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The Shattering
"If you want to find out who murdered your brother, follow me."
Keri, Janna, and Sione have one thing in common: Their older brothers are dead. Each death was ruled a suicide, but there were no notes, no warnings, and no explanations.
So they've worked out a theory: Their brothers were murdered - and weren't the only victims.
As the search for the serial killer goes on, mysterious forces are unearthed and suspicion is cast on the those the three trust most. When secrets shatter around them, can they save the next victim? Or will they become victims themselves?
This supernatural thriller from award-winning author Karen Healey (Guardian of the Dead) teems with suspense, loss, revenge, and magic.
Keri, Janna, and Sione have one thing in common: Their older brothers are dead. Each death was ruled a suicide, but there were no notes, no warnings, and no explanations.
So they've worked out a theory: Their brothers were murdered - and weren't the only victims.
As the search for the serial killer goes on, mysterious forces are unearthed and suspicion is cast on the those the three trust most. When secrets shatter around them, can they save the next victim? Or will they become victims themselves?
This supernatural thriller from award-winning author Karen Healey (Guardian of the Dead) teems with suspense, loss, revenge, and magic.
311 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2011
About the author
Karen Healey
27 books428 followersKaren Healey lives in Christchurch, New Zealand, where she jars stubborn scenes loose by wandering along the river.
She writes speculative fiction and magical romance for young adults and adults, including the award winning When We Wake duology and Guardian of the Dead. Her recent books include Bespoke & Bespelled and (as Kate Healey) the Olympus Inc. series.
She writes speculative fiction and magical romance for young adults and adults, including the award winning When We Wake duology and Guardian of the Dead. Her recent books include Bespoke & Bespelled and (as Kate Healey) the Olympus Inc. series.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 271 reviews
April 18, 2012
I loved Karen Healey's Guardian of the Dead for its strong female protagonist, its use of Maori mythology and its authentic New Zealand setting. The Shattering is a less substantial novel. It's a supernatural thriller, based on the efforts of a trio of teenagers to prove that their elder brothers' deaths were not suicide, but murders by a serial killer. Keri, Janna and Sione are interesting, wel-rounded characters (the story is mainly Keri's but chapters aternate between the three points of view.) Karen Healey is expert at capturing the voice of each of her young protagonists. I like the very natural depiction of New Zealand's multicultural society, in which Maori Keri, Pacific Islander Sione and pakeha Janna are each subject to the expectations of their particular family and culture.
There's a romantic element in the book but it's subtle and avoids the obvious. Young adult readers will enjoy the relationships between the three main characters and the way they grapple with both ordinary and extraordinary dilemmas. The Shattering is more lightweight than Guardian of the Dead, but I found it well crafted and engaging. 3.25 stars.
There's a romantic element in the book but it's subtle and avoids the obvious. Young adult readers will enjoy the relationships between the three main characters and the way they grapple with both ordinary and extraordinary dilemmas. The Shattering is more lightweight than Guardian of the Dead, but I found it well crafted and engaging. 3.25 stars.
March 7, 2017
The plot itself is a bit cheesy, of the "small town with a secret" persuasion. A bit Wicker Man. But there is a lot to like. There's a likable cast of characters, and appreciate that the three main characters are processing similar griefs differently. I like the slight twist at the end, even if I did see it coming in advance, and I like that there are lasting effects for everyone involved. There's enough detail here to keep this from being interchangeable D list horror, but a healthy appreciation of the same would be helpful.
August 30, 2011
This is an author to watch out for - her first book, Guardians of the Dead, a retelling of what I think were Maori myths (certainly no myths/stories that I'd grown up with) was a great read, and this one shows she's getting better at her craft.
Again the setting is New Zealand, so while there is some familiarity there's just enough difference from other white/native-or-minority books (I'm thinking of all the Hispanic characters I've met in books set in the American SouthWest/West). She doesn't belabor the relationships between Pacific Islanders, Maori and whites in this book, as the characters mingle well and the main tension is between Summertown residents and tourists.
