WOW! What a hard look at a hard life.

BONES WORTH BREAKING, a memoir by David Martinez is a very sad look at the years and lives lost to drug use/abuse. (So TRIGGER WARNING there.)

Mixed race (Black and Latino) brothers David and Mike have had a really hard upbringing. They moved around A LOT and were always the new kids who didn’t fit in. But they had each other, always. They were each other’s best friend. From high jinx in the neighborhood to using drugs in a back alley, the two of them stuck together through thick and thin. Stints in rehab for Mike and a two year mission for David eventually led them both right back to using, which ultimately ended with Mike dying in prison and David finally getting clean. But the journey…

There were times in this one where I was literally bawling and had to walk away to collect myself. It was so powerful to me as I learned how both boys struggled with their religious doctrines and their realities. Issues of race, class, identities, abandonment, sexual abuse, is it any wonder that the boys ended up where the did? While I strongly felt bad for the author, I cheered his perseverance and rejoiced in his determination to better his life. I also loved the analogy of skateboarding. Having raised two boys crazy about skateboarding themselves, I know the hours upon hours it takes to master a kick flip or an Ollie or a 180 or 360. The time, the dogged perseverance, and yes, the broken bones are all worth it in the when you get it just right. I am glad that Mr. Martinez has ‘landed it’ and pray that his new journey as an educator will benefit today’s youth. Congratulations Mr. Martinez! A JOB WELL DONE!

Thank you to NetGalley and Farrar, Straus &Giroux for this ARC opportunity. All opinions are my own and given voluntarily.

I really loved this. I think this book will stick with me for a long time. I’m writing this with tears in my eyes because I feel so much heartache for not only the author and his brother, but also how their experiences show up similarly for so many people.

It’s truly a great example of why I love memoirs and what can come out of a person sharing their story!! I also thought the writing was strong. Nonlinear storytelling doesn’t always work for me, but I thought it fit this perfectly and made the ending hit even harder.

Writing was strong, but not enough to keep me invested fully. Tragic story, but codifying themes get stretched.