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As We Break
Dear Reader,
Sean Pierce will tell you his story, but know that it is the story of many people. While fictional, the characters and events are rooted in true stories. These are the moments and words of friends. These are the moments and words of strangers met in passing. These are my moments and words, some I regret and some I would never change. They all taught me who I wanted to be.
I want to thank those that endured past the breaking point to become the phenomenal people that inspired this story. I want to thank those that helped me find my pieces during my own experiences. I want to thank those that broke me. Because of you, I broke free from the part of me that was trying to break other people, and I put myself back together into someone stronger.
And I want to thank you for your support. The world breaks you down. People break you down. Being broken breaks you down. Some people put themselves back together, and some don't. Some become better than they ever were before because falling apart breaks what has been really hurting them the whole time. What everybody does at some point--what Sean can't stop for himself or those around him--is break. Just remember that we all break, and that if we are brave enough to put ourselves back together, we can become more beautiful than we ever were before.
E.E. Martin
Sean Pierce will tell you his story, but know that it is the story of many people. While fictional, the characters and events are rooted in true stories. These are the moments and words of friends. These are the moments and words of strangers met in passing. These are my moments and words, some I regret and some I would never change. They all taught me who I wanted to be.
I want to thank those that endured past the breaking point to become the phenomenal people that inspired this story. I want to thank those that helped me find my pieces during my own experiences. I want to thank those that broke me. Because of you, I broke free from the part of me that was trying to break other people, and I put myself back together into someone stronger.
And I want to thank you for your support. The world breaks you down. People break you down. Being broken breaks you down. Some people put themselves back together, and some don't. Some become better than they ever were before because falling apart breaks what has been really hurting them the whole time. What everybody does at some point--what Sean can't stop for himself or those around him--is break. Just remember that we all break, and that if we are brave enough to put ourselves back together, we can become more beautiful than we ever were before.
E.E. Martin
224 pages, Paperback
First published February 27, 2014
23 people are currently reading
201 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 11, 2014
This could be one of the most moving books I've ever read. If you've read anything else by this author, this is so different than any of the others. While they're good, they're more fantasy styled while this is realistic. It focuses on Sean Pierce. He moves to Kentucky to live with his father with whom he has a rocky relationship because his dad is gay. This premise, which is established early on in the book, hooked me immediately. The book is open and honest, to the point where sometimes it's smacking you in the face with your own thoughts. Sean is rough and even difficult to like initially because of his bitterness, but he isn't whiny like you might expect in a high school setting. What was so intriguing about his somewhat unlikable character is how layered and complex he was, which made him more accessible and likable. He's not just a bitter teenager. He's a young man that's gone through rough treatment because of how people view his father, and he places a lot of blame on the wrong people because of it. He tries to be apathetic, which is its own great layer to the story. Then as he starts to see what's going on in the lives of those around him, he can't help but feel and start thinking about the world. The book is heavy and deals with more than just the gay story line. In fact, I forgot about that concept at multiple times. It's also not just an after school special either. There are scenes that are hilarious, some are gritty, some are emotionally toiling, and some are absolutely gorgeous. It's definitely for mature readers as some of the content is deep, and younger readers might not understand or might not be mature enough to handle some parts. I recommend to anyone that enjoys a book inspired by real life or books that have something real important to say.
December 9, 2014
This was eye opening and touching. Every character feels like someone I know or knew. I saw myself in some of them. The story is incredible and hits home and is relevant to what is going on in the world today. It is a heavy book, so keep that in mind. It is also difficult to put down. It is a fast read. I suggest reading it when you have a good chunk of time and when you are ready to dive into a serious but beautiful story.
June 10, 2020
As We Break is a poignant story of an angry teenager forced to confront his personal prejudices and to help others in conquering real-life demons. A heart-wrenching journey with two resonating messages: Love is love, in all its forms; and evil hides behind many masks. Martin’s authentic voice and compelling cast of characters instantly engages and captivates the reader’s attention. As soon as I finished this, I moved onto As We Burn. LOVED BOTH. Highly recommend and will definitely read more from this author.
April 23, 2021
Loving this author!
I read As We Burn first and it may be my favorite book. This one is good. It kept me reading with interest. Then it grabbed me and I could not put it down!
Moving to a small Kentucky town because of family issues, Sean sees so much bigotry, dishonesty, fake friendships, that he becomes immune to feelings. It takes an unimaginable incident with the person he loves the most to wake him up.
I loved this book. I loved the characters, the way the author moved me through the story. I felt myself totally wrung out at times, and cheering out loud at others.
I think I underlined more good quotes in this book than anything I remember reading in a long time.
It's very good. Read this one before As We Burn because the characters move on.
I loved them both.
I read As We Burn first and it may be my favorite book. This one is good. It kept me reading with interest. Then it grabbed me and I could not put it down!
Moving to a small Kentucky town because of family issues, Sean sees so much bigotry, dishonesty, fake friendships, that he becomes immune to feelings. It takes an unimaginable incident with the person he loves the most to wake him up.
I loved this book. I loved the characters, the way the author moved me through the story. I felt myself totally wrung out at times, and cheering out loud at others.
I think I underlined more good quotes in this book than anything I remember reading in a long time.
It's very good. Read this one before As We Burn because the characters move on.
I loved them both.
August 5, 2015
This was a moving story. It managed to be heartbreaking and uplifting. It is a heavier book for he most part though it is broken up with some lighter and beautiful moments. Some people might not like some of the angles this takes, but that is what is great about the story. It is brave and raw and honest. There is some adult language and some hard scenes to get your heart through, but it is all worth it. It has a beautiful message. Would reccommend to adults and mature teenagers to really appreciate what the book is saying.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews