Breaking Point

by Lesley Choyce

Cameron has been in trouble with the law more than once for breaking and entering. After his latest conviction, he's sent to an outdoors program for young offenders rather than a standard juvenile detention facility. There he meets Brianna, a girl who has been caught selling drugs at her school. They bond quickly, and she convinces Cameron to steal two sea kayaks and head off with her into the wilderness of bays and coves of Nova Scotia's Eastern Shore. It's a fearless but ill-timed escape as a hurricane is about to pound the coast. They must use all their courage and newfound survival skills if they are going to make it back to shore alive. And Cameron suspects that Brianna may not be telling him the truth about her real plans.

Genres: Young Adult, Ebooks, Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Canada

128 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2012

About the author

Lesley Choyce is a novelist and poet living at Lawrencetown Beach, Nova Scotia. He is the author of more than 80 books for adults, teens and children. He teaches in the English Department and Transition Year Program at Dalhousie University. He is a year-round surfer and founding member of the 1990s spoken word rock band, The SurfPoets. Choyce also runs Pottersfield Press, a small literary publishing house and hosted the national TV show, Off The Page, for many years. His books have been translated into Spanish, French, German and Danish and he has been awarded the Dartmouth Book Award and the Ann Connor Brimer Award.

Lesley Choyce was born in New Jersey in 1951 and moved to Canada in 1978 and became a citizen.

His YA novels concern things like skateboarding, surfing, racism, environmental issues, organ transplants, and rock bands.

Reviews

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't care for this story at all. I found it extremely predictable and shallow. Not a story I'd recommend.

[Melanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

An okay read. Pretty dull, but the ending was unexpected (at least to me).

[Lauren · Rating 2 out of 5]

Leaves much to be desired. The characters lack depth and complexity, and though the subject matter has relevance to teens' lives and the story breezes along, the reward for finishing the book lies only in the act of finishing. The plot falls flat, and that's about all the book has going for it. That being said, I would probably hand this to a teen reading at a lower level who was interested in the subject matter, because it's so hard to find good high-low stuff. Why is it that children's authors can write extremely well-developed characters and stories with depth at a low reading/vocabulary level, but when stories at the same reading level are written for and about teens, they tend toward shallow?

[L. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cameron, one of the main characters, has experience being in trouble with the law.  This time he has been sent to an outdoor program called Camp Mosher which is on the Eastern Shore of Nova Scotia.  There he forms an instant connection with Brianna and she convinces him to steal two kayaks, escape the camp, and head to Montreal where her cousins live.  They decide to leave camp even knowing that a hurricane is approaching.  They almost die as the waves pick up and Cameron's kayak is overturned.  They make it to shore and ride out the store under a rocky cove.  Brianna leaves but Cameron catches up with her.  She tells him that she has no cousins in Montreal and that she wants to go back to camp.

This book is about survival and realizing that your actions have consequences.  It is a fast paced read with lots of action.  The character development is weak and the storyline is someone predictable though.  I give this book 3 stars.  

[Alex Wise · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the book "Breaking Point" Cameron has been sent to a remote camp for young criminals. At camp, Cameron meets a girl named Brianna who he immediately finds a connection with. She convinces him to steal two kayaks and leave camp knowing a hurricane was approaching. On their journey they almost die, but eventually get washed up to shore. Right when Cameron thought they could escape, Brianna decided to turn themselves back in.
The story can be kind of predictable at times. For example, the hurricane was kind of expected and we all knew they were going to survive it. I was very disapointed on how the book ended. I wanted Cameron and Brianna to go out and live a new life instead of running back to camp and turning themselves in.
I would recommend this book to young teenagers or people who like adventure books. I say this because young teenagers would have a better time connecting to the book then adults because the story is written about two teenagers and their perspectives on life.

[Mary]

As a high school librarian I often recommend hi/lo books to students who identify as reluctant readers. They are short, with a controlled vocabulary, a focus on the plot. I have to admit, however, that I don't think I've ever actually read one of these books specially published in this hi/lo (high interest/low reading level) genre.

I'm glad I picked this up. There's action (outdoor survival), character development, romance, and a conversational kind of tone that makes it an easy read. I can see how this could be a gateway book for teens who have little history of reading success and a low motivation to dip into something long and challenging. I look forward to recommending this one to students.