Keri (and it's probably only me that will link that name to that of Keriwen, the "heroine" of The Bone People, one of my favorite novels, also set in New Zealand) is still in shock from her older brother's suicide when her former bff Janna suggests that perhaps it wasn't suicide but murder. Sceptical but hopeful, Keri agrees to meet with her and Sione to talk about this possibility (apparently Janna's older brother Schulyer's suicide started a pattern of one male per year killing himself, the link being age and that they were in Summertown for New Year's Eve). The three start to investigate and discover something's Not Quite Right with the town, and some of the townspeople. This is Nancy Drew mixed with Witches of Eastwick (or worse) time, but not in a way that will make the reader roll their eyes. While some of the reveals were obvious, there were enough surprises to bump this up to a five.
It's great that the author has provided information about suicide hotlines and a glossary of Maori and Samoan terms, but I would also have liked links to some of the mythologyn and rituals referenced here. Perhaps on her website?
ARC provided by publisher.
Again the setting is New Zealand, so while there is some familiarity there's just enough difference from other white/native-or-minority books (I'm thinking of all the Hispanic characters I've met in books set in the American SouthWest/West). She doesn't belabor the relationships between Pacific Islanders, Maori and whites in this book, as the characters mingle well and the main tension is between Summertown residents and tourists.
Keri (and it's probably only me that will link that name to that of Keriwen, the "heroine" of The Bone People, one of my favorite novels, also set in New Zealand) is still in shock from her older brother's suicide when her former bff Janna suggests that perhaps it wasn't suicide but murder. Sceptical but hopeful, Keri agrees to meet with her and Sione to talk about this possibility (apparently Janna's older brother Schulyer's suicide started a pattern of one male per year killing himself, the link being age and that they were in Summertown for New Year's Eve). The three start to investigate and discover something's Not Quite Right with the town, and some of the townspeople. This is Nancy Drew mixed with Witches of Eastwick (or worse) time, but not in a way that will make the reader roll their eyes. While some of the reveals were obvious, there were enough surprises to bump this up to a five.
It's great that the author has provided information about suicide hotlines and a glossary of Maori and Samoan terms, but I would also have liked links to some of the mythologyn and rituals referenced here. Perhaps on her website?
ARC provided by publisher.
January 29, 2019
Finished reading: January 29th 2019
“The world shouldn't work like this; that was why I made plans, to be ready for every eventuality. Adding the impossible to the things I had t obe prepared for was really unfair.”
P.S. Find more of my reviews here.
August 12, 2013
The writing itself is good and the voices of the three different POV characters were distinctive and appropriately teenagery. I really liked Keri and Janna. Keri is smart and strong, and Janna is cool and fun (and not nearly as shallow as she thinks she is). And I thought it was interesting that the author chose to write Keri's chapters in first person but Janna's and Sione's chapters in third person. (You might have noticed that I didn't mention I liked Sione. I wanted to--really I did. But he came off as weak and whiny.)
Description and such was also good. I definitely could picture the characters very well, and some of the setting. Not all, though--I found parts confusing and difficult to discern exactly how/where the action took place. But I thought it was way cool to have the story set in New Zealand!
The concept was very cool and unique. The idea of teen boys being used in a ritual and their murders being covered up as suicides. But the execution fell flat for me. There were so many conclusions drawn by the characters that didn't have any real merit. It was like, oh, that guy showed up and asked how we were, I bet he's in on it! Connections just came too neat and tidy, and while I don't want to reveal spoilers, the villain was found out too early in the story and the "confrontation" was all too easy.
Finally what really bothered me most about the book was the way it muddied everything by trying to tackle too many hot-button issues at once. A paranormal murder mystery that touches on: racism, classism, homosexuality, bullying, suicide, various religious/anti-religious types (Christianity, wicca, and atheism), teen sex...It felt like a stew of after-school specials all rolled up in a Twilight Zone episode. I much prefer books that focus on *one* issue and explore it fully.
All in all, I can't say I loved the book, but it did keep me curious enough to finish it. (I will also warn that this is not a book that will be favored by many conservatives.)
Description and such was also good. I definitely could picture the characters very well, and some of the setting. Not all, though--I found parts confusing and difficult to discern exactly how/where the action took place. But I thought it was way cool to have the story set in New Zealand!
The concept was very cool and unique. The idea of teen boys being used in a ritual and their murders being covered up as suicides. But the execution fell flat for me. There were so many conclusions drawn by the characters that didn't have any real merit. It was like, oh, that guy showed up and asked how we were, I bet he's in on it! Connections just came too neat and tidy, and while I don't want to reveal spoilers, the villain was found out too early in the story and the "confrontation" was all too easy.
Finally what really bothered me most about the book was the way it muddied everything by trying to tackle too many hot-button issues at once. A paranormal murder mystery that touches on: racism, classism, homosexuality, bullying, suicide, various religious/anti-religious types (Christianity, wicca, and atheism), teen sex...It felt like a stew of after-school specials all rolled up in a Twilight Zone episode. I much prefer books that focus on *one* issue and explore it fully.
All in all, I can't say I loved the book, but it did keep me curious enough to finish it. (I will also warn that this is not a book that will be favored by many conservatives.)
February 17, 2012
I was lukewarm on Karen Healey’s award-winning debut novel, Guardian of the Dead, but after reading THE SHATTERING’s eerie and absorbing first chapter, I was willing to give her books a second try. Unfortunately, THE SHATTERING just confirmed what I was already worried about: that there is something “off” with either me or with Healey’s writing, resulting in a disconnect between her stories and me.
As I mentioned, THE SHATTERING starts off strong. The cast of characters is diverse, and each main character has their own worries and distinct personality. You’re not quite sure what’s going on in Summerton, and so you read on, your heart fluttering to know. It’s a great setup, and all the elements are there to make it a good story: the suspense, the characters’ personal investment, the tensions between the characters, and the hint of a threat beneath it all.
Unfortunately, THE SHATTERING was ultimately a frustrating read for me. Oftentimes I felt like I was singlehandedly trying to pull a stubborn mule and his cart up an unending hill, that was how much the plot dragged at times. A large part of THE SHATTERING felt simply like the characters were running around, not finding out much. Once again, the problem I had with Guardian of the Dead arose here: I felt like the ultimate setup and revelation of the suspense did not justify all the “effort” that the characters—and readers—invested into discovering it. In short, I liked the characters, but wanted them to be part of a different story: either one that wasn’t so ambitious in its supernatural elements (so perhaps a contemporary novel, which poses its own awe-inspiring complexities), or one that did succeed at achieving its supernatural ambitions (i.e. an urban fantasy that is more fantasy than urban).
THE SHATTERING will find its audience in fans of uncommon elements of speculative fiction. It is far from bad, but it just didn’t have the special something, that readerly investment, that I crave in my books.
As I mentioned, THE SHATTERING starts off strong. The cast of characters is diverse, and each main character has their own worries and distinct personality. You’re not quite sure what’s going on in Summerton, and so you read on, your heart fluttering to know. It’s a great setup, and all the elements are there to make it a good story: the suspense, the characters’ personal investment, the tensions between the characters, and the hint of a threat beneath it all.
Unfortunately, THE SHATTERING was ultimately a frustrating read for me. Oftentimes I felt like I was singlehandedly trying to pull a stubborn mule and his cart up an unending hill, that was how much the plot dragged at times. A large part of THE SHATTERING felt simply like the characters were running around, not finding out much. Once again, the problem I had with Guardian of the Dead arose here: I felt like the ultimate setup and revelation of the suspense did not justify all the “effort” that the characters—and readers—invested into discovering it. In short, I liked the characters, but wanted them to be part of a different story: either one that wasn’t so ambitious in its supernatural elements (so perhaps a contemporary novel, which poses its own awe-inspiring complexities), or one that did succeed at achieving its supernatural ambitions (i.e. an urban fantasy that is more fantasy than urban).
THE SHATTERING will find its audience in fans of uncommon elements of speculative fiction. It is far from bad, but it just didn’t have the special something, that readerly investment, that I crave in my books.
July 11, 2012
I highly enjoyed this teenage drama/mystery with a supernatural edge. The town of Summerton had me enchanted from the start - a West Coast town where it doesn't rain? Certainly, there did seem something suspicious about it. It may be a fictitious place, but it reminded me rather of the small NZ country township where I grew up, Golden Bay. The characters are well developed, and showcase the ethnic diversity of New Zealand without any of them being a cliche. Healey develops her characters caringly, giving them distinctive personalities and traits, making them well rounded people that you could imagine hanging out with (or not, as the case may be). The story flowed at a goodly pace, with me figuring out what was going on approximately half a page before one of the characters jumped to the same conclusion. I laughed at the bits that were funny, cringed at the bits that were painful or uncomfortable, and felt my heart crumble just a little bit at a certain point nearing the end. Thank you Karen, and I'm sorry it took me so long to read this one.
