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Reviews
Break These Rules: 35 YA Authors on Speaking Up, Standing Out, and Being Yourself by Luke Reynolds
orangerful's review against another edition
Just read the story by A.S. King (because I am a little obsessed at the moment). It was good, especially for a collection like this, which is truly for teens turning into young adults trying to figure out how the world works.
chinacatsun76's review against another edition
1.0
Read my review on Reading Lark: http://readinglark.blogspot.com/2013/11/book-review-break-these-rules.html
As a whole, Break These Rules was a bit of a disappointment. I wanted to love it, I really did, but most of the essays just weren't for me. The majority of the 35 YAL authors included in this collection, some whom I recognized by name and most of whom I didn't, try too hard and just don't hit the balance of inspiration and real-life honesty that I was hoping for when I received the book.
The essays in this collection are targeted at teens and they encourage them to go break traditional and long-standing rules, to question the norm, and to go against the status quo - all things I encourage both my own children and my teenage students on a regular basis. One overwhelming message running throughout the collection was the idea to be still, embrace calm, and be bored - ideas that are important and should be encouraged in everyone. There is also the standard advice to not worry about your appearance, not second guess yourself, and to trust your judgement and your instincts. So my disappointment isn't with the subject matter, but the collection misses the mark in its delivery of the message.
The authors' life experiences range from speech disorders to trips across Africa to hospital ER visits to being flat chested, but many of them had the same tone and I just can't get on board with that. A parent committing suicide and finding a note that says a boy thinks you're not pretty both have an impact, don't get me wrong, but not to the same degree or in the same way. This collection presents the authors' experiences without giving appropriate deference to more weighty topics or having the perspective to acknowledge differences between a one day struggle and a life altering event. And because of this, many of the authors seem like they are reaching and trying too hard to connect with their YA audience.
There are some good pieces in the collection (see Final Word for my favorite), but for me, unfortunately the essays I had difficulty getting through outweighed the entertaining and/or inspiring ones. It just goes to show that being able to write fiction doesn't always translate into nonfiction or memoir writing.
Final Word: Not really for me, though there are a few gems hidden in its pages that are worth finding (like Matthew Quick's "It's Better To Be Safe Than Sorry").
As a whole, Break These Rules was a bit of a disappointment. I wanted to love it, I really did, but most of the essays just weren't for me. The majority of the 35 YAL authors included in this collection, some whom I recognized by name and most of whom I didn't, try too hard and just don't hit the balance of inspiration and real-life honesty that I was hoping for when I received the book.
The essays in this collection are targeted at teens and they encourage them to go break traditional and long-standing rules, to question the norm, and to go against the status quo - all things I encourage both my own children and my teenage students on a regular basis. One overwhelming message running throughout the collection was the idea to be still, embrace calm, and be bored - ideas that are important and should be encouraged in everyone. There is also the standard advice to not worry about your appearance, not second guess yourself, and to trust your judgement and your instincts. So my disappointment isn't with the subject matter, but the collection misses the mark in its delivery of the message.
The authors' life experiences range from speech disorders to trips across Africa to hospital ER visits to being flat chested, but many of them had the same tone and I just can't get on board with that. A parent committing suicide and finding a note that says a boy thinks you're not pretty both have an impact, don't get me wrong, but not to the same degree or in the same way. This collection presents the authors' experiences without giving appropriate deference to more weighty topics or having the perspective to acknowledge differences between a one day struggle and a life altering event. And because of this, many of the authors seem like they are reaching and trying too hard to connect with their YA audience.
There are some good pieces in the collection (see Final Word for my favorite), but for me, unfortunately the essays I had difficulty getting through outweighed the entertaining and/or inspiring ones. It just goes to show that being able to write fiction doesn't always translate into nonfiction or memoir writing.
Final Word: Not really for me, though there are a few gems hidden in its pages that are worth finding (like Matthew Quick's "It's Better To Be Safe Than Sorry").
backonthealex's review against another edition
2.0
When my Kiddo was growing up, I taught her to always be herself, and to question anything that doesn't feel right to her. Both of these must have sunk in somewhat because she is her own person to a pretty good degree (would that 100% your own person were attainable). I think that some like this was the goal of this book, but it didn't quite make it. First of all, there was too much lecturing, too often the well meaning advise came across as a command, not a bit of sage advice, and in the end, the message was "be like me and be different." See what's wrong with that?
This was a well-meaning, well-intentioned book of life stories by well-known authors that kids would recognize. Some of their true life stories are good, but the whole book could have been done better. I don't think this would hold the interest of most kids today.
This was a well-meaning, well-intentioned book of life stories by well-known authors that kids would recognize. Some of their true life stories are good, but the whole book could have been done better. I don't think this would hold the interest of most kids today.
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