Not many books make me cry but this one did. Keep the tissues handy when you read this one. Set in post Vietnam War America, All the Broken Pieces by Ann E. Burg is an amazing historical fiction novel written entirely in verse. Matt Pin is amerasian, his father is a US soldier and his mother is Vietnamese. When the US pulled out of Vietnam at the end of the war some of these children were rescued and airlifted out by the departing US soldiers. Matt was given up by his mother to have a better life in the United States. Feelings about the war run high in his new hometown and he is bullied and called names by fellow students. Matt has two skills which he hopes will help him fit in; his rocket pitching arm and ability to play the piano. But Matt also has tremendous guilt about the disabled little brother he left behind in Vietnam and his 12 year-old mind has decided that his mother must not have loved him if she gave him up so easily.
The author's use of figurative language enables the reader to feel as if he/she is there with Matt. This beautifully written and intense novel is a great way to begin to understand this era of US history and how discrimination affects individuals and communities.
The author's use of figurative language enables the reader to feel as if he/she is there with Matt. This beautifully written and intense novel is a great way to begin to understand this era of US history and how discrimination affects individuals and communities.
RSS Feed