What do you think?
Rate this book
Shattered Streams
Meet Avery,
whose sole mission this summer is to blend in and lay low. Being the new girl in town is daunting enough. But when a silent burden from her childhood shapes her every interaction, the clean slate gives Avery a glimpse into what her life might have looked like had she never been controlled by her past. Surrounded by unsuspecting friends and a potential romance, the scenic landscape of this lakeside town becomes both a source of solace and a testing ground for her deepest fears. The idyllic façade shatters when an impulsive decision to impress a crush reveals her paralyzing fear.
Enter Dalton,
a charming and charismatic companion who becomes Avery’s guiding light. Together, they confront the ghosts of their pasts, unveiling layers of vulnerability and resilience. Just as their connection deepens, Avery discovers that Dalton, too, harbors a secret. Doubt creeps in, and she must decide whether she has what it takes to overcome her fears, redefine her narrative, and dive into the unknown.
One leap is all it takes.
whose sole mission this summer is to blend in and lay low. Being the new girl in town is daunting enough. But when a silent burden from her childhood shapes her every interaction, the clean slate gives Avery a glimpse into what her life might have looked like had she never been controlled by her past. Surrounded by unsuspecting friends and a potential romance, the scenic landscape of this lakeside town becomes both a source of solace and a testing ground for her deepest fears. The idyllic façade shatters when an impulsive decision to impress a crush reveals her paralyzing fear.
Enter Dalton,
a charming and charismatic companion who becomes Avery’s guiding light. Together, they confront the ghosts of their pasts, unveiling layers of vulnerability and resilience. Just as their connection deepens, Avery discovers that Dalton, too, harbors a secret. Doubt creeps in, and she must decide whether she has what it takes to overcome her fears, redefine her narrative, and dive into the unknown.
One leap is all it takes.
292 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 2, 2024
5 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 23, 2024
Shattered Streams is a wonderful story and a quick read. It really engulfs you into the summer romance between the two main characters as they focus on overcoming the past and facing their fears. I highly recommend it!
June 25, 2025
Shattered Streams by Kelly Pollard is a young adult novel that tackles the hard realities of life. We all have felt the emotions of grief, pain, and trauma at some point in our lives. Pollard does a commendable job sharing how these emotions and hard realities affect not just adults but teens as well.
Avery is a seventeen-year-old girl on the cusp of adulthood. She chooses to spend the summer with her big brother Jay at his home in Nelson, Idaho, while her mother has an extended honeymoon with her new husband. Avery is excited, but she still has nightmares, panic attacks, and anxiety tied to the events that led to her father’s death. While she is in Nelson, Avery gets a job, meets new people, and makes the bold decision to take back her life.
Pollard’s writing style is what makes Shattered Streams so good. She quickly gives readers context and keeps on moving. Her descriptions of how Avery is thinking or feeling about something are vividly displayed on the page. Her character development is on point. She portrays the sibling relationship with amusing banter and raw conversations. Avery’s friends represent all the decisions teenagers face today. Pollard excellently weaves in the challenging decisions of where to go to college, what internship to take, or should I jump into the water from the dock.
Shattered Streams is not just a feel-good read. Pollard boldly takes on the task of sharing how teens are affected by grief and pain. She brazenly describes how teens can become scarred by events in their childhood. Avery’s father died when she was younger, but at seventeen she is still grieving, feeling responsible, and missing out on opportunities she can never get back.
Pollard shares Avery’s journey with readers to give us hope and strength. She reminds readers that we are never alone. There is someone else who has or is going through the same things. We can be optimistic that life can bring joy amidst the pain we experience.
Shattered Streams by Kelly Pollard is a heartfelt, coming-of-age story that teens and adults alike can appreciate. I recommend this one to every person who has ever felt like their life was stolen from them because of loss, pain, depression, or anxiety. Your hope for healing will be renewed.
Avery is a seventeen-year-old girl on the cusp of adulthood. She chooses to spend the summer with her big brother Jay at his home in Nelson, Idaho, while her mother has an extended honeymoon with her new husband. Avery is excited, but she still has nightmares, panic attacks, and anxiety tied to the events that led to her father’s death. While she is in Nelson, Avery gets a job, meets new people, and makes the bold decision to take back her life.
Pollard’s writing style is what makes Shattered Streams so good. She quickly gives readers context and keeps on moving. Her descriptions of how Avery is thinking or feeling about something are vividly displayed on the page. Her character development is on point. She portrays the sibling relationship with amusing banter and raw conversations. Avery’s friends represent all the decisions teenagers face today. Pollard excellently weaves in the challenging decisions of where to go to college, what internship to take, or should I jump into the water from the dock.
Shattered Streams is not just a feel-good read. Pollard boldly takes on the task of sharing how teens are affected by grief and pain. She brazenly describes how teens can become scarred by events in their childhood. Avery’s father died when she was younger, but at seventeen she is still grieving, feeling responsible, and missing out on opportunities she can never get back.
Pollard shares Avery’s journey with readers to give us hope and strength. She reminds readers that we are never alone. There is someone else who has or is going through the same things. We can be optimistic that life can bring joy amidst the pain we experience.
Shattered Streams by Kelly Pollard is a heartfelt, coming-of-age story that teens and adults alike can appreciate. I recommend this one to every person who has ever felt like their life was stolen from them because of loss, pain, depression, or anxiety. Your hope for healing will be renewed.
June 4, 2024
Shattered Streams is an intentionally written novel that explores the value of friendships, courage, and healing. It is a heartwarming story centered on overcoming fears while building new relationships and embracing the growth that accompanies healing from trauma. A delightful and captivating read, this novel transports readers to life at the lake, making it a perfect summer escape.
April 28, 2024
Such a cute book! If you’re looking for something in the YA genre filled with friendships and overcoming fears, this your book.
February 9, 2025
One of the best books I’ve read! Miss Pollard is a brilliant writer and I cannot wait for her next novel! Amazing!!
April 16, 2024
I read "Shattered Streams" in just a few days! The story engaged me right from the start, and I was drawn to keep reading - I wanted to know how the main character's conflict would resolve. Pollard's dialogue was so realistic; I felt like I was revisiting my 17-year-old self and the sweet friends I was lucky enough to surround myself with at that pivotal point in my life. Also, the overall writing style was full of beautiful descriptions and lovely metaphors. A terrific story, with characters that readers will care about, all told through beautiful writing. A FANTASTIC debut novel.
April 15, 2024
This beautiful book immerses you in the summery backdrop of an idyllic lakeside town, where a tender romance grows between two teens haunted by their own secrets. You’ll love the soulful blend of fun banter and deep connection in this warm-hearted story as you root for Avery to find the strength to confront her past, helped by her new friends and her kindred spirit, Dalton. A poignant story about letting go of tragedy to embrace love and life.
July 18, 2024
I loved this book! It's been a great story to read over the summer and took me back to so many teenage memories. Beautifully written and easy to read. The concept of overcoming fear to get the most from life is incredibly valuable. It's portrayed here in a way YA readers can enjoy and see themselves in.
February 14, 2026
What an amazing book! I really liked the love story and all of the characters especially Avery! I couldn’t put the book down!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews