In Honor of Broken Things

by Paul Acampora

Three unlikely friends become partners in heartbreak and hope during a middle school pottery class in this powerful, poignant novel--perfect for fans of Gordon Korman and Lynda Mullaly Hunt.

At West Beacon Middle School, eighth graders Oscar Villanueva, Ellie Baptiste, and Noah Wright become unlikely friends during Introduction to Clay class. Oscar, a football star, just lost his little sister to cancer. Ellie's been dragged away from Philadelphia by her single mom to a new life in West Beacon, a tiny Pennsylvania coal town that's smaller than Ellie's old school. Noah's spent his whole life as a homeschooler and just started West Beacon Middle School as a result of his parents' train wreck of a divorce. Through art, football, failure, faith, and trust, the friends help one another to piece things back together again. In true friendship, they also discover that some injuries may never heal, some things can never be unbroken--and that's okay too.

Genres: Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Friendship, Family, Fiction, Divorce, Grief

208 pages, Hardcover

Published March 8, 2022

About the author

I was born in Bristol, Connecticut and grew up surrounded by an extended mob of parents, sister, grandparents, cousins, neighborhood kids, rabbits, dogs, nurses, engineers and others that, at various times, included musicians, Italians, Canadians, cancer survivors, gardeners, chicken killers, hair dressers, poker players, checker cheaters, pony riders, shopkeepers, factory workers, elementary school teachers, auto mechanics, rock and roll fanatics, massage therapists, several people who may or may not be dead, and a crowd of other miscellaneous wheeler-dealers. I went to school at St. Joseph Elementary School and St. Paul Catholic High School. I was a voracious reader as a kid. I still am. I attended the University of Notre Dame (GO IRISH!) where, thanks to my friend John Costello and his father, Dr. Donald Costello, I earned a degree in American Studies despite the fact that the only American places I’d ever visited were summer vacations on a beach at Rhode Island and occasional day trips around New England to watch jai alia, greyhound racing or the trotters with my grandfather who, with my Uncle Joe, taught me how to ride and drive a sulky behind my very own pony named Misty (that's me and Misty at left). After college, I wandered around the country for a few years. Despite what my mother might say, I did not steal her 1973 Buick Electra. Despite what my friends might say, the car was the color of summer gold. Not piss yellow. I've lived in every state that begins with the letter U or a C. I was a Student Conservation Association volunteer for awhile giving tours at the Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry in southeast Utah. I spent a winter schlepping very expensive bags around the Rocky Mountains for guests of the Snowmass Lodging Company. As a Holy Cross Associate volunteer, I lived with a half-dozen friends in a tiny house in the San Francisco Bay area where we tried to be good people. I stayed in California to teach kindergarten at St. Patrick Elementary school in West Oakland. I got married (yahoo!), and my wife and I lived in “the heart of the bay,” Hayward, California for nearly ten years. When we decided to move, we put names of favorite places in a paper bag and pulled out a slip that said PENNSYLVANIA. So that’s where we live now. These days, I remain married to my best friend. I have a son and a daughter who keep me on my toes. I’ve got a day job and a kayak and tons of books that I love to read. I write early in the morning and late at night. My favorite place in the world is wherever my wife and kids are. I am especially happy when that place is next to a lake or in France. My favorite word in the dictionary is Naugahyde. I’ve been a vegetarian for about 20 years. My favorite non-home-cooked meal is cinnamon-raisin French toast plus black coffee at the Karlton Café in Quakertown, Pennsylvania. For the future, I hope my family and friends are safe, healthy and happy and that I will write dozens and dozens of new stories and novels, each one better than the last.

Reviews

[Reading_ Tamishly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Started out good but the writing isn’t good.

[Stephanie Fitzgerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good middle-grade read, about people who pull together to help each other out in the midst of losses and life-changes. Very interesting facts about pottery-making, and a lot of detail about football games!

[Paul Acampora · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought it was pretty good. :)

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Remember this one when you need books about "overcoming adversity," "death, grief, & loss," "unlikely friendships," and "teamwork."

The setting is a small town in the coal mining region of Pennsylvania; the characters are three people who meet in a mixed 8th/9th-grade pottery class.

Oscar, a Mexican-American football prodigy is the hero of the school, but the story opens just as his little sister has died from cancer. He's not by any means done grieving, but it's time to return to school. His strong, silent exterior of course is only the surface of his deep emotions.

