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Fault Line
Seventeen-year-old Becky Martin--smart, funny, ambitious--aspires to be a stand-up comic. While setting out to make her goal a reality, she meets Kip Costello, a rising star in the San Francisco comedy club scene. Where Becky once felt invisible around guys, she now basks in Kip's adoration. And what could be better than an attractive, intense boyfriend who cares about every minute detail of her life?
But Becky soon discovers a darker side to Kip, where emotional and physical abuse grown hand in hand. How is it possible to feel so special yet so worthless at the same time? As the relationship goes from loving to controlling, can Becky find the courage to get the help she needs before it's too late?
From the Cassette edition.
But Becky soon discovers a darker side to Kip, where emotional and physical abuse grown hand in hand. How is it possible to feel so special yet so worthless at the same time? As the relationship goes from loving to controlling, can Becky find the courage to get the help she needs before it's too late?
From the Cassette edition.
Audio
First published September 1, 2003
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619 people want to read
About the author
Janet Tashjian
55 books262 followersJanet Tashjian is a middle-grade and young adult novelist who’s been writing books for children for fifteen years. Her first novel Tru Confessions was made into a critically acclaimed Disney TV movie starring Clara Bryant and Shia LaBeouf. The Gospel According to Larry is a cult favorite and Fault Line is taught in many middle and high schools. Her novels My Life As a Book, My Life As a Stuntboy, and My Life As a Cartoonist are all illustrated by her teenage son, Jake. Their collaboration continues with Einstein the Class Hamster coming in August.
Janet lives with her family in Los Angeles, enjoying her respite from the long Boston winters. When she isn’t writing, she’s rewriting.
Janet has been doing school visits for fifteen years; you can email her at spatulaproductions@mac.com for details.
We invite you to follow her on Twitter @JanetTashjian and like her books on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/My-Lif...
https://www.facebook.com/ForWhatItsWo...
Plus, check out her YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/janettash...
Janet lives with her family in Los Angeles, enjoying her respite from the long Boston winters. When she isn’t writing, she’s rewriting.
Janet has been doing school visits for fifteen years; you can email her at spatulaproductions@mac.com for details.
We invite you to follow her on Twitter @JanetTashjian and like her books on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/My-Lif...
https://www.facebook.com/ForWhatItsWo...
Plus, check out her YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/janettash...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
January 13, 2013
Fault Line is about a 17 year old girl who is trying to make it through her senior year in high school, fill out college applications for her future, launch her stand up comedy career & figure out this relationship thing with the new-comer Kip. Kip is sensitive, handsome, passionate, observant of Becky's every detail. Kip is everything a teenaged girl thinks she wants in a boyfriend.
Five months into the relationship, he's editting her comedy skits (getting upset when she doesn't use his punchlines), pushing her closest friends out of their circle (saying they're lame or holding Becky back), and waiting outside her two jobs after her shifts to drive her home. He calls her ten times per day (or more), IMs on the computer when she's working on her homework, texts her throughout the day... and it's endearing at first because she is so excited to talk to him all the time too.
It slowly starts to get even further out of control and she struggles to keep it a secret and to figure out if it's LOVE she has with Kip, or if it's OBSESSION. I've been at the crossroads myself. It's very confusing when you're inside. Many times, the answers aren't clear until you've been removed from the situation for many months, sometimes years. Most girls go back time and time again because they think "he will change" or "it was my fault that time" or "he didn't HIT me, so it's not abuse".
This is a serious topic for teenaged girls and I recommend it being read by teenaged girls. The flow of the story was a bit rushed. I didn't believe Kip would do what he did the first time... I felt like it was pushed in order to move the story along too soon. But, otherwise, it was a decent story.
Five months into the relationship, he's editting her comedy skits (getting upset when she doesn't use his punchlines), pushing her closest friends out of their circle (saying they're lame or holding Becky back), and waiting outside her two jobs after her shifts to drive her home. He calls her ten times per day (or more), IMs on the computer when she's working on her homework, texts her throughout the day... and it's endearing at first because she is so excited to talk to him all the time too.
It slowly starts to get even further out of control and she struggles to keep it a secret and to figure out if it's LOVE she has with Kip, or if it's OBSESSION. I've been at the crossroads myself. It's very confusing when you're inside. Many times, the answers aren't clear until you've been removed from the situation for many months, sometimes years. Most girls go back time and time again because they think "he will change" or "it was my fault that time" or "he didn't HIT me, so it's not abuse".
This is a serious topic for teenaged girls and I recommend it being read by teenaged girls. The flow of the story was a bit rushed. I didn't believe Kip would do what he did the first time... I felt like it was pushed in order to move the story along too soon. But, otherwise, it was a decent story.
February 1, 2012
I read this book several years ago (I'm pretty sure I was a freshman in college, actually), but I chose to re-read it because, well, this is the kind of book I typically enjoy.
There were some great things about this book - the voice was fresh and light. She stood out from others, and she was easy to "get along with," which is difficult to read from. I liked the addition of the personal writing from Kip and her in their journal / notebooks (or, well, paper towels), because it's nice to get some perspective from both people.
The sad thing, however, is that this book wasn't full enough. There were opportunities for so many more details, and so much more life. I needed to know more about Kip, more about the way he acted. We obviously knew about his father's abusive actions in the past. (and personally, I get tired of the same old story) Things were glossed over, and I wasn't ever really drawn into the action the way that I could have been. I needed it to slow down.
Also... the humor. I get that they are young girls, and young girls only have so much material to work with, but some of the "jokes" in the book that they were so excited to have come up with are old lines (If Barbie is so popular, why do you have to buy her friends?) that aren't even particularly funny. It's difficult to believe that these girls are such outstanding comics when there wasn't much evidence of it.
But altogether, it's a fast and a light read. If you have never read a young adult book dealing with a tense and abusive relationship, this could be a way to dip your toe in.
There were some great things about this book - the voice was fresh and light. She stood out from others, and she was easy to "get along with," which is difficult to read from. I liked the addition of the personal writing from Kip and her in their journal / notebooks (or, well, paper towels), because it's nice to get some perspective from both people.
The sad thing, however, is that this book wasn't full enough. There were opportunities for so many more details, and so much more life. I needed to know more about Kip, more about the way he acted. We obviously knew about his father's abusive actions in the past. (and personally, I get tired of the same old story) Things were glossed over, and I wasn't ever really drawn into the action the way that I could have been. I needed it to slow down.
Also... the humor. I get that they are young girls, and young girls only have so much material to work with, but some of the "jokes" in the book that they were so excited to have come up with are old lines (If Barbie is so popular, why do you have to buy her friends?) that aren't even particularly funny. It's difficult to believe that these girls are such outstanding comics when there wasn't much evidence of it.
But altogether, it's a fast and a light read. If you have never read a young adult book dealing with a tense and abusive relationship, this could be a way to dip your toe in.
February 24, 2017
With her senior year coming to an end, a comedy career at her fingertips, and a new love interest, 17 year old Becky struggles to figure out what's right. Fault Line brings a unique perspective on modern relationships from the point of view of the victim herself. Abuse, both physically and mentally, is a serious topic that the majority of teens struggle to fully understand. When things between Becky and her boyfriend Kip begin to spiral out of control, it’s up to her to walk away. At times readers are able to see through the eyes of Kip himself, and understand the thoughts going through his mind. I recommend this book to anyone who is or once was in an abusive relationship. I cannot stress enough how insightful this author’s work truly is and I find myself disappointed that it ever came to an end.
November 17, 2009
The book I choose to read was Fault Line by Janet Tashjian. I really enjoyed reading this book. I would definitely recommend this novel. The genre of this book is fiction. I choose this book because “teen relationship abuse” is a huge topic, and this novel does a great job of explaining it in such detail and imagery. This was a powerful novel to read, in some parts it made my eyes tear up.
Becky is a smart, funny, 17-year old girl. She is hard working and loves her jobs. She takes annotative of her dream of being a standup comedian. Once she meets her boyfriend, Kip, she starts to shut out the rest of her world. She pays less attention to her best friend, Abby, and to her family. As her and kip go further into their relationship, Becky experiences her boyfriends’ abusive tendencies and holding down Becky to his standards.
