Beauty of the Broken is such an appropriate title for this intense story.

The blurb pretty much sums up this book:

'In this lyrical, heart-wrenching story about a forbidden first love, a teen seeks the courage to care for another girl despite her small town’s bigotry and her father’s violent threats.'

except its so much more than that! Mara seems so real (and completely and utterly bizarre) and she is going through hell. Her father is a monster, she has mixed feeling about whether she should love someone like him, or feel ashamed. Her mother isn't much better but is trying to make alright a terrible situation. Her brother is beyond complicated, with so many mixed emotions its hard to contemplate. Her home is filled with complete whack-jobs. Bigots, the worst kind of whack-jobs.

This story was painful, cringe worthy and occasionally disgusting but it was also beautiful, soulful and filled with such passion that it was breath taking. Beauty of the broken is taking the whole YA genre to a new extreme. Its all about discovery, Not just about who is Mara, but her sexuality, her morals, her values, her will, her beliefs and religion, what God means to her verses what he means to everyone else. It was a truly beautiful and completely bizarre story. The other characters aren't just page fillers either, they have their own unique and interesting histories and opinions, their diverse, some are wonderful and some are cruel.
(I loved Henry. I was worried about him being a cliche character, but he wasn't he was such an individual, and even if he was cliche, his dad alone would of separated him into a category of his own!! what a quirky trait, i wonder how the author thought of it?)

The writing was incredible. absolutely beautify. Lyrical i believe would be a more apt term.

The only complaint i would have (besides the very weird beginning which almost made me put the book down - i recommend reading past it, it gets better) is the open ending. Yea i can picture what would happen afterwards, but i would have preferred the author to write something, letting us know. I'm hoping for a happy ending, but
with poor Mara's luck who bloody knows?


3.5 stars. I almost feel like i should maybe give 4, this book is worth 4 stars, but for me i believe 3.5 is a better fit, maybe because of the topic's covered? it was painful to read, but I'm glad it was covered. It's such authentic topic and was pictured so vividly in this book, something i believe teenagers will appreciate while reading. something they may be able (unfortunately) be able to relate to in certain families. Hopefully it won't make them feel so alone.
The book was also weird as fuck on occasion as well, which may contribute to my rating. I feel 4 stars should go to an enjoyable read, something that made me feel uplifted. This was great, but uplifting it is not.
I'll be looking out for more book written by Tawni Waters, who is an incredible author. Kudos for doing such a fantastic job, where most people would shy away from such topics.

A surprisingly addictive read for such a depressing book.

Mara lived in a small town, living a life that’s challenging and gray. She hangs out with her older brother Iggy a lot but that all changes one day when another one of daddy’s alcoholic-enraged beatings finally lands Iggy in the hospital. Iggy’s not the same and the family waits for his return, from where… they don’t know. The wait is painful for Mara but when mother arrives in daddy’s overalls, swearing and reeking of alcohol Mara gets scared. Daddy has finally broken Iggy for good. The feelings and opinions I have at this point in the book are all over the place. The author informs us about the family’s history which allows me to see the different viewpoints of all the characters but for this tragic event to happen, I am beside myself. Daddy has such strong viewpoints which he stands firmly behind and Mara is scared to cross the line as she knows to do so will bear great consequences. Father himself acts like a preacher with his talk and his “righteous” chatter and the preacher himself, daddy worships. At school there are a few girls who rule the roost, a preacher’s son who feels he knows the gospel like the back of his hand and then a few new students who get introduced into the mix, this combination with the family is just enough to fill the book. There’s a new boy from the Indian reservation who arrives with his long braids which the school children immediately start to pick on. Henry, there was something about his attitude, he just hung in there and how their relationship continued throughout the book, was something. Xylia, she arrived at the school a few months ago and Mara is taken back by this girls presence. Mara doesn’t know how to describe her feelings at first as she knows this is a girl and that complicates things. It’s a line that Mara must walk to find out the answer to the question that’s on her mind, her secret that she holds. It’s a small town with loud-people and with Mara she has a strong father who likes his bottle. Mara realizes that it is the alcohol that speaks in her parents, for there are two sides to her parents.   Those happy moments, she must speak to them before the alcohol hits them. Those rare moments when their blood runs free.