Unfortunately I just couldn't get into this book as much as I had hoped I would. Most likely wrong book, wrong time kind of thing. Definitely interested in reading more from this author at some point

I appreciate the publisher allowing me to read this book. I really enjoyed reading it the plot was interesting and the characters made me want to know more about them. I highly recommend.

Heather Tucker's Cracked Pots is a beautifully written book with well-developed and relatable characters. The writing is lyrical and at times poetic, which makes Cracked Pots a truly enjoyable read. I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a moving, poignant story. Cracked Pots is a book that I will treasure always.

A story of trauma, neglect, resilience and hope, told through the eyes of Ari, growing up in the 80's Canada.

Throughout the novel we see Ari getting older and embracing her life, including the past abuse and the present challenges. She strives to keep herself afloat as her family life deteriorates further. She's vulnerable, hopeful and resilient, coming out of every problem and complication smarter and brighter. Ari manages to rekindle the relationship with her family members, including her older sisters, stepbrothers and aunts, all pieces coming together to build the future.

It was exciting to see Ari grow into herself, overcome obstacles, remaining hopeful and strong. It was captivating to witness her and her family's journey, with the characters raw and vivid, and the writing lyrical, poetic and witty. I enjoyed the beauty that was found through creativity, art and writing in this tale. It was a moving, emotional and tense story, and I cheered for Ari throughout.

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* wow, what a read, very long (not in a bad way) and was a really great book. would buy and recommend, will look into her other books

I absolutely loved Cracked Pots. Amazing writing, and unforgettable characters. While this is a difficult books that deals with abuse and neglect there is a strong sense of hope and resilience.

Cracked Pots is the follow-up to Clay Girl. I haven’t read the first novel; I read this as a standalone. I didn’t have any trouble understanding the plot or the characters. The plot of the novel is very difficult to describe correctly in brief. Ari belongs to an extremely troubled family; their past tinged with the horror of abuse by their parents. Ari is the youngest of her sisters. The best way to summarize the story is that we see Ari grow and embrace her life through all the crap of the past and the present.
The characters of the novel are the backbone of this story. Every character has a significant place in Ari’s life and her journey. Ari is so brave and strong even after what she has been through, there is a kindness in her. She is always ready to take care of everyone never thinking twice. The first example of this is her relationship with her young step-brother Mikey. She practically takes care of him, shielding him from their troubled household as much she could. She has a strong support system, people who understand her and want to help. Ari is an amazing artist, and her art is often an outlet for her. You feel proud of how far she comes by the end.
The story becomes so raw and emotional in certain situations; it was hard not to let it get to me. The way Heather Tucker has written the novel is quite poetic and metaphorical. I loved Ari’s journey in the novel. It is her story and her journey that keeps you invested but there are strong characters around her, who help her every step of the way. This book is beautiful, poetic, and heartbreaking. I have never read a coming-of-age novel like this one.

I received a free electronic ARC of this excellent mid-1980s historical novel from Netgalley, Heather Tucker, and ECW Press. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read this novel of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. I am pleased to add Heather Tucker to my favorite author's lists and to recommend her to friends and family.

As a ceramist and player of clay for 40+ years, this was a novel I simply had to read. It was a novel that immediately grabbed my attention. I loved Mikey from the git-go, and big sister Ari - Hariet with only one 'R' - was adored quite soon after. And the clay keeps on coming...

Life for the two of them is hard, opportunities are few and far between, and add in a family of criminal misfits that only add to the Maham they exist in, but they muddle through and flourish against all odds. Pleasant Cove, Canada is well defined, a dying little town on the Atlantic coastline with little to offer during these hard times. Winter is imminent and will be as always very long. And Natashia is missing, the latest girl to disappear among many who were never found. Only with the security of their nest and the assistance of their spirit critters will this family make it through.

I absolutely loved "The Clay Girl" so I was ecstatic to discover that Heather Tucker had written a sequel. While this is a difficult book in many regards as it deals with childhood abuse and neglect, it is ultimately a story of hope and rising above your upbringing and circumstances.

Heather Tucker's writing is magical and I hadn't realized how much I had missed it, until I picked up this book. I love it's lyrical quality and how the writing carries you along.