Motifs that are in novel include Abusive relationships, trust, friends, and laughter. This book has actually taught me to realize that abusive relationships not only happen to adults, but with teenagers also. It’s a sad and depressing way of being with someone you love.
Becky is a smart, funny, 17-year old girl. She is hard working and loves her jobs. She takes annotative of her dream of being a standup comedian. Once she meets her boyfriend, Kip, she starts to shut out the rest of her world. She pays less attention to her best friend, Abby, and to her family. As her and kip go further into their relationship, Becky experiences her boyfriends’ abusive tendencies and holding down Becky to his standards.
Motifs that are in novel include Abusive relationships, trust, friends, and laughter. This book has actually taught me to realize that abusive relationships not only happen to adults, but with teenagers also. It’s a sad and depressing way of being with someone you love.
April 18, 2018
“Men who don’t respect boundaries—that’s not a good thing.”
Who would ever thought that the person they met who looks so perfectly human can someday turns out into a raging beast.
Who would ever thought that the person they met who looks so perfectly human can someday turns out into a raging beast.
January 5, 2017
I read "Fault Line", by Janet Tashjian because it looked like a book that would make me not want to stop reading, which ended up being the case. This book is about a 17 year old girl, named Becky, who has a dream of pursuing comedy, and then she meets a boy, named Kip, who is also a comedian. Abusing and disrespectful, Kip makes Becky's life very stressful by becoming controlling to the extreme. An example of this is when Becky spent a week with a man for comedy, and Kip got jealous and told her not to do it anymore. Rightly so, Becky got very upset by Kips violent actions and words towards her. She starts to struggle with knowing what her priorities in life are, comedy or Kip. Being very intriguing, this was my favorite part of the book because of the crazy chain of events that take place. As exciting as this book was, one thing I did not like about it was the beginning because it seemed very boring to me, and it took a long time to figure out what was happening in the story. Overall, I did enjoy this book once I got into it, and I recommend it to anyone who is into drama.
February 11, 2011
This book was okay! It took me some time to read it but that is possibly because I didn't have much of a choice when it came to reading it! It is a good abuse story with a good ending though! But I did make some connection to it though because while reading it I found out that one one of my friends is in a situation similar to it! So in a way it helped me give her well-rounded advice! But it did seem to get off to a slow start! The ending was probably the best and most excited part of the book! But i would recommend this to anyone who is in some kind of abusive relationship (physical or verbal). It helps you see what can end up happening if the relationship stays the way it does.
October 25, 2007
A sometimes funny, tense, and poignant look at an abusive dating relationship, from the girl's point of view. She's planning to be a stand-up comic, and when she gets her chance to make her big break during a tour of clubs, her boyfriend--also a comic--begins to come unhinged in fits of unfounded jealousy. Interesting look at the life of young comics, with plenty of jokes sprinkled throughout, but mostly it's about how a girl gets entangled in this sort of relationship, and how she manages to get out of it.
January 29, 2008
What a great book- I'd never read anything before on this subject and so this really opened to my eyes and made me feel as if even I might get in this situation. You see how hard it is to notice it unless you are on the outside- emotions get confused and everything seems mixed up. A wonderful read- I'd suggest it to anyone!
November 15, 2010
I thought this look at relationship abuse (emotional and physical) was well done. I especially like how it shows both sides, not making excuses for anyone, but helping readers understand how someone might stay with an abuser even knowing what is happening. The author's agenda is obvious, but the book is balanced and well-written.
May 4, 2018
The idea was there, but it was horribly executed. The author was trying wayyyy to hard for us to like the characters, which just made me hate them more.
I only sympathized with Becky’s situation, not her character.
Not only that, there was a side comment about being special education that was extremely rude and disrespectful.
The only reason I read this was because it’s for school.
I only sympathized with Becky’s situation, not her character.
Not only that, there was a side comment about being special education that was extremely rude and disrespectful.
The only reason I read this was because it’s for school.
February 8, 2010
Young Adult book about two San Francisco teenagers who want to become professional stand-up comedians. So...funny. But also tragic because the storyline touches on date abuse/violence. Excellent. Anything by this author is good.
September 18, 2011
Be warned it is a strong book...talks of the dealings of abuse and other related stuff. So if you don't like heavy reading don't read it but if that sort of stuff is okay then it is well written and interesting.
April 10, 2013
This book kind of took me by surprise, and I enjoyed it more than I thought I would.
I DID get a sense that the author has NEVER lived in the Bay Area...but that's a minor detail.
I DID get a sense that the author has NEVER lived in the Bay Area...but that's a minor detail.
Read
May 1, 2020Seventeen-year-old Becky Martin is a comedienne. Not just to keep her family and friends laughing, but to improve her stage presence and make an audience laugh, too.
Read p. 5: "Laughter is one of those things … waiting to connect."
OK, let me try out a few of Becky's jokes:
1. If a cannibal ate a clown, would it taste funny?
After another San Francisco earthquake … "hey, it's not San Andrea's fault!"
2. Ok, Ok, I'll stop. Becky's much funnier. So when she meets Kip, a fellow comedian, at an open mike night, she feels on top of the world. Kip is cute, nice, so into her - and funny! All is well and Becky is happy, until Kip starts adding some new adjectives to his character traits list:
3. Over-protective
4. Criticizing
Making Becky feel guilty
Jealous
8. Angry - really angry
The next morning when Becky sees the bruises on her arms from where Kip grabbed her, it's not funny at all.
Read p. 5: "Laughter is one of those things … waiting to connect."
OK, let me try out a few of Becky's jokes:
1. If a cannibal ate a clown, would it taste funny?
After another San Francisco earthquake … "hey, it's not San Andrea's fault!"
2. Ok, Ok, I'll stop. Becky's much funnier. So when she meets Kip, a fellow comedian, at an open mike night, she feels on top of the world. Kip is cute, nice, so into her - and funny! All is well and Becky is happy, until Kip starts adding some new adjectives to his character traits list:
3. Over-protective
4. Criticizing
Making Becky feel guilty
Jealous
8. Angry - really angry
The next morning when Becky sees the bruises on her arms from where Kip grabbed her, it's not funny at all.
December 9, 2019
In the novel Fault Line, the story's main character is Becky Martin. She's a senior in high school who aspires to be a stand-up comedian. One night at a comedy club, Becky and her best friend Abby meet a boy named kip. Shortly after that encounter Becky and kip become a couple. After several months of mental, emotional, and physical abuse from kip she learns how to become herself again. With the help of this quote from the back of a zen card.
May 10, 2018
It was ok. I liked the double perspective with the journal/paper towels. I felt she was too involved with Kip and we didn’t have a lot to go on when it came to Kips background. There was just the bare bones. I wanted more insight into Kip and his reasoning.
October 11, 2018
The author’s way of portraying bright adolescents with insight and humor reaches near perfection here... A terrific read with a credible and lovable main character.
September 30, 2020
Powerful message, engaging story. Read it multiple times ranging from age 13 to currently
August 27, 2022
Bad ending!
November 28, 2022
stupidest ending ever. like i see the attempt at the discussion of how both sides are hurt in the cycle of abuse, but its so shittily done.
February 7, 2023
It was interesting, however not as exciting as I had hoped it would be. The subject of abuse in relationships is not talked about often enough, so I do appreciate the author for trying.
July 29, 2025
I loved this book, I wish it was more spaced out if that makes any sense. It felt very fast-paced but the plot-line was perfect.
October 24, 2015
Could you imagine having everything completely figured out and all of a sudden it changes in the blink of an eye? College in the fall, a comedy career that's only just beginning, a loving and caring family, Becky seemed to have it all. Nothing could possibly go wrong...
Becky spends her free time out in clubs doing stand up comedy shows to help launch her career. Becky often meets new people but never anyone of particular interest. Then, unexpectedly Kip, a charming, intelligent, funny, seemingly caring and very a sensitive young man walks into her life and things may never be the same.
At first, things seem to be going great. But, before she knew it, Becky was on an emotional roller coaster. Their relationship wasn't the same and Kip seemed to have changed for the worse. Becky became very fearful and never knew what at any given moment could set Kip off. She often found herself feeling bad and blaming herself for Kip's clearly unacceptable behavior. She often found herself lying to the people she cared about most to protect Kip.
