this engrossing story that left my heart feeling full.

THE SUMMER OF BROKEN THINGS is definitely a worth-while read. It is full of the angst and ache and personal growth that I like in young adult contemporary. I'm looking forward to reading other books by this new-to-me author.

The Summer of Broken Things is a heartwarming YA contemporary about how one summer can change everything. 

What I Liked: 

1. The Dual POV - The Summer of Broken Things alternates between Kayla's and Avery's POVs. Margaret did a great job of switching between them, and I liked how they both sounded unique. Kayla's reflected her upbeat, bubbly personality while Avery's reflected her moodiness. 

2. The Characters - Kayla and Avery couldn't be any more different. Avery's always had everything in life handed to her, and her personality shows that. She's temperamental, needy, and selfish, and if she doesn't get what she wants...well, you don't want to be near her. At first, I couldn't connect with Avery. I couldn't believe some of the things she did and said, especially to her father and Kayla. As the book progressed, Avery did begin to grow and mature and I started to like her a bit more. Kayla, on the other hand, hasn't come from much, but what her family doesn't have in money they've made up for in love. I loved the relationship between Kayla and her mother and her grandparents. It was so incredibly sweet, and after seeing Avery's unhealthy relationship with her own family, it was a refreshing alternative. Over the summer, Kayla also experiences some big changes - she learns to be more than just that "butt girl," and she embraces her body. I loved seeing her find her place in a new environment. I also loved Avery's dad. He was such a saint, and it was sweet how much he wanted to give Kayla and Avery a perfect summer. 

3. The Setting - The Summer of Broken Things takes place in Spain for the majority of the story. I appreciated that Margaret included bits about Spain's history within the book - some things even shocked me, I couldn't believe I didn't know them - and I loved the descriptions she included. They were so summery and bright, painting a vivid picture. I also appreciated how she intertwined pieces of Spanish into the book through Kayla and Avery's spanish class. 

4. The Meaning of "Family" - Margaret does a great job of addressing all the definitions that the word family can take on, and while I won't talk to much about this fact to avoid potential spoilers, I really enjoyed this aspect. Honestly, I think it was my favorite part of the book, especially when it came to the growth and understanding Kayla and Avery experienced because of it. 

5. The Ending - At first, I couldn't believe that was it. I so badly wanted more, but after thinking about it for a few hours, I've decided I really liked it. It's open-ended, but at the same time, it gives the kind of conclusion that I hoped for from the beginning, one of positivity and hope for the future. 

What I Didn't Like: 

When it comes down to it there's nothing specific I didn't like. I found The Summer of Broken Things to be an fast-paced, enjoyable read; however, I did sometimes with it would've been more unique. I feel like I've read lots of books like this before - learning there's more to life than money, becoming friends with the person you least expect - and while Margaret did give it a fresh set of eyes through the topics she used, I do wish there was a bit more "zazz." 

Regardless, The Summer of Broken Things is still a book I would recommend, especially to those who love contemporary YA. I look forward to reading more by Margaret. 

*This review will be posted on Lauren's Crammed Bookshelf on April 10, 2018 (the link provided will go live on that day). This review has already been shared on Goodreads and will be added to BN and Amazon on the release date.*

I requested this book from NetGalley purely because of the author's name, expecting something along the lines of the Shadow Children books. I was surprised to see that this was set in the real world, and read on to see what would happen. Initially, I couldn't stand Avery, and the first chapter immediately turned me off. Ugh, I thought, am I going to have to read a book about an entitled child complaining about going to Spain?? I immediately thought of my own students, low-income children for whom a trip like this is currently not possible. 
Thankfully, the book then shifts to a different character's perspective, Kayla, who is much more sympathetic. As their worlds merge and they unite for a common goal, the book became much more palatable.

It's difficult to delve too deeply into The Summer of Broken Things without revealing too much of the plot. Suffice to say, fans of Margaret Peterson Haddix's thriller-y Shadow Children series may be disappointed at the shift in style. While intrigue abounds, Avery and Kayla's story is very much grounded in the real world. Avery is self-centered, bratty, and annoying. Kayla is the underdog to Avery's alpha, out of place in a foreign country and in the company of the Armisteds and their extravagant habits. Kayla tries to keep the peace, while Avery sulks and manipulates her father.

Predictably, in the way of high school frenemies and long-distance relationships, Avery's friends seem to abandon her. Rather than befriending Kayla and trying to make the best of the situation--which, spending a summer in Madrid, eating delicious food, sight-seeing, and learning Spanish, doesn't sound terrible to me at all--Avery rebels at every opportunity. She guilt-trips Kayla into covering for her when she decides she's not going along with anyone's plan for her summer. 

Kayla, meanwhile, normally compliant, almost to the point of servility, at first frays easily under the pressure, especially once a secret that involves both girls comes to light. Saddened and angry at what she perceives to be her family's betrayal, she stops video-calling her elderly friends at the nursing home and won't read her mother's many frantic emails. With growing rebellion, however, Kayla begins to blossom. Though she's embarrassed by how little she knows of Spanish and how terrible her accent is, she makes friends at school and begins to discover more things about herself and her family that she never knew.

Haddix's gift for portraying the emotions of young people keeps this book on track, even as its central characters seem to unravel. A jarring and dramatic climax, while it doesn't quite end happily ever after, forces the girls to face reality, however harsh, and cope with it as best they can. Don't let the brightness of the cover lull you into thinking that The Summer of Broken Things is some fun, romantic summer beach read. While it has its light-hearted moments--cute European exchange students!--the core of this novel is about family, trust, and forgiveness. Expect to shed a tear or two, especially towards the end.

Bitter-sweet would be a good description for this book. Avery and Kayla are teens who have serious issues to work through. They are very different personalities with insecurities and preconceived notions of who they are and their place in society. 

This book deals with some hard emotional issues. The girls learn and grow, they also learn respect and the value of someone who is different from them. I think in they end they realize that they aren't as different as they first thought.

The book is a coming of age story. It is emotionally driven. I appreciated the growth and learning of the two girls. They dealt with the grief of a secret that had been kept from both of them very differently, but both reactions were realistic.

I would consider this clean, but because of the emotional impact I would say that it is suitable for a more mature reader.

Source: I received a review copy from Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

I enjoyed this book though I was expecting something more sci-fi or dystopian from the author.  She raises thought-provoking questions about surrogacy and what constitutes family while infusing Spanish culture.  I felt I was getting a trip to Spain while enjoying the book!

A good book by Haddix. Not my cup of tea this time, but still, a Haddix book is always pretty good.

Posted to Goodreads:
For a more in-depth review watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkk1TVqQGpo&feature=youtu.be

Avery and Kayla used to be friends but have grown apart based on their circumstances.  Avery is from a wealthy family while Kayla's family is poor.  Both girls are surprised when Avery's father hires Kayla to chaperon Avery on a trip to Spain.  Once overseas the girls learn family secrets that will forever change their relationships. 

This book just didn't work for me.  Both Avery and Kayla felt very stereotypical and were never developed enough for the reader to care about their emotional journeys, the adults come across as useless, and the setting of Spain was never fully realized.  The only positive in this book is the discussion of children born through surrogacy but it is easily missed because of unlikable characters and plot issues.  

I received an eARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.