As his Margaret A Edward’s award indicates, Neal Shusterman’s books make readers think about themselves, issues of society and how they fit into them. Break to You will prompt thoughts about day to day choices and their long term implications, what constitutes love, rehabilitation and restoration, and the condition of the juvenile detention system. Adriana and Jon have been placed into Compass, a detention facility that claims to be unique and to foster personal responsibility in its residents, at different times and for different reasons. Each young person must learn to cope with the hierarchies and systems within Compass without losing their sense of self or possibly their life. Adriana pores out her thoughts in a journal that is discovered in its library shelf hiding place by Jon and the two begin a back and forth exchange of thoughts that is life-changing for both. Despite their completion separation by gender, the honesty shared between them has led to much deeper feelings than they imagined possible and a plan is hatched to meet face to face that requires cooperation between many who might ordinarily not work together well. Shusterman and his two co-authors include powerful poetry and ballad formats to deepen the emotional impact of the couple’s words and the trio skillfully creates a community that functions despite its total dysfunction. Guards and other employees are portrayed as a mix of capable, kind, cruel and sometimes as devious as the juveniles they are charged with protecting and reintegrating into society. Those incarcerated are also a mixed bag of seemingly hardened criminals as well as those who are repentant and desirous of change. In just a few short chapters, I found myself invested in the futures of many of them and my stomach churned as I anticipated the possible outcomes for the couple and their cohorts. Twists abound and, in the end, loose ends are tied up, but not necessarily in the fairy tale way we wish life would allow. Profanity is not as extreme as one would expect in a juvenile detention unit, however, about 3/4 through there are 3 F-bombs dropped in fairly quick succession. No use of God’s name in vain, no sexual activity between inmates and while there is violence simmering or exploding almost always, it is never graphic or gore-filled. Highly recommended for grades 8 and up.

A great book to be read by young adults, as it touches upon topics that would open their eyes to the justice system, responsibilities and relationships. I find myself to be very intrigued and I couldn't stop reading. Will consider picking up books by the authors!

Book:
BREAK TO YOU by Neil Shusterman, Michelle Knowlden, and Debra Young (thank you Netgalley and Harper Collins Children's Books for the arc---July 2)

Review
5⭐
I'm at a loss for words. If you look at my page, you see mysteries and thrillers, but I love a sappy, lovey-dovey story. BREAK TO YOU is just that. BREAK TO YOU is unlike anything I've read. I was entranced in the relationship between Adriana and Jon, and even though they knew each other only though journaling, I was rooting for them. And I loved when everyone else was rooting for them, minus a few characters.
BREAK TO YOU pulled at my heart strings. As I was reading the last few chapters, I couldn't help but tear up when I learned what came of not only Jon but Adriana, Silas, Monessa, Jolene, etc. BREAK TO YOU was just a beautiful story, and it's definitely worth checking out in July.

What I Liked About It:
*the emotions
*the story itself

I generally love anything Shusterman, and I loved this book as well. The unusual setting and storyline hooked me immediately. Rarely do you find well-rounded main characters, especially those that are represented as intelligent and well-read.

I would have liked to have found out what happened to the remaining characters in the book. A lot of unanswered questions at the end about the remaining characters I loved to hate.

This book needs to be on the radar of anyone who loves YA literature. Adriana and Jon’s story is one of justice and injustice, trust and betrayal, and, above all, finding hope in the midst of despair.

The first half and the last quarter of this book are really good. The section where the characters are just saying they are in love with each other is not quite as good and the pacing slows down in this part.

Adrianna chose the wrong friend and that landed her in Compass Juvenile Detention for 7 months. She needs to keep her head down and her nose clean so she can go home to a father that has distanced himself from her since her mother die and the step-mother, Lana, she really can't stand. But, no life is perfect, right? At least she gets to keep the journal she uses to write down all her thoughts and feelings that help keep her sane - until she loses it in the library. By sheer luck, or by the imaginative machinations of Jon on the boy's side of the detention center, she finds her journal to discover that Jon has written back to her. Now, they write back and forth, sharing everything they can, and through the journal pages, they will do anything to be able to meet. Jon, who made a mistake out of grief and anger, will be 18 and probably be going to an adult prison soon, so they have to find a way meet before her leaves. Plans and partnerships are set into motion, but there are always things, evil things and broken promises, that challenge the plan. The book focuses on the realities of being in a juvenile detention center, something Shusterman, Young, and Knowlden researched extensively and wanted to show the harsh truths of what goes on in those centers. Adrianna and Jon shine through the words they share together and how they maneuver through the friendships and partnerships they have made inside Compass. Give to fans of crime, drama, and Neal Shusterman books.

Adriana is just a girl who made some bad choices and bad friends and ends up paying for her mistakes in a juvenile detention center.
This book was pretty slow but very real.

This book is heartwrenching and sweet and action-packed and - on top of everything else- an incisive look at the juvenile justice system. I stayed up way too late to finish this book because I had to know what happened with Adriana and Jon. This is at times an epistolary novel, and at others a romance, and at others a mystery/thriller, and altogether, it's magical. I will be strongly recommending this to high school students, especially reluctant readers, or those interested in a closer look at the criminal justice system.

Excellent premise as always by Neal. Was a five star until the ending but it just didn’t give me what I was looking for.

As a huge fan of Neal Shusterman, I am quick to snatch up anything that pops up from him, and I certainly wasn't surprised how he, yet again, took something so heavy and managed to make it beautiful and educational. At first, I wasn't quite sure which direction this was going, but it gracefully tackled issues with racism and inequity in the educational and judicial system that readers of any age could take lessons from. I couldn't put this one down, and I know I won't be the only one. Thanks so much for this ARC!