The abusive incidents kept happening and they wouldn't stop until something exceptionally terrible happened. Before she even realized the true risk she was taking by being in his presence, she found herself laying in a hospital bed wondering how it got so bad. Her life had flashed before her eyes. She had been very lucky, Kip could've easily killed her if she wouldn't have had her best friend there to rescue her and call the police. It would be a very long recovery for Becky, both physically and emotionally. Any teen or anyone can possibly relate to this situation in some way.
Janet Tashjian often writes young adult literature and novels. Tashjian lives in Los Angeles. Her son, Jake, has illustrated eight of her novels. All characters are completely made up from her imagination.
This is definitely a book that stays in touch with reality and opens our eyes to the very real risks of teen dating abuse. While reading this book, you will often find yourself in suspense, anxious to find out what happens next. Guaranteed, you won't want to put it down. With a very relieving ending, this is surely a book you must read.
Becky spends her free time out in clubs doing stand up comedy shows to help launch her career. Becky often meets new people but never anyone of particular interest. Then, unexpectedly Kip, a charming, intelligent, funny, seemingly caring and very a sensitive young man walks into her life and things may never be the same.
At first, things seem to be going great. But, before she knew it, Becky was on an emotional roller coaster. Their relationship wasn't the same and Kip seemed to have changed for the worse. Becky became very fearful and never knew what at any given moment could set Kip off. She often found herself feeling bad and blaming herself for Kip's clearly unacceptable behavior. She often found herself lying to the people she cared about most to protect Kip.
The abusive incidents kept happening and they wouldn't stop until something exceptionally terrible happened. Before she even realized the true risk she was taking by being in his presence, she found herself laying in a hospital bed wondering how it got so bad. Her life had flashed before her eyes. She had been very lucky, Kip could've easily killed her if she wouldn't have had her best friend there to rescue her and call the police. It would be a very long recovery for Becky, both physically and emotionally. Any teen or anyone can possibly relate to this situation in some way.
Janet Tashjian often writes young adult literature and novels. Tashjian lives in Los Angeles. Her son, Jake, has illustrated eight of her novels. All characters are completely made up from her imagination.
This is definitely a book that stays in touch with reality and opens our eyes to the very real risks of teen dating abuse. While reading this book, you will often find yourself in suspense, anxious to find out what happens next. Guaranteed, you won't want to put it down. With a very relieving ending, this is surely a book you must read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 3, 2016
Honestly, I feel like it was Becky's mom's and Abby's fault that Kip began to be abusive. From the very beginning Abby was not supportive by saying he would not ever call Becky and that it was his name Kip didn't sound well with Becky's. Becky had issues before she met Kip of feeling invisible. He noticed her and made her feel very special, but she her best friend and mother made it seem that it was a bad thing that he found her so interesting. It seems like he started to feel very insecure when he was playing a game of tug of war with her mother and best friend. He wanted Becky to find him super interesting and cling onto him, but she allowed herself to be influenced by her mom and best friend to think she didn't have a good thing to cherish. Kip and her could of had a beautiful future together if her mom was more concerned in helping the relationship. Did she ever go out of her way to make sure Kip and Becky knew that she viewed their relationship cute? Nope, instead, it seem like she was deliberately trying to break it apart. It is sad that rather than Becky clinging onto Kip because he was the only person that liked to listen to her. She started doing messed up things like eating with her ex-boyfriend... choosing her career over him, etc. He didn't want to lose her because he fell in love with her, but she started behaving like she was not in love with him. It sucks that it really got of hand. It would have been nice if they went to counseling classes right after he pulled her braid.
May 8, 2014
Um livro sobre a violência nos namoros de adolescentes. Um livro escrito com duas visões, a da vítima e a do agressor. Ouvi falar sobre ele no programa "Mundo das Mulheres" em que o assunto era este e fiquei com "a pulga atrás da orelha". Porque tenho 3 filhos, quis saber mais e comprei o livro. Assustou-me como mãe, saber que qualquer um dos meus filhos poderá passar por isto sem eu perceber. Tanto como vítima como como agressor, por mais absurdo que me possa parecer.
Todos deveriam ler este livro. Pais e filhos.
A book about violence in teenage love relashionships. A book written with two visions, the victim and the abuser. I heard about this book in a portuguese TV program and was curious about it. Because I have three children I wanted to know more and bought it. It scared me, as a mother, to know that any of my children could go through this without me noticing it. As victim or as abuser, for much absurd that would look like.
Everyone should read this book. Parents and children.
Todos deveriam ler este livro. Pais e filhos.
A book about violence in teenage love relashionships. A book written with two visions, the victim and the abuser. I heard about this book in a portuguese TV program and was curious about it. Because I have three children I wanted to know more and bought it. It scared me, as a mother, to know that any of my children could go through this without me noticing it. As victim or as abuser, for much absurd that would look like.
Everyone should read this book. Parents and children.
October 18, 2010
Becky's dream is to become one of the great stand up comedians. She is only a senior in high school and already works the local clubs, sends out audition tapes, and has dedicated rituals with her best friend Abby, also an aspiring comic. Even though she wouldn't label herself as pretty, coordinated, popular, or girlfriend material, Becky is happy with her life. Until she meets Kip, the smart, cute, talented comic who actually shows an interest in her.
Their relationship grows quickly until the unexpected happens. Becky has detached herself from Abby, her family, her school work, and even her routines to spend more time with Kip. When he crosses the line, Becky doesn't even realize it at first.
Great look into teen dating violence from both male and female perspectives. It shows how things develop so quickly and subtly that it is sometimes hard to tell what is happening until it is too late. Heartfelt and so much better than Larry.
Their relationship grows quickly until the unexpected happens. Becky has detached herself from Abby, her family, her school work, and even her routines to spend more time with Kip. When he crosses the line, Becky doesn't even realize it at first.
Great look into teen dating violence from both male and female perspectives. It shows how things develop so quickly and subtly that it is sometimes hard to tell what is happening until it is too late. Heartfelt and so much better than Larry.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 22, 2016
What I liked about the book "Fault Line" was that it can relate to anyone whether or not they have experienced that same conflict as the main character has. Also the book is about something that catches your attention right away, making you want to keep on reading. What I also liked about the book was the fact that all the conflicts in the story was realistic and that none of it was made up. What I disliked about the book was the fact that the author made the first part of the story sorta boring, and built the climax very slowly, making it a long time to read the book. I would absolutely recommend this book to others because it is on an issue that can happen to anyone's life also it teaches you a lesson about life that everyone should be aware of, concluding this the book gives any person a different prospective on life and how others are treated also it is a book that has a lot a depth in it which makes you think more too.
August 28, 2009
Becky's smart and funny. But when she meets Kip, she becomes more than that. When shes with Kip shes feels like so much more and she loves it. When Kip starts to make her feel differently tho, shes confused and doesnt know what to do, until shes hit rock bottom.
I thought this book was pretty good. Not the best book ive ever read, specially dealing with abusive relationships. But all n all it was a good read. I couldnt really connect all that well with the main character, but at the same time thats what made it interesting fer me. i was able to put myself in someone else's shoes kinda. So yeah it was good lol
I thought this book was pretty good. Not the best book ive ever read, specially dealing with abusive relationships. But all n all it was a good read. I couldnt really connect all that well with the main character, but at the same time thats what made it interesting fer me. i was able to put myself in someone else's shoes kinda. So yeah it was good lol
December 27, 2016
Seventeen-year-old Becky Martin never thought she'd be one of those girls. After all, she doesn't fit the profile. She has two loving parents, close friends who care about her, even a great gig as an amateur comic in the San Francisco comedy club scene. Becky has always considered herself too smart and too driven to ever become involved in an abusive relationship. But up-and-coming comic Kip Costello is impossible to resist. He's cute, hilarious, and worships stand-up as much as she does. Yet, as Kip begins to demand more and more of her time and attention, Becky is forced to admit to herself that her relationship isn't as perfect as she works so hard to make other people believe.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews