Breakable Vow

by Kathryn Ann Clarke

The Breakable Vow transforms a one dimensional scenario of dating violence into a riveting and real-life experience. It tells the story of a young high school girl who becomes a victim of this abuse.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Teen, Contemporary

Library Binding

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Kathryn Ann Clarke is an American writer living in Ireland, known for her young adult fiction and her work in domestic violence prevention, and also for her Catholic mystical writings published under the pseudonym "Anne, a lay apostle".

Kathryn Ann Clarke graduated from Saint Xavier University with a BA in Criminal Justice/Counseling and has worked in the domestic violence field for over twenty years. A former victim of domestic violence, Clarke is determined to provide effective prevention for youth. Her novel, The Breakable Vow brings realism, humor, and clarity to an often confusing issue. Mrs. Clarke currently resides in Ireland with her husband and six children. She continues to work in the United States.

Reviews

[Regina · Rating 1 out of 5]

The book gets a lot of things right. My concern with this book is twofold. First, it presents itself as a resource for teens regarding dating violence. While certainly as a cautionary tale it is powerful, it is so dated that I am not sure it would be effective for today's teens.

Secondly, and more importantly (and this is a SPOILER, so don't read it if you don't want to know about the ending), the danger for Annie only resolves itself after the tall, handsome stranger intervenes and "takes care of it." If this is meant as a message for teens, what are we saying? That the only hope for young women is holding out for that romantic figure riding in on a white horse? I think this message not only is inaccurate, but dangerous, and indeed does harm. I wish this book had stuck with its realistic portrayal of abuse, instead of giving in to the pressure to have a Handsome Man solve the problem. Sigh...

[J.T · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book when I was in the eighth grade. By then I have already read books such as "To Kill a Mocking Bird" a year before and the "Anne of Green Gables" in elementary school so I understood was going on once I started reading "the Breakable Vow".

Let me agree with the other people and say this is a very powerful book! I hated to put this down and have to read what was assigned for class.(It's always the books I read on my own that are better than the assigned ones haha!)

well anyway what got me hooked was the emotional content through the character. Meaning i felt her desperation, and I wanted her to find help.
The main character was certainly a character I loved, and wished the best for at all times. I wanted to avenge her! I did also feel for Kevin because he too have problems(although the way he went about solving them was not the answer! You hear me ladies??!!)

The flow of the book from what I remember was very easy to follow. I have to say it was also very gripping as well as suspenseful too. Kathryn Anne Clark is an excellent and powerful storyteller. i loved that she sent out warning messages for the people in Annie's shoes to wake up!!

Overall this was an excellent read, and I recommend it to anyone and everyone.

[Rosy]

I guess I'll do a little review on this..

All through the story, I wanted to take Kevin into an alley and beat him up with my girls. Well, fortunately Buddy helped me :) Okay, I give it a 4 out of 5... This story made my gut wrench and churn, with poor Annie being beat up and all that, and the stupid Kevin made me forgive him everytime he apologized, well, I'M SO FUCKING GLAD YOU ENDED UP WITH A RESTRAINT ORDER AND A DIVORCE!! And Annie... Honey, if I were you I would have run to the police on the first hit. Like seriously, I know supposedly women are weaker then men ( which we are so not ) but POLICE! POLICE 911!! ANYTHING!!!

I learnt a great deal about how to identify an abusive relationship and an abusive partner, I'm set for the love life :)

Take a stand and fight with justice. Men who hit women, are just insecure.


4 out of 5.

[Marina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Recommended by my husband’s cousin, a school social worker who has used the book as a teaching tool for high school students. While I have some issues with minor aspects of the story line, as an attorney who represents survivors of domestic violence I found the book factually accurate. The Resource Guide at the end was particularly helpful; that Guide should be standard reading for all high school freshmen.

[Nicole Todd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book in high school and it was so great! It’s a true story about the cycle of abuse in relationships. The main character of the book is actually the aunt of someone that went to my high school, so the story really hits home. I always recommend this book to friends because I think it’s so important to be able to recognize this cycle of abuse in either your relationships or your loved ones.

[Ashley Hogue · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first read this book shortly out of high school and it had a huge impact on me. I had just gotten out of an emotionally and mentally abusive relationship and this book really helped me to realize how dangerous he was.
Fast forward to now (January 2021) and I just finished this book. This book is wonderful and all throughout I was anxious for Annie. She had a wonderful support system with her family and counselor which I’m sure is what helped her leave the abusive relationship. Not everyone is going to have that option but this book gives some great information on how to get the help needed. Yes it’s outdated but considering when the book was written what do you expect. I highly recommend it although it might be a trigger for those who have been in abusive relationships.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

While the story drug for me a little at the beginning it quickly picked up. Somewhat predictable but still a page turner. Domestic violence in reality is no joke and while Annie gets free, so many women don’t and will she ever really be fully free?! At first I was disappointed in Annie but then her strength surfaced and she became strong and stood her ground. I was a little surprised by the ending and would have predicted a different outcome. Definitely worth the read and at times, hard to put down.

[Triana Palacios · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did like this book very much. I hope it helps someone out there who needs a fighting chance.

[Maura · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had to read it for school and it had a good message. Some of the writing was weak and I would have liked I better ending. But overall pretty good.

[Juana E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I came across this book when my aunt handed it to me to read. She told me she read this book back when she was in high school and was very satisfied with this book. What instantly caught my attention about this book was the first chapter.The formatting of the book and the story line of this book was something I could easily connect to.

This book is about a the Domestic violence relationship Ann Clarke encountered for many years. In a high school she meets and falls inlove with Kevin who is a student who comes from an wealthy family.
He is a star athlete and is very popular but, he is also very violent. He and Annie were a nice couple, but his jealousy of her begins to turn violent. Despite the physical and verbal abuse he causes to her, Annie does not want to leave Him. Eventually, they both become parents and are forced to get married. Annie's life goes down hill as he marriage life becomes a living hell. Readers get a taste of what its like to be in an abusive relationship. readers are able to read about what Annie had to endure and what she over came.

This book is amazingly inspirational and I recommend it to many young women. It's such an overwhelming story to read and it really makes you second think the choices you make when putting yourself first. This is ultimately my favorite book by far. therefore i give it a 5.

[Monkey of Doom · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very powerful and gripping read.

Annie and her boyfriend Kevin let things go a little too far, and Annie ends up pregant. Instead of abandoning his girlfriend and child, Kevin promises to stick by Annie during her pregancy. But Kevin's mom wants Annie to have an abortion. Firmly against that, Annie is shocked and flatly refuses. Kevin suddenly starts accusing her of messing around with a boy she met called Harold. Annie, who did nothing with Harold except talk to him, denies Kevin's allegations. Kevin, not believing her, starts to hit her (while driving) and swears at her. Terrified, Annie escapes out of the car, but Kevin then starts choking her. Annie escapes and runs home, confused about what happened.

Later, Kevin is distraught over what he did and begs for Annie's forgiveness. She eventually gives him another chance, but makes it clear that if he ever hurts her again, she will leave him for good.

Annie has a baby girl, who she names Mary. Things are fine for a while, until Kevin begins controlling more and more of her life, and eventually starts his abuse once again.

This is an amazing book, and extremely well-written.

[Diamond · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS BOOK WAS GREAT. MY BEST FRIEND MAYA RECOMENDED I READ IT. I COULD NOT PUT THIS BOOK DOWN. THIS BOOK IS ABOUT A TEENAGE GIRL AT THE AGE OF 18. SHE GETS PREGNANT BY HER BOYFRIEND OF 3YEARS AND THINGS BEGIN TO CHANGE. SHE MARRYS THIS MAN THINKING SHE KNOWS HIM, BUT THERE MARRAGE GETS ABUSAVE. I COULD NOT PUT THIS BOOK DOWN AND JUST WANTED TO KNOW WHAT'LL HAPPEN NEXT.
I WOULD RECOMEND THIS BOOK TO ANYONE. I THINK ITLL SHOW MANY TO KEEP FIGHTING THERE BATTLES AND NEVER GIVE UP. THIS BOOK IS ALSO GREAT FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN ABUSED OT HURT IN THE PASS IT SHOWS THEM THAT THEY CANT GET HELP AND THAT THEY ARENT CRAZY.

[Marian Stevens · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up at a yard sale over the weekend, and as a survivor of very similar abuse over 20 years ago, it really spells out the situation and is a 'classic' scenario. I haven't finished it quite yet, just read the December 23rd attack that lands Annie in the hospital. I was also attacked on December 23rd during that time I was in that situation. I think it's great that Kathryn Ann Clarke reached out to show what can (and does!) happen and with the summaries and educational info at the end. Thank you, Kathryn. My nightmares didn't subside until I learned martial arts!

[morgan ls · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first read this in high school. It was an incredible yet terrible read. When I read or hear something, I can visualize it in my mind. So every time Kevin hit Annie, it was kinda like being there and witnessing it. I appreciated the end of the book, which included signs of domestic violence and who to call when a spouse is being violent. Personally, I feel that all teenagers (male and female) should read this book so as to remind them what a healthy relationship looks like and what person they ought not be.

[Cassie · Rating 2 out of 5]

The writing isn't good. The dialouge is ridiculous. You don't like the abuser from the moment he is introduced which makes Annie look like a moron because it's really fucking obvious this guy is a douche. He needed to be likable at first, likeable enough that the reader liked him before you saw what he really was.

Annie is just bleh. She's not even a character, she's a trope and a bad one at that.

2 stars because I did enjoy reading this trainwreck and was excited to see how much worse it could get.

[Olivia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pretty good book. It definitely held my attention & was very suspenseful. However, the main flaw was the ending. There were no answers as to who Buddy is and/or what it was he did to make Kevin magically leave Annie alone. That doesn't make much sense to me. Kevin was a psycho, there's no way some dude would be able to turn off Kevin's anger switch just like that. I don't buy it. Sounds like too easy of an ending to me.

[Alecia · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I have ever read in my life! The whole story was put together in a way that flowed and made you see how situations in abusive relationships really happen. All of the components in the story kept me on my toes. It also shed light on the reality of abusive relationships, a topic people don't like to talk about. And in the back included tips on how you can prevent/assess an abusive relationship. Overall Well Done.

[Jen Muraski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book about the story of an abusive relationship that began as just dating then continued through a marriage. It showed the true courage of a young woman to remove herself and her child through the legal system out of a bad situation instead of resorting to violence herself. The book also contained a great guide at the end for showing how to recognize abuse in relationships as well as different behaviors that are unhealthy.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who was in a verbally abusive relationship that became physically abusive a few times, I have to say that this is a chillingly accurate book. It grabs your heart and you pray for the woman to survive, to find a way to live through escaping. It is heart-wrenching, vividly portrayed and a must read in hopes others may see warning signs of an abusive relationship before it becomes too late.

[Maddi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heart-wrenching story of the behind the scenes action that is occurring in many many live of women everywhere. This shows how hard it is to walk away from an abusive relationship; many can't and some don't ever walk again. Sad but true to many, you will cry, but it is worth the read.

[Barbara Leuthe · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a powerful book.Abuse happens when you least expect it and no one deserves to be abused.sadly people look the other way and pretend its not so bad or not happening at all.The last part of the book with the signs and actions is so true.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has an amazing and strong message that I think all people should be aware of and look look out for. I just couldn't rate it any higher because I found so many errors in the book, and the writing style seemed inconsistent to me.

[isabelb · Rating 5 out of 5]

i love this book
and don't want to give it away
because it's just so great

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!

[Margherita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sad book about a girl who gets trapped in a marriage at such a young age but how she also overcomes it.

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing read!!! Annie could be any one of us, she seems that real. Powerful debut novel. Highly reccomeneded for anyone and has an excellent resourse guide on domestic violence.<

[Karie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every girl and woman should read this book at least once a year. Its the best fictionalized story on domestic violence i've ever read.

[Cady · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing. I love it. Please read it. You'll thank me :)

[Jordan Connell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great novel about the life of an abused pregnant teenager who ends up having to move in with her abusive boyfriend when he leaves for college. a great story of bravery, hope and surprises.

[Rachel Doose · Rating 5 out of 5]

I