Why We Broke Up

A 2012 Printz Honor Book

Written by Daniel Handler, Art by Maira Kalman

Min and Ed were a hot item, although no one could figure out why the basketball star would be going out with the ‘artsy’ girl. Em tells how it started, what happened in the middle and, of course, why it ended, all in a long letter to Ed which she puts in her box of treasures from their short-lived relationship. Each chapter starts with a picture of an object and then the explanation of its importance. I really enjoyed this book, I stayed up late because the picture for the next chapter would hook my interest. It is probably more sophisticated than our normal high school students would talk and think. It is a wonderful chronicle of how a relationship that seems so perfect can be anything but. I like the honesty of the characters, and I loved Min’s passion for old movies. I would definitely suggest this for high school only, too much honesty with the sex for a younger crowd, although the moral is hard to miss.

Review by Kaydean Judy, Granger High Media Center
Rating: ★★★★✩ (4 stars)
Interest Level: Grades 10-12

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Why We Broke Up
Written by Daniel Handler, Art by Maira Kalman
Little, Brown
354 pages
Release Date: December 27, 2011
ISBN: 9780316127257 (hardcover)

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3 thoughts on “Why We Broke Up”

  1. I read the great reviews for this book and thought I would give it a try. After about 10 pages I gave up– and I NEVER give up on a book. It was just a bunch of rambling about stuff that I never cared about.
    I would love to hear other opinions of it.

  2. Haven’t read this one yet, but I might pick it up if it calls to me among the hundreds of other books I already have on my list to read.

    I do just need to give my little trivia note here that Daniel Handler, under his pen name Lemony Snicket, is author of the Series of Unfortunate Events.

  3. The video for Why We Broke Up is hilarious! I knew the author was kind of quirky from reading the Lemon Snicket novels, but his Basic Eight was so heavy I didn’t realize he had such a fun sense of humor. Hope he writes more, I will be watching!

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