Why We Broke Up

Why We Broke Up

Written by: Daniel Handler

Art by: Maira Kalman

Published by: Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group

Reading Level: Ages 15 and up

Why We Broke Up is a Printz Honor Book award recipient.  This book is about a girl named Min, short for Minerva who is breaking up with her now ex boyfriend Ed.  The book is all told in a letter form.  What the readers are reading is what Min is writing to Ed explaining why they broke up.  She has gathered a box full of all of Ed’s things, or things that remind her of Ed that she does not want anymore.  Then she calls her friend Al who is going to take her to drop off the box along with the letter she is currently writing.  In the letter she is writing Min is taking out one item at a time out of the box she is taking back to Ed, and explaining where she got it, the events that took place when she got it, why she doesn’t want it anymore, and most importantly why they broke up.  Throughout the letter Min tells Ed exactly why it is they broke up.   Within the book there are illustrations of all the items that Min is returning.  I loved the drawings that were in the books.  They made the book that much better.  It helped me visualize better what it was that she was returning.  I also loved the page type that was used.  It was very glossy and nice.  This book is perfect for teen girls to read.  I feel that most of them will be able to relate to this story.  Especially the girls who have gone out with a guy who is completely wrong for them and nothing like them.  This book has many topics that teenagers will be able to relate to.  Some topics include, love, heartbreak, relationships, friendships, sex for the first time, and more.  Although some boys may like this book, I see girls enjoying it more.  I would only recommend this book for high school students and anyone older.