In the office, on his first day back, Oscar meets Noah, who's just arriving in public school after a decade of homeschooling on the outskirts of town with his parents. Noah's parents have split up, and his flighty mom is now nearly non-functional, and her craft-ceramics business is failing - so Noah craves school structure. His brainy affect is just the surface of his supportive, engaging insight.

The two of them are plopped into the middle of Mr. Martin's pottery class, where they meet Riley, who has recently arrived in town with her mother - from the big city of Philadelphia, which is the only home Riley has known, even though her mom is originally from West Beacon, and Riley's uncle is the pastor at the local church. Riley's snappy, big-city nonchalance is the surface covering for her self-consciousness and also self-awareness.

It's pretty obvious the point of the story is that they will all get along and help one another, so readers won't have trouble believing that they each have gut instincts that reinforce that path...and it's satisfying how it all comes together.

There are some very sad parts like when Oscar finds a message his little sister graffitied under their dining table before she died, and some very funny parts like when the old Polish woman at the church says she is "filled with arthritis and sciatica, but people ring that (door)bell like I'm some Olympic superstar waiting to hear a starter pistol so I can drop everything and race to the front door...", and some heartwarming parts like when the friends all work together to help.

The name of the character who takes first-person duty in each chapter is given as the chapter heading - but I would have liked a little more differentiation between their voices. There was a lot of dialogue, so every chapter actually seemed like all of them talking. Nevertheless, readers very early on will be cheering for each of them, and seeing their different reactions and offerings as valuable in their own ways.

Readers might enjoy this if they enjoyed Harbor Me & Before the Ever After, The Shape of Thunder, Just Like That, The Girl Who Threw Butterflies, After Ever After, or Ida B. . . and Her Plans to Maximize Fun, Avoid Disaster, and (Possibly) Save the World.

One thing I especially liked was the way good-intentioned people messed up in ways that seriously harmed others...and then they acknowledged the harm they caused, apologized, and sincerely tried to make amends.

NOTE: The book jacket and the summary from the publisher say the third character's name is "Ellie" but in the book her name is clearly Riley.

[Phil J]

I read about 20 pages. This reads like a slightly more ambitious version of a Gordon Korman novel. The first chapter was an okay story about a child with terminal cancer. I'm kind of over terminal disease in kid's lit, but this was well-paced. The second chapter was about a homeschooled kid coming to middle school that felt A LOT like Schooled. The third and fourth chapters were "high school misfits with problems" type chapters that would've fit in well in one of Korman's other books like The Unteachables. All the chapters were going for a bit more depth than your typical Korman experience.

This book is okay and I wouldn't mind finishing it sometime.

[LS Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most enjoyable books I have read in 2022. I have already sent recommendations to a number of readers who I think will enjoy this. The humor is perfect for an upper elementary/lower mg reader. The topic (loss, healing, and changes of all kinds) is relatable to all. I think this would make a perfect read aloud and discussion book. I've been dwelling on the title since I started reading the book and now a couple days after finishing it. I loved this one.

[Danielle Wood · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book about friendship and going through hard things really tugged at my heart strings.

[Missy Camilleri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Touching middle grade story with some PA Dutch references (Funny Cake gets a reference).

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes friends are found in the least expected places or times. Cute read!

[Nichole Batluck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the off beat personalities and references to Catholicism.
Focus on friendship and tough times without romance- loved it!

[Shella · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a story that I will continue to ponder for awhile. It has such a strong themes, especially about learning from mistakes or the brokenness in our lives. Adults will glean as much as younger readers. The author was really adept at writing about very sad events while still making you laugh. The friendships developed are very authentic. I also appreciated that this book is written for all audiences, did not agenda push, and kept the story line very authentic and focused for modern readers. The ending did not just tie up with a pretty bow, but was still hopeful. All the characters' problems are not solved. It also had a unique setting for realistic fiction. It also comes in at less than 200 pages package, which is very much appreciated. I struggle to find really meaningful stories for older readers that don't have the reading stamina for over 300 pages. The analogies drawn from pottery making was spot on. I look forward to reading this with my 5th graders this coming year. One of my top picks from 2022 so far.

[Abbey Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Acampora, a prolific storyteller, has one of his best hits with “In Honor of Broken Things”. Brought together by a series of unfortunate events, teenagers Noah, Oscar, and Riley band together to combat difficult times as they navigate a new school year together. Noah’s parents are getting a divorce and his mother is depressed, Oscar’s sister dies of cancer and his football career is in jeopardy. Riley’s mom moves her to town after being robbed at gunpoint and she does not feel like she fits in anywhere.

