Breaking Boxes by A.M. Jenkins

by A.M. Jenkins

Winner of the 14th annual Delacorte Prize, Breaking Boxes just may break your heart. It's the story of a loner named Charlie Calmont, his older brother Trent, and how they get by after both of their parents are gone. Most of the time Charlie feels Trent never hassles him, and, for the most part, they get on fine with fish sticks and canned vegetables. The calm disappears, though, when Charlie gets suspended for fighting with guys at school who care more about the kind of shoes he wears than who Charlie is on the inside. In this alternately heart-warming and heart-breaking tale, A. M. Jenkins tells what happens to Charlie after he befriends one of the guys who tried to beat him up. What is a friend, anyway? How will Charlie, who's never had many friends, know when it's appropriate to open his heart for a new friend or when it's time to shut himself off from the world and act cool?

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, LGBT, Gay

Hardcover

First published September 8, 1997

About the author

Born in 1961. Have lived in TX all my life. Divorced with three sons, two dogs (Hobo and Tyson), two cats (Waldo and Smudge), and two gerbils (Nimbus and Gobi). Jobs throughout my life include pizza maker, ice cream dipper, day care worker, bookstore manager, aerobics instructor, high school math teacher, elementary reading tutor, and freelance writer (warning: this, kiddies, is what may happen to you if you get a liberal arts degree). Published books include Breaking Boxes, Damage, Out of Order, Beating Heart, Repossessed, Night Road, and Hallowmere #5 Queen of the Masquerade (with Tiffany Trent). Short stories include The Last Second, in Michael Cart's anthology Rush Hour: Reckless.

Reviews

[Duane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charlie is a 16 year old struggling with a past family history that has caused him to swallow all emotions so that he doesn't have to deal with them. When a confrontation with a rich schoolmate causes both of them to serve In School Suspension together, Charlie learns that even the "richies" have their own problems. With themes of gays, teen sex, violence, and swearing, the reader needs to be prepared for a gritty story, but then again, isn't High School terribly gritty? I fell in love with both Charlie (the main character) and Brandon (richie). Both characters are so vivid in the author's descriptions. You struggle along with them and hope they make the right decisions. A great read for anyone who wants to read about the real life of a modern Highschooler.

[Adele · Rating 1 out of 5]

This started out okay (except for TW repeated use of the phrase "the gays" to refer to gay people. ) but then it went completely off the rails. Charlie was not particularly likable all along, especially his attitudes toward, and treatment of, women, but when he outed his brother and then proceeded to viciously attack his brother (who is a fairy tale masculine/straight-presenting gay saint by the way) when his friend reacted badly I was done. The aftermath where Charlie "forgives" his friend for doing basically what he did himself was just piling yuck on top of ick. Not recommended.

[Daisy Hernandez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some themes the author emphasize throughout the novel is Betrayal, Love, and Trust. I think the message the author is trying to get across the reader is you never know who are your true friends until you tell them everything about who you are and your family and if they don't respect you and your family for who you are then they aren't you true friends because your true friends are going to accept you for being your self and also accept your family for who they are. A way the events in the book reveal evidence of the author's world view is when the main character Charlie tells his friend Brandon that his brother is gay, Brandon overreacts and gets mad at Charlie for not telling him earlier because he slept at his house and now it makes him uncomfortable. This shows how sometimes in this society people are now being judge for who they are and we should accept them being themselves and not misjudge them. None parts of the book made me uncomfortable. I recommend this book for teenagers because it talks about true friendships and everyone needs friends and this book gives good lessons on what a true friendship is.

[Sandra Strange]

Charlie insulates himself from emotional involvement, in fact, from any kind of involvement, understandably, since his father deserted the family when he was very young, his mother drank herself to death, and the brother who supports him is gay (which the reader doesn’t find out until late in the book). The novel begins when he warns his brother he will have to fight one of the rich jocks in school because they’ve pushed him too far. His subsequent involvement with and gradual friendship with one of them and the consequences to Charlie, his brother, and the jock are what the story is about. Unfortunately, though the voice is strong and the protagonist appealing, the story is laced with profanity, vulgarities, and myriads of sexual references. (For instance, the protagonist has been sexually involved with a girl who likes him, but he cannot connect with her emotionally and jettisons her.) This novel is an R rated imitation of The Outsiders with the worthy, politically correct theme of breaking stereotypes and the barriers they erect.

[Selina Delfin]

Specific themes the author emphasized in this novel is family, trust, friendship, and betrayal. I think the author was trying to get across the reader is that there are many things that one doesnt know about another person. you truely dont know anyone until you take time to figure out who you are, and also, you may not know who you are at some moments in life. Sometimes you have to take time to see who you are and want to be. some events in the book that reveal the authors world view is when Charlie finds out his brother is gay. Charlie has trouble trying to figure out how he has lived without knowing, and also trying to figure out a way to tell his friend Brandon. Some parts in the book did make me feel uncomfortable because some parts in the book were intense. I do recommend this book to any kid in highschool. It's a good book because it's from a boy in high schools prospective. some parts are easy to relate to and each chapter ends with you wanting more.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

With both parents gone, Charlie Calmont and his older brother Trent, must find a way to make it on their own. Most days they get on fine with fish sticks and canned vegetables, and Charlie feels lucky that his brother doesn't get on his case much. The calm disappears, though, when Charlie gets suspended for fighting with guys at school who care more about the kind of shoes he wears than who Charlie is on the inside. But when he starts a friendship with one of them, Charlie starts to remember what he's been missing.

I was really absorbed by this book. Charlie's disassociation from his feelings due to an abusive mother and a disappearing father really ring true.

[Leslie Medina · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this book, Brandon one of the main characters finds out that trent is gay. Trent is one Charlie's brother. he is gay but only Charlie knows about this. eventually Charlie thinks its right to tell BRandon TRentn's gay, So he decides to tell him. after Charlie tells Brandon Trent's gay; he reacts in a negative way. he has a sereotype and denise that Trent is gay because he doesn't seem gay or he doesn't do things that gay people do. This book is a really good book. I recommend this book to any one.

[Jackshunkwiler · Rating 4 out of 5]

The theme of this book is you don't know your friends till you know everything about them. This is because in the beginning of the book a rich and a poor kid got in a fight. While they were in in school suspension, the got to know each other and became really good friends. That's why I think the theme is you don't know your friends till you know everything about them.

[Rabbit {Paint me like one of your 19th century gothic heroines!}]

I'm sure this is a great book that I will regret not reading, but it doesn't look to be my style at this moment. I also need to clear out a lot of books, that at this moment, I have no intention of reading. This is one of them. I hope that someone else will read this and love it.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two thumbs to my cousin! Great job!

[Luisledezma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would recomend people to read this book because the author did a good job by the way that he wrote te book.

[Patrick · Rating 1 out of 5]

not a very good book. the ending makes no sense

[Arutyun · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book. I will recommend this to teenagers . 20/10