Printz Book (1): Why We Broke Up

Handler, D. (2011). Why We Broke Up. New York, NY: Little Brown & Co. Minerva (Min) Green is upset at her recent break up with Ed Slaterton. She has a box full of items from their relationship that she decides to leave on Ed’s porch. But before she leaves the box, she writes him a letter, explaining each item that she saved in the box and why they were significant to the relationship. Consequently, with each item explained, she realizes how they should not have been together in the first place. She realizes that the friendships with her friends, especially the one with Al, is more significant than what she had with Ed. Al cared about her and Lauren had her back to the end.  This story is most appropriate for students aged 14 and up. The story is basically a letter written by a girlfriend with a wounded heart to her boyfriend. We never find out Ed’s perspective and whether or not the break up affected him. She brings up topics that older students could relate to better than a pre-teen. However, because the story’s basis is an informal letter, an English teacher would probably have fun with this. A lesson could be devised on writing style and format.This book meets the criteria of social and emotional development. Teenagers sometimes have a hard time dealing with conflicts in relationships. Through readings like this, they are able to associate emotions of the characters in the story with their own.