I don't think you need to read the first book before reading this as it stands well on it own, but you'll probably want to after reading this one! I would recommend that you give yourself some time to get used to the writing in this book before setting it down or giving up as it is definitely written in a unique way.

Thanks to NetGalley and Misfit Book for the ARC!

I will own up to being a lazy reader if that explains why I could not get into the confusing prose of this book. It seemed to jump al over the place and back again which does not suit me at all. I will be generous and offer the fact I didn’t read the prequel so maybe that was why I didn’t enjoy it.

Once again, Ari and her very extended family and friends welcome us in to their world. I love the lyrical prose that dances across the pages, somewhat like how Ari's seahorse companion Jasper dances through her thoughts. And the analogy of kintsugi, the creation of something beautiful from something broken, resonates solidly throughout the story. What I did struggle with was the untethered storyline. I never felt a story arc. Instead I would read and find several places that I thought perhaps would have made a possibly good ending. But the story continued to ramble on. While I enjoy spending time with Ari, I think this could have either been condensed with a more defined storyline or instead broken (cracked?) into two books that gave more focus and detail to the events all cobbled together in this book.

What a joy it was to catch up with Ari's story in Cracked Pots, the sequel to The Clay Girl!
With the same poetic and lyrical writing style, Heather Tucker continues the unforgettable and compelling story of a young woman's survival against all the odds. This tale is full of hope among the trauma, neglect and abuse the female protagonist faces in her young life. If you haven't read The Clay Girl yet, I suggest you do so, in readiness for Cracked Pots, which is out today!!

Thank you to NetGalley and ECW Press for this ARC to read and review.

This is the story of Ari, the lioneagle, and her imaginary spirit seahorse. Ari lives in crapdom, She talks in cryptic word play. Jim Morrison thinks she's deep. Everyone around Ari speaks figuratively. By the way, her friend is missing.

Turns out this is a sequel, and I didn't read the first one. I think the story could be standalone, but I am exhausted from deciphering all the trippy, obscure prose. I think this style of writing has an audience, it's just not me.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the digital review copy.

A tough read about a 17 year old girl trying to keep herself and her brother safe. Ari's world is one of total upheaval and dysfunction but she manages to come through. I had not read Clay Girl so this was my introduction to Tucker's work. Thanks to Netgalley and this arc, I'm going to look for her again.

This is the long awaited sequel to "Clay Girl", which was released in 2016 and written by a Toronto area author. It starts up at the end of the previous novel. Ari is once again in Toronto and one of her friends has gone missing. We follow Ari's journey as she grows from high school student to woman and she has to come to terms with the fact that she is the child of an addicted neglectful, mother and an abusive father. She deals with further troubles (which she refers to as mayhem) with the help of her aunts and many sisters. Once again this is a wonderful recommendation for readers and although it can be read as a stand alone, I would encourage people to read "Clay Girl" first. I really loved these two books and the characters will stay with me for a long while.

First of all I would like to comment that I rather enjoyed the style of setting this novel as written in the present tense with the main character, Ari, telling the story. However it was really hard to get into. I could not relate to Ari and although I knew I sould sympathise with her and her difficult upbringing, I frankly did not like her. Others may feel differently so if you like this type of book, then give it a go. I believe it is a book which will continue to split opinions.

Poorly written with little character development -I have nothing positive to say about this novel. Save your money

I'm so sorry, I really did try but the book just wasn't something I could get into. I am grateful for the ARC and would recommend to others who enjoy a challenge but this just wasn't it for me.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

I didn't know this was book two in a series but I didn't need to read book one to enjoy this. I loved reading about my home town, Toronto. There are lots of sensitive subjects dealt with in this book, such as child abuse and addiction, but the author handles it with such a tender hand. I really felt for Ari and her siblings. My heart ached for all of them. Even though the subject matter was brutal at times, with a bright light at the end, this is a beautifully told story by a very talented, Canadian author. I will be adding the first book, The Clay Girl.

Unfortunately was not able to get into it. I read the first few chapters but there was no real hook for me. Maybe I’ll try again later, but for now this book is a do not finish for me