With a kooky priest, a dopey art teacher, and their parents trying as best their can to support the kids, this is a lovable cast that is a great reminder for young readers that life isn’t perfect. In fact, things are very messy - and sometimes they get broken. But it’s the people we surround ourselves with to pick up the pieces that is the most important thing.

[Jessica Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Honor of Broken Things is hands-down one of my favorite middle-grade books this year. It has heart. It has humor. And it asks readers to look beyond themselves.

I was first introduced to Paul Acampora’s writing in his 2020 novel, Danny Constantino’s First (And Maybe Last?) Date. It was a breath of fresh air.

In Honor of Broken Things features the same comforting style. You immediately feel at ease in his world, and you just want to enjoy the ride.

And enjoy the ride you will.

In Honor of Broken Things feels almost like a letter to his readers, assuring them that like his characters, broken things can be beautiful.

Each of the characters are well-developed and feel as if they’re already your friends. The pacing is strong, and though Acampora tackles difficult topics, the book never feels preachy or too easy.

In Honor of Broken Things is a quick read that you’ll want to pick up more than once. I read an e-arc and plan on purchasing a copy of my own to share with my daughter when she’s old enough.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

In the West Beacon suburb of Philadelphia, we meet three disaparate students at the combined junior/senior high, all of whom have their own problems. Oscar's younger sister Carmen has just died after a long bout with cancer, and he's having trouble going back to school. He's a good football player, and the school has lost a couple of games in his absence, so the principal is hoping he will return to the field soon. Noah is just starting at the school after years of being homeschooled, in the wake of his father moving out. He is much smaller than Oscar, but excels in all of his academics. Riley is also new to the school, having left inner city Philadelphia after her mother, a waitress, was held up at gunpoint at work. The two have moved to be near Riley's uncle, who is the priest at the local Catholic church that Oscar and Noah attend. The three meet in an art class, where they are working with clay. Noah's parents are both potters and ran a business out of their garage, which is struggling since his mother is not dealing well with the breakup of her marriage. Oscar has a surprisingly deft hand, and Riley struggles with the most basic details, but they all try hard to come up with a project for a school showcase. They also find support from each other at a time when they desperately need it, and their paths cross in odd ways. Riley's mother, while fighting with Riley, manages to hit Oscar with her car in the parking lot of school. Oscar has run out of class, where they were making Day of the Dead decorations, and he just couldn't handle it. Noah blames himself for the accident, since he was yelling at Oscar. Oscar isn't badly hurt, but cannot play football for a while, and it is eventually discovered that a more lasting injury to his hip that will keep him from playing was caused by the sport itself. Since football was Oscar's ticket to college and away from the pretzel factory where his parents work, he has to recalibrate his dreams. Luckily, he has new friends to help him.
Strengths: West Beacon is so well described that I felt like I was right there! I loved the school, and especially the church and Riley's uncle. I don't know how many students spend time in church these days, but I spent a LOT of time at church in middle school. Bonus points that the characters were all at the older end of middle grade. There was just enough input from the adults in the book, from the understanding school secretary and art teacher to the four struggling parents of the children. The creation of art and the theory behind it is something we don't see often in middle grade books and was a good inclusion, and having football in any book is a plus. Oscar's grief over his sister is well portrayed-- it's very fresh, and he's struggling, but he is trying to continue on with his life while trying to keep memories of Carmen alive.
Weaknesses: There are two sides to the argument about characters with trauma-- one is that students who are experiencing trauma themselves will be glad to see these experiences, and the other side is that students experiencing trauma might need a more pleasant break from reality. This is important, since so many people right now are feeling the effects of trauma. I tend toward the side of a pleasant break, but I know that I am in the minority with this view.
What I really think: One of my recent favorites was Acampora's Danny Constantino's First Date, and my students ask more for upbeat books like that one. Confusion is Nothing New, How to Avoid Extinction, and Rachel Spinelli Punched Me in the Face are all titles every middle school library should have. This is a bit more along the lines of I Kill the Mockingbird, which teachers and librarians adore, but I wasn't as keen on. Part of my lukewarm feeling about this might be because on the day I read it, Oscar's deceased sister joined four deceased parents (one whose death was graphically depicted) and two other siblings who had passed away in the books I read. It was a lot for one Sunday!

[Cheryl Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

“No matter what we do, this vase will always be broken. Eventually, it’s going to fall apart. But that doesn’t mean we can’t try to make it beautiful for a little while.” Three characters cross paths after life has broken them. They let each other in and support each other in big and small ways throughout the story. I love this metaphor for life because it acknowledges that life is going to be hard at times, but the good parts are worth the pain. In this slim novel, the characters are a little under-developed, but their snappy dialogue made me smile and even laugh out loud a few times. Their realizations left me to tears more than once. The mention of Kowlanek’s Kielbasy Shop made me a full on fan (this is a real business that truly sells the world’s best kielbasa and every kielbasa-related product you can imagine and if they ever go out of business it will be an epic tragedy). This book provides a model for selfless friendship and its healing powers while also encouraging readers to try things outside their comfort zones and not be afraid of failing. Overall, this is a wonderful middle-grade novel.

[L · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a really sweet book with an approachable but real way of depicting grief and trauma and how people, particularly kids, respond to them. It's a little too short, and emotions/events are moved through very quickly. I think it would be much more powerful if it were 50-100 pages longer so the reader really got time to sit with the emotions the characters are feeling, and if there was more detail put into the three of them becoming friends. It makes sense that Riley and Noah don't have any friends at school since they're new, but it's weird that Oscar doesn't have any interactions with other kids even though the whole school knows him as their star football player. Did he not have any friends before? Even fake or surface level friendships? Whether he did or not, this is kinda something that one would mention, no? I appreciate that this isn't a 'popular kid learns to be nice to new/weird/loner kids' story, because that's been done to death, but it still needed a little more substance to be really moving. It was still quite lovely anyway, though.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Maybe because all of my creativity and artistic interest was stomped out of me in Catholic school. But who among us doesn't wish that we were a natural at pottery, like Oscar is. [Is his last name an homage to the Steelers player?] Acampora skillfully tells the tale of 3 kids whose lives are the broken thing. Yes, the friendship between the star football player and the two new kids (Ellie and Noah) is unlikely in real life, but somehow not beyond the stretch of the imagination here. Because so much of this story centers around pottery, I thought it would involve the Japanese practice of kintsugi: something broken and mended with gold is an even stronger work of art. But no, here Mr. Martin keeps a wrongly-proportioned dragon mug "in honor of broken things. . . . They remind us that getting it wrong today does not mean we won't get it right tomorrow." He also says "You generally learn more from doing things wrong than doing them right." p. 171

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this one to my family. There were parts that I would have given 4 stars, but other parts I just felt like it was trying too much to teach a lesson and didn’t feel natural.
I did like that this book didn’t shy away from religion, Catholicism specifically, even if it isn’t my religion, I appreciate the faith in God aspect. I like the message of being or feeling broken and beautiful things can still come out of that brokenness. I like that these kids all supported and helped each other when they were down.
It is told from three kids viewpoints: Oscar the football player whose little sister just died, Riley who just moved from Philadelphia after her mom was robbed at gunpoint to live closer to her uncle a priest at the local church, and Noah the homeschooler just starting school after his parents divorce. They become friends in their beginning clay class.

[Jan Raspen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am really drawn to stories about kids working through grief, and also books about misfit kids. This book has both of those themes. I listened to this book, and the narrators were all great, plus (!) it took place in a Pennsylvania coal town, not unlike where I grew up in NEPA. (I think the author had me at pierogi and halushki.)
If there was something I had to say that kept me from giving this five stars, I think it was the teacher--my God, he was so clueless! As a teacher myself, I hope I am not that obtuse when dealing with students' emotions.
The three friends all help each other deal with grief and uncertainty, and even though they're going through different circumstances with different outcomes, everything felt very natural in the book, from their friendship to their family situations.

[Teena Bee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this one. It is a tale of finding acceptance in life and the strength to move on.

The story of friendship that follows 3 children who are all struggling to regain control of their lives.
Oscar is recovering from the death of his sister and an injury that is preventing him from pursuing the future he always planned.
Riley is trying to accept her new life in a small town after growing up in the city while harboring anger and uncertainty towards her mother of why her life had to change.
Noah is trying to navigate life after his father unexpectedly left and his mother is having difficulties caring for them both in the wake.

The novel throws in bits of Catholicism without shoving it down your throat. The story is not a religious one, and the successes the kids overcome in the end are not credited to a higher being, but themselves and those around them.

[Jamie Henry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oscar, Riley, and Noah meet in art class at their junior-senior school, each coming from a different family tragedy. Oscar's sister passed away from cancer 1o days before he returns to school, Noah's father left his family and his mother is lost in her heartbreak, and Riley's anxiety from witnessing a crime help pull them together to become fast friends. The book is told from each of the character's perspectives, rotating each chapter, and helps reveal more of their personalities, families, and the issues they are dealing with. Though the book might have been lost in the grief, pain, and fear, the character's personalities and that of those they surround themselves with help keep the pages turning with the pottery from art class a metaphor for their lives and sorrows. An interesting contemporary novel that tackles difficult subjects in an approachable way.

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and these characters. I like that the author didn't shy away from covering some really difficult topics. Death, divorce and moving as a result of a traumatic event: those are all pretty heavy. Would the three main characters really form a bond and become friends in real life? It's a small town so I feel like its a possibility. I suspended a little disbelief to lean into the more important parts of the story. Oscar had my heart from the start and I could also relate to Noah. Riley was definitely the brash and funny friend I would've wanted in school. The pressures of middle school are represented fairly well. Switching off between the three characters could've been smoother but each had a distinct voice. Acampora is becoming one of my new favorite realistic fiction authors. I also liked "Confusion is Nothing New."

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was recommended to me by our local librarian and I was a little skeptical. (Too many newish young adult books have agendas that I don't want to be reading about). I was happily surprised and would highly recommend this to middle school (and above) age kids. It is the story of 3 friends, going through various struggles, and learning the joys and strengths of good friends.

Favorite quotes:
"In honor of broken things....they remind us that getting it wrong today does not mean we won't get it right tomorrow."

"No matter what we do, this vase will always be broken. Eventually, it's going to fall apart. But that doesn't mean we can't try to make it beautiful for a little while."

[John Krause · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mostly vignettes alternating among the three protagonists' points-of-view. Not a coherent story.
All three protagonists have the same voice. They all sound the same. No unique voice. Sometimes it is hard to tell who the point-of-view character is.
Dialogue in fiction is not supposed to be exactly how real people talk, but it should still be true-to-life. The characters are 14-year-old kids, yet they talk like sophisticated adults. That doesn't ring realistic.
There are some funny parts. The coach's weird sayings are hilarious.
This may be an interesting story to anyone who has suffered a traumatic loss, but there's not much of a story here.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Then one day you realize that the last tragedy was getting you ready for the next one. If you're lucky, you end up thankful for it all." (-pg. 128)

"Accidents happen. Sometimes they are catastrophes. Sometimes they bring great gifts and beauty. Often, they are all of the above. In art and in life, accidents and surprises will shape us." (-pg. 157)

"You generally learn more from doing things wrong than doing them right. Broken things remind us that getting it wrong today does not mean we won't get it right tomorrow." (-pg. 171)

[Emily Runk · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a sweet little book, although it felt like it lacked some depth. At about 200 pages long with a clear-cut plot and dialogue, this would be a good choice for upper elementary readers. Being from Pennsylvania (and reading it for a PA Reader Nominee), I enjoyed the coal country setting and could clearly picture the town in my mind as many young readers in PA might be able to as well. The characters were enjoyable, but I feel like there was more to explore. Overall, however, this is a good book for young readers about friendship and what it means to be human.

[Eyera the Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very boring and basic. As someone who was recommended this stated as a middle school grade level novel, I was lied to. This book is literally a book that you would give a third grade bully to try to teach them about the power of friendship. As a high schooler, I'm underwhelmed. This would be a good novel, just not at my age range. I would recommend this to anyone from 1st-3rd grade. It's a decent book for them, but for people my age? Nope.

[Sbwisni · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little on the nose at times, but okay for the audience it was written for. I still found some meaningful quotes and emotional connections to the story as an adult. Quick read! It’s making me want to finish binging All American 🙃

Nice one to read with your kids or classroom students to promote discussion about a variety of things.

[KATHRYNE STEVENS · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a sweet character driven novel. The conflict each character faced felt real, though they were all addressed in a way that was accessible for younger readers. I did not feel like all three characters were developed equally. The football player seemed to have the most depth and growth, while the girl isn't memorable in the slightest.

[Keith Harrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely story of friendship, this book is warm, funny, and sad all at the same time. Each of the main characters have a distinct, relatable identity, and their relationship with one another feels authentic. The messiness and joys of life are intertwined in a heartwarming tale. I finished the book wanting to know what would come next for this trio of teenagers.