[Miss Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's about rebellious youths and their reckless decisions and desire to do what they want. In their attempt to escape a correctional camp in kayaks with a hurricane forecast, they get more than they bargained for. Although their relationship has an expiry date, it is influential in reshaping their decision-making skills.

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

"In Breaking Point" Cameron has been sent to Camp Mosher, a remote camp for young criminals on the eastern shore of Nova Scotia where he has met Brianna a drug dealer who's determined to escape with his help. With a hurricane looming the pair sneak away in two canoes only to have their survival skills, fortitude and tenuous relationship tested in a battle against the elements.

This novella takes Cameron on a journey of self-discovery as he begins to take control over his choices and responsibility for his actions during a storm. With a fluid natural writing style Lesley Choyce builds a short story that looks at a young thief who quickly learns lessons about life not only when he gets caught up in Brianna's plans, a girl he's smitten with but with Philip the kid with a chip on his shoulder that he's responsible for mentoring.

Although I thought the plot could have been expanded more making the ending less anti-climatic, the characters quickly rouse the readers interest with the complexity of their personalities. Cameron, the young thief sees through the rehabilitation program at camp with its experience classes and counselling sessions, but forms a fragile bond with Chris because of his growing respect for the counsellor. He's resourceful, clever and selfless although easily manipulated, his infatuation with a hot-looking girl overriding his common sense. Brianna a troubled teenage drug dealer hides her fears, weakness and pain behind a feisty, tough, strong-willed persona. She's reckless and self-absorbed enticing Cameron with her plans but easily deserting him when things get rough.

In "Breaking Point" Cameron learns not only about survival in the wild but in the heart, as he struggles through love, longing and loss. It's a fascinating and emotionally intense story that could have been the basis of a great full length novel. I'd rate it a solid 3.5 if the scale allowed.

[Subin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cameron is a boy who send to Nova Scotia's Eastern shore. This place is a jail for teenagers. He stole something so he send there. One day he met A girl name Brianna. She sell drugs in her school many times. Young boy got shocked because she was so beautiful. They became friend and planned to escape this place. Their plan was this. steal a kayacks and go to the place where her cousin lives. They ran from Nova Scotia but suddenly the weather Became so bad and hurricane came. They were almost dye but survive. After hurricane passed they tried to keep going but Brianna told him that there's no cousin and confess that she lie to him. Finally, they decided to go back to the place where they belong.


This book tells us we need a courage to survive. We need to think more and more before behaviors. If Cameron think more seriously, deeply and has a suspicious about what Brianna says he will not get into trouble. But steal challenge is a benefit in our lives. If we fail it we can find a right thing or try another things. The author didn't use many hard words so, I could easily understand and follow the book.

[Mallory · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cameron has been in trouble before, so having the option of going to a camp-like juvie rather than Walkerton, which is the real deal, seems like a good trade off. He’s used to being a loner and just can’t stand feeling like he’s not in control. When he meets bad-girl Brianna his whole world seems to turn upside down. Usually the boring girls were attracted to him, and he like the bad girls who would in turn have nothing to do with him, so when Brianna likes him back he can’t help but follow her into more trouble.

Breaking Point had me on edge the whole way through; I had no idea how this story was going to end right up until the last chapter. I think that Choyce really captured the voice of teenagers, especially those who have committed crimes, very well and made it quite believable. Perhaps the idea of two teenagers with minimal kayaking experience surviving a hurricane in an ocean is farfetched, but I’m glad our hero made it through, and will hopefully learn from his mistakes.

[Mrs. Melaugh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cameron has just been put in a program at a nature camp. This will be his last chance before entering a traditional juvenile detention facility because of his history of stealing. He immediately meets a girl who is even more messed up than he is. Cameron and Brianna both reveal a tendency to make bad situations worse. They steal a kayak to run away just as a hurricane is coming.

Cameron and Brianna will resonate with young people who feel they are stuck in bad situations through no fault of their own. Their voices are authentic. For instance, when Cameron tells Brianna she shouldn't deal drugs, she replies that pot doesn’t count as a drug. Readers will be swept into the story as the situation spirals into greater danger.

Like the others in the Orca Soundings imprint, the emphasis is on a quick-moving, easily read story featuring edgy, non-mainstream characters and chapters that encourage compulsive reading through their cliff-hanger endings. Don't look for a lot of character development.

[Arifa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Breaking Point follows the struggles that Cameron and Brianna face after both being put in a delinquent camp, they try leaving, but things only get crazy after that. I liked this book because it was interesting, and it showed that love can hit anyone, at any time, in any place. For example, Cameron and Brianna both were stubborn kids, they didn't get along with anyone too well, but they got along with each other, they spent time with each other and each day they would fall more and more in love with each other. The only thing I didn't like was that it was really slow in the beginning and the ending sucked, you would expect more, but it left you with a biter-sweet feeling. I would recommend it to mostly teens, because it's very relatable and they would understand the feeling and emotions behind each character.

[Diane Ferbrache · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cameron has been sent to an outdoor program for juvenile offenders. It’s summer camp with really strict rules. When he meets Brianna, they hatch a plan to escape by kayaking to Montreal. Unfortunately, they decide to leave with a hurricane on the way.

Although pretty predictable, this is a fast paced story with lots of action to keep the reader involved. Part of the Orca Soundings books for reluctant readers, this is a fairly well written addition to that collection. Recommended for high school students because of some profanity and mild sexual content.

[Aeneas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about a guy and girl that get sent to a camp for doing bad stuff and tryś to run away and has to go though a huracaine i rally liked this book because it wasn´t too long and it really made me want to read more

[Shannon Rickert · Rating 5 out of 5]

there ya go back on to the good orca books

[Megan Freeman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a great quick read. It was also an easy read. If you are looking for an intense book this is great! It is a book you wont want to put down.

[Mason Bright]

This book is about a guy named Cameron that got into some legal trouble and was sent to thing summer camp. The summer camp was like jail but less strict on the rules. The first day they went out kayaking, Cameron decides to go paddle way in an attempt to escape. He failed his attempt to escape when he tipped his kayak over and the lead instructor had to come save him. When he got back to the camp he caught the eye of one the pretty girls. Her name was Brianna, she was a perfect match for Cam. As a matter of fact, they liked each other so much they wanted to run away from the camp with each other. They planned it out but never picked a date. Brianna got into a fight resulting in her going to isolation for five days. In that time Cameron that the trust of the workers. He got the trust so much that it was easier for him to leave. When they left and hit the waters they thought it was going to be a smooth way ahead of them. They were wrong, a hurricane was about to hit. When the wind and wave started picking up they knew that it was going to be trouble. By the end of their journey, Brianna came to her senses and wanted to go back and finish out her term. I connect with Cameron because he never wanted Brianna to get hurt and he did whatever he could do to protect her and make sure she was ok. This doesn't remind me of anything happening right now because I haven't heard of someone kayaking during a hurricane. My favorite part of the book is when Cameron didn't see Brianna and went to go find her out at sea. He wouldn't know what to do if he ever lost her. The author could have done the ending a lot better other than ending it at their houses even before they head to the camp. I recommend this book because it is fun to read and it has some adventures in it.

[Sam]

I thought that it was a very compelling story. It was also very fun to read.

[Cambrie]

The book Breaking Point is a good short book. It really get to the point of things and makes everything so clear. This book is about a boy, Cameron is his name. He got in trouble at school for selling drugs so they put him in a detention center, but in the summer they offered him a camp he could go to. The camp was going to try to help the troubled kids. He was not sure about it in the first place but he ended up going. He thought it would be better than staying there all summer long. At the camp he meets this girl named Brianna. She also was a troubled girl, for selling drugs at her school. Cameron really liked Brianna, she can convince him to do anything. She really wanted to get out of there and she asked Cameron if he would go with. They make a big play together and was not the brights idea.
The world has a lot of troubled kids like that and camps to go to, it is a good idea but the camps should be better and locked down if they are really that easy to get out of. The charters both had bad home lives and I think that is why they were so troubled and don’t care what happens to them. They have bad temper and they don’t care. This book reminds me of orange is the new black it is on Netflix because it is a jail show and i can just imagine how they felt and what they have to go through.
The best part of this book is when the climate happens it really gets you off your set and makes you want to keep reading. The author could have done better about explaining the parts where it would just skip were something big happened because it a short book they can’t explain every little thing. At the beginning of every chapter something would happen but he/she could have explained it more. I would not mind if this book was a little bit bigger and they would explain more and make it longer I would totally read it. The thing that the author if good was making it really suspenseful I would recommend this book to everyone because it is really good and if you are looking for something short this is the book for you.