August 26, 2011
Originally posted on The Book Smugglers HERE
Review:
First Impressions:
Ana: Karen Healey’s first book, Guardian of the Dead, took me entirely by surprise last year and it even made its way to my top 10 of 2010. I had been waiting for her sophomore novel ever since and it is with great relief that I say that The Shattering is yet another great book following up on the steps of GoD and featuring an incredible cast of diverse, three dimensional characters who carry the story through with aplomb. I loved it from beginning to ending.
Thea: Like Ana, I too loved Karen Healey’s debut novel, Guardian of the Dead and could not wait to get my hands on this second novel. And, I am thrilled to say that in my humble opinion, The Shattering is a fantastic book that outshines Guardian. With its triad of awesome protagonists, tight plotting, smart supernatural angle, and careful attention to serious issues (like coming out and teenage suicide), The Shattering is a phenomenal book and easily one of my notable, if not favorite, reads of 2011.
On the Plot:
Ana: Welcome to Summerton: the perfect tourist destination with its always sunny weather, stunning scenery and lovely people….until three teenagers realise that there is something wrong about its perfection. Keri’s older brother has just committed suicide leaving her shattered and lost. So when her former childhood friend Janna and out-of-town Sione, whose brothers also apparently committed suicide, tell her that these suicides might be murders, she is keen on investigating further.
In terms of plot, it is easy to guess what is going on in Summertown and anyone even remotely familiar with pagan folklore or horror movies will be able to recognise it. In that sense, the story has a level of familiarity and predictability and on a personal note, this horror trope is not one of my own favourites. This in no way means that the story is not well executed. Quite the contrary: I am a firm believer that even the most familiar of the stories can be well done in the hands of a good writer – which is definitely the case here. Although the overall premise is familiar, the development of the story follows its own original beat, including really surprising twists and turns.
Even though the story of Summerton and what is happening there is what propels the plot forward, this is mostly a character-driven story which is the reason why I loved it so much. It does have paranormal elements but I feel that at its core, The Shattering is one of those rare animals that combine a good, solid Paranormal/Fantasy story with the best of realistic, contemporary YA. As such, it addresses themes such as coming out, diversity, identity, teen suicide, religion, economical problems and much more with considerable finesse – meaning that these issues are incorporated naturally in the story, without any didacticism because the story is set in the real world and the real world is a diverse place. Simple as that – and that is what makes Karen Healey such a winning writer to my eyes.
It is also worth of note that just like Guardian of the Dead, The Shattering is a stand-alone novel. You don’t need to read GoD in order to read The Shattering (but why wouldn’t you? Both these novels are so amazing.).
Thea: In many respects, The Shattering is familiar because it uses a common horror trope for its central conflict – namely, the idyllic small town loaded with dirty secrets, involving dark arts and human sacrifices and the like. This, as Ana says, leads to a certain level of predictability in terms of the story. That said, I happen to love this particular trope – when done well, the creep level is fantastic – and prefer it infinitely to the “girl meets (hot) boy and (sparkly) supernatural ‘dangerous’ stuff happens” trope.1 And, since I’m more predisposed to love the horror trope, it makes sense then that I ate this particular mystery up. Despite the familiarity of the premise, The Shattering is by no means straight-up predictable – there are a few huge twists that truly took me by surprise, and I loved the heartbreaking revelations in this book, especially at the end of the novel. Perhaps what I loved the most about this book was the fact that it actually takes a close, balanced look at some very serious and real issues – teen suicide, coming out, grief, confidence, identity – and handles all of them with the respect and attention they deserve. This, dear readers, is freaking awesome.
From a more general worldbuilding standpoint, as with her prior novel, Karen Healey expertly blends love for New Zealand, as well as Maori tradition and mythology with a more familiar western sensibility (in this case, witchcraft). Beyond that, there’s also an incisive look at the different divides within the country and town of Summerton itself – there are the rich tourists from Auckland and other bigger cities that come to the west coast town for summer, and there are the townies that make their home in Summerton, and of course there is tension between the locals and visitors. I loved that through the three main characters, we see this divide very clearly, as Sione is an “outsider” while Janna and Keri are locals with a different understanding and perspective of their hometown.
Finally, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that my one niggle with Guardian of the Dead (the slight info-dumping that would occur with Maori myth for the benefit of non-New Zealander readers) was very cleverly avoided in this sophomore effort from Ms. Healy. In The Shattering, instead of having periodic, awkward explanations of certain phrases or practices (which would feel completely inauthentic given that all the characters, save one, in this book are from New Zealand), there’s a glossary at the end of the book for readers to peruse.
On the Characters:
Thea: Oh, the CHARACTERS. While I loved the plotting and the central premise of the book, it is the characters that truly bring The Shattering to the next level. Told in alternating narratives from the points of view of the three main characters, Keri, Janna and Sione work together to unravel the mystery of the annual suicides that seem to stem from Summerton. All three characters are fantastic, distinctly detailed individuals, and each of them has his/her own heart-wrenching storyarc. I loved them all.
I loved Sione, the son of a wealthy family who struggles with the memories of a brother he wasn’t truly close to, but robbed of the possibility that they could have been friends in the future. Sione struggles with his feelings of ineptitude, his unrequited crush on Janna, the fact that he is Samoan and has a Samoan name, but is seen as a rich kid, a “potato.”
I loved Janna for her unrestrained ambition, her desire to become her onstage persona Stardust, and leave Summerton behind. I loved that she’s a gorgeous girl, she knows it, and she isn’t afraid to go after the boys she wants – and that she isn’t slut-shamed or portrayed as a somehow inferior character because she likes looking good and getting her way (although OTHER characters make their own ignorant comments, this is to be expected and I think handled very well by the author). I loved that Janna herself struggles with other people seeing her as a joke, her troubles with school, and her dyslexia.
And, most of all, I loved Keri. Keri’s character arc is easily the most heartwrenching, and she is easily my favorite character of the book. Keri’s logic, her calculating mind with its inability to believe that her brother killed himself, her stubbornness, her dedication – I loved it all. Also, it’s really refreshing to read YA books, especially of the supernatural variety, where teens have actual relationships with parents, and I loved the portrayal of Keri’s strained relationship with her mother and father following her brother’s death.
While the three protagonists are flawlessly written, the only thing I wish we could have had more of on the character front was depth to the villains. While I loved that this is not a black and white story where evil villains are punished for their villainy, I wish that there could have been a little more examination of certain characters and their motivations beyond the obvious. That said, this is a very minor niggle in what is otherwise a damn near flawless book.
Ana: And so we have come to the part where I am going to FREAK OUT in this review and let loose the CAPS LOCKS OF LOVE, because just like Thea I loved the characters and they make this book and GODDAMN IT, does Karen Healey have a knack for writing awesome characters or what and why Lord of the Books, why can’t all books have characters like these? Characters that have DEPTH, and multiple dimensions and flaws and FEELINGS and real motivations and AMBITION?
I loved these characters for the very same reasons that Thea stated above and she’s done an awesome job at analysing them – so I won’t repeat the same points. But above all, I loved them because they are so realistically portrayed. One of my greatest pet peeves as a reviewer is how whenever I address problematic aspects of a novel like for example homophobia or slut-shaming that go unchecked within the novel, invariably someone brings up the fact that this is realistic, that these things exist in the world. It may be so, but well, it shouldn’t be like this. Furthermore, they might be realistic portrayals of the “real world”, but they are problematic portrayals nonetheless. More than that though – there are other possible, more complex portrayals of the world that are equally realistic and I love when an author chooses to go that way.
Furthermore, I love that there is a multi-ethnic cast of characters with White, Samoan, Japanese and Maori ancestry which are a matter of distinction but which in no way, limit them to being that and that alone. All characters, even the secondary ones are well defined and although yes, the villains could have their motivations more fleshed out, I loved the fact they were all ordinary people doing evil things for what they thought was the greater good. It doesn’t get more complex than that.
Let us sit and rejoice on the fact that there are books like these around.
Final Thoughts, Observations & Rating:
Ana: I loved The Shattering highly recommend it to readers who love Paranormal/Horror/Fantasy and Contemporary YA. This catapulted Karen Healey to the top of my Awesome Authors list.
Thea: The Shattering is one of those books that gets better upon reflection – the more I think about it, the more I love it. I absolutely recommend this title to everyone, and cannot wait for the next novel from this incredibly talented author.
Review:
First Impressions:
Ana: Karen Healey’s first book, Guardian of the Dead, took me entirely by surprise last year and it even made its way to my top 10 of 2010. I had been waiting for her sophomore novel ever since and it is with great relief that I say that The Shattering is yet another great book following up on the steps of GoD and featuring an incredible cast of diverse, three dimensional characters who carry the story through with aplomb. I loved it from beginning to ending.
Thea: Like Ana, I too loved Karen Healey’s debut novel, Guardian of the Dead and could not wait to get my hands on this second novel. And, I am thrilled to say that in my humble opinion, The Shattering is a fantastic book that outshines Guardian. With its triad of awesome protagonists, tight plotting, smart supernatural angle, and careful attention to serious issues (like coming out and teenage suicide), The Shattering is a phenomenal book and easily one of my notable, if not favorite, reads of 2011.
On the Plot:
Ana: Welcome to Summerton: the perfect tourist destination with its always sunny weather, stunning scenery and lovely people….until three teenagers realise that there is something wrong about its perfection. Keri’s older brother has just committed suicide leaving her shattered and lost. So when her former childhood friend Janna and out-of-town Sione, whose brothers also apparently committed suicide, tell her that these suicides might be murders, she is keen on investigating further.
In terms of plot, it is easy to guess what is going on in Summertown and anyone even remotely familiar with pagan folklore or horror movies will be able to recognise it. In that sense, the story has a level of familiarity and predictability and on a personal note, this horror trope is not one of my own favourites. This in no way means that the story is not well executed. Quite the contrary: I am a firm believer that even the most familiar of the stories can be well done in the hands of a good writer – which is definitely the case here. Although the overall premise is familiar, the development of the story follows its own original beat, including really surprising twists and turns.
Even though the story of Summerton and what is happening there is what propels the plot forward, this is mostly a character-driven story which is the reason why I loved it so much. It does have paranormal elements but I feel that at its core, The Shattering is one of those rare animals that combine a good, solid Paranormal/Fantasy story with the best of realistic, contemporary YA. As such, it addresses themes such as coming out, diversity, identity, teen suicide, religion, economical problems and much more with considerable finesse – meaning that these issues are incorporated naturally in the story, without any didacticism because the story is set in the real world and the real world is a diverse place. Simple as that – and that is what makes Karen Healey such a winning writer to my eyes.
It is also worth of note that just like Guardian of the Dead, The Shattering is a stand-alone novel. You don’t need to read GoD in order to read The Shattering (but why wouldn’t you? Both these novels are so amazing.).
Thea: In many respects, The Shattering is familiar because it uses a common horror trope for its central conflict – namely, the idyllic small town loaded with dirty secrets, involving dark arts and human sacrifices and the like. This, as Ana says, leads to a certain level of predictability in terms of the story. That said, I happen to love this particular trope – when done well, the creep level is fantastic – and prefer it infinitely to the “girl meets (hot) boy and (sparkly) supernatural ‘dangerous’ stuff happens” trope.1 And, since I’m more predisposed to love the horror trope, it makes sense then that I ate this particular mystery up. Despite the familiarity of the premise, The Shattering is by no means straight-up predictable – there are a few huge twists that truly took me by surprise, and I loved the heartbreaking revelations in this book, especially at the end of the novel. Perhaps what I loved the most about this book was the fact that it actually takes a close, balanced look at some very serious and real issues – teen suicide, coming out, grief, confidence, identity – and handles all of them with the respect and attention they deserve. This, dear readers, is freaking awesome.
From a more general worldbuilding standpoint, as with her prior novel, Karen Healey expertly blends love for New Zealand, as well as Maori tradition and mythology with a more familiar western sensibility (in this case, witchcraft). Beyond that, there’s also an incisive look at the different divides within the country and town of Summerton itself – there are the rich tourists from Auckland and other bigger cities that come to the west coast town for summer, and there are the townies that make their home in Summerton, and of course there is tension between the locals and visitors. I loved that through the three main characters, we see this divide very clearly, as Sione is an “outsider” while Janna and Keri are locals with a different understanding and perspective of their hometown.
Finally, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that my one niggle with Guardian of the Dead (the slight info-dumping that would occur with Maori myth for the benefit of non-New Zealander readers) was very cleverly avoided in this sophomore effort from Ms. Healy. In The Shattering, instead of having periodic, awkward explanations of certain phrases or practices (which would feel completely inauthentic given that all the characters, save one, in this book are from New Zealand), there’s a glossary at the end of the book for readers to peruse.
On the Characters:
Thea: Oh, the CHARACTERS. While I loved the plotting and the central premise of the book, it is the characters that truly bring The Shattering to the next level. Told in alternating narratives from the points of view of the three main characters, Keri, Janna and Sione work together to unravel the mystery of the annual suicides that seem to stem from Summerton. All three characters are fantastic, distinctly detailed individuals, and each of them has his/her own heart-wrenching storyarc. I loved them all.
I loved Sione, the son of a wealthy family who struggles with the memories of a brother he wasn’t truly close to, but robbed of the possibility that they could have been friends in the future. Sione struggles with his feelings of ineptitude, his unrequited crush on Janna, the fact that he is Samoan and has a Samoan name, but is seen as a rich kid, a “potato.”
I loved Janna for her unrestrained ambition, her desire to become her onstage persona Stardust, and leave Summerton behind. I loved that she’s a gorgeous girl, she knows it, and she isn’t afraid to go after the boys she wants – and that she isn’t slut-shamed or portrayed as a somehow inferior character because she likes looking good and getting her way (although OTHER characters make their own ignorant comments, this is to be expected and I think handled very well by the author). I loved that Janna herself struggles with other people seeing her as a joke, her troubles with school, and her dyslexia.
And, most of all, I loved Keri. Keri’s character arc is easily the most heartwrenching, and she is easily my favorite character of the book. Keri’s logic, her calculating mind with its inability to believe that her brother killed himself, her stubbornness, her dedication – I loved it all. Also, it’s really refreshing to read YA books, especially of the supernatural variety, where teens have actual relationships with parents, and I loved the portrayal of Keri’s strained relationship with her mother and father following her brother’s death.
While the three protagonists are flawlessly written, the only thing I wish we could have had more of on the character front was depth to the villains. While I loved that this is not a black and white story where evil villains are punished for their villainy, I wish that there could have been a little more examination of certain characters and their motivations beyond the obvious. That said, this is a very minor niggle in what is otherwise a damn near flawless book.
Ana: And so we have come to the part where I am going to FREAK OUT in this review and let loose the CAPS LOCKS OF LOVE, because just like Thea I loved the characters and they make this book and GODDAMN IT, does Karen Healey have a knack for writing awesome characters or what and why Lord of the Books, why can’t all books have characters like these? Characters that have DEPTH, and multiple dimensions and flaws and FEELINGS and real motivations and AMBITION?
I loved these characters for the very same reasons that Thea stated above and she’s done an awesome job at analysing them – so I won’t repeat the same points. But above all, I loved them because they are so realistically portrayed. One of my greatest pet peeves as a reviewer is how whenever I address problematic aspects of a novel like for example homophobia or slut-shaming that go unchecked within the novel, invariably someone brings up the fact that this is realistic, that these things exist in the world. It may be so, but well, it shouldn’t be like this. Furthermore, they might be realistic portrayals of the “real world”, but they are problematic portrayals nonetheless. More than that though – there are other possible, more complex portrayals of the world that are equally realistic and I love when an author chooses to go that way.
Furthermore, I love that there is a multi-ethnic cast of characters with White, Samoan, Japanese and Maori ancestry which are a matter of distinction but which in no way, limit them to being that and that alone. All characters, even the secondary ones are well defined and although yes, the villains could have their motivations more fleshed out, I loved the fact they were all ordinary people doing evil things for what they thought was the greater good. It doesn’t get more complex than that.
Let us sit and rejoice on the fact that there are books like these around.
Final Thoughts, Observations & Rating:
Ana: I loved The Shattering highly recommend it to readers who love Paranormal/Horror/Fantasy and Contemporary YA. This catapulted Karen Healey to the top of my Awesome Authors list.
Thea: The Shattering is one of those books that gets better upon reflection – the more I think about it, the more I love it. I absolutely recommend this title to everyone, and cannot wait for the next novel from this incredibly talented author.
Read
July 17, 2017"I expected that that anxiety would have a stronger influence on her character and the plot; it’s actually fairly peripheral. My concern with this fact is that it would be easy to dismiss Keri’s concerns as her simply “worrying too much” or needing to “lighten up”—admonitions that anyone with anxiety will recognize as dismissive and hurtful. By relegating Keri’s mental illness to the background, Healey potentially minimizes the overwhelming effects that anxiety can have on a sufferer.
However, one of Healey’s strengths as a writer lies in her ability to include diversity without highlighting it in a way that makes it feel Other. In The Shattering, each character’s difference is an integral part of who he or she is, but is never presented as the singular defining trait of the character."
Read contributor Heather McConnell's full review at Disability in Kidlit.
However, one of Healey’s strengths as a writer lies in her ability to include diversity without highlighting it in a way that makes it feel Other. In The Shattering, each character’s difference is an integral part of who he or she is, but is never presented as the singular defining trait of the character."
Read contributor Heather McConnell's full review at Disability in Kidlit.
October 12, 2018
This book was mysterious and had a good climax and the characters fit well with the book but the ending could've been a little better. The falling action and resolution could've tied together better. The beginning was very interesting and got to the point. Sometimes it took a little time to find out the problem. The middle was the most interesting because thats when all the problems started. The character development was good.
January 16, 2020
3.5 stars. The concept + 80% of the execution worked for me, but the tacked-on lesbian storyline (complete with an outing that was glanced over and ultimately resolved in a paragraph or so in the epilogue) left a sour aftertaste. If you have the pagetime for a heterosexual love square, you have time to give your lesbian MC more than crumbs!
March 20, 2012
Last year I read Karen Healey’s debut novel, Guardian of the Dead (which may be known in some circles as “that cover with the creepy eye mask thing”, those circles being my sister and I), and really enjoyed it for its unique combinations of mystery and mythology. Her second novel, The Shattering was one I eagerly anticipated and I’m glad to say it met up to my expectations.
The novel once again takes place in New Zealand, Healey’s forte it seems as well as where she lives. Keri, Janna, and Sione are three completely different teenagers spending the summer in Summerton. (Keri and Janna live there; Sione is a tourist.) They have one connection: all three of their older brothers committed suicide. However, none of their brothers left behind a note, any kind of reason, and didn’t act suicidal. The three decide that they think their brothers were murdered and team up together to figure out just who killed them.
The plot, I think, is a bit genre-bending. For the first half or so of the book the story seems contemporary, rooted in a modern day time period off the New Zealand coast. There are a few mentions of witches – the town of Summertown has a witchery store that Keri’s brother’s girlfriend works at – but for the most it seems to be contemporary. Then about halfway through the story the focus becomes much more based on fantasy and mythology, as Maori mythology is woven through and the witchery shop becomes more prominent. I found this to be a little jarring, especially as it’s such a sudden switch, but it does work well for the story, as our three main characters must slowly begin to believe in magic.
The other qualm I had with the plot was the ending. The climax of the story is a battle and as the story winds down the characters must recover from the battle and move on with their lives. The ending seemed rushed, trying to fit in tons of information in only a few chapters. I wanted it to go slower, especially after such a dramatic battle scene, but the book went quickly and wrapped everything up in a number of rushed pages. Other than those two issues I found the plot to be pretty unique, an interesting take on grief and suicide.
The characters I liked. They were strong and independent, and Keri, Janna, and Sione both had strong, unique voices. Keri was quiet; Janna was a rebel type; and Sione was in the middle, unsure of his identity. These descriptions are of course broad strokes, and they are truly three-dimensional and in-depth characters. The issue I had with the characters was this – how they were written. Keri may be the most central of the characters, the one that holds up the narrative. She’s written in a very likable, strong first person voice. However, Janna and Sione were written in more of a detached third person. I liked Keri’s perspective more – I felt I grew to know her more in first person – and while I enjoyed reading about Janna and Sione, I felt less connected to them in third person. This change of perspectives seemed a bit strange to me, but it confirmed my theory that Keri is the more central of the trio. I really did enjoy all three characters but my opinion was detracted by the writing.
However, the writing is pretty. It’s fluid and sweet, and Healey certainly can show and write how teenagers act and talk. She seems better at first person then third ( Guardian of the Dead is written in first) but her writing was still strong.
I enjoyed the story, and I will stick around for Healey’s other books – she seems to be a strong emerging writer. I had some issues but if you enjoy mythology, fantasy, or contemporary, this would be a good choice for you – and you’ll learn a bit about New Zealand.
Four stars.
The novel once again takes place in New Zealand, Healey’s forte it seems as well as where she lives. Keri, Janna, and Sione are three completely different teenagers spending the summer in Summerton. (Keri and Janna live there; Sione is a tourist.) They have one connection: all three of their older brothers committed suicide. However, none of their brothers left behind a note, any kind of reason, and didn’t act suicidal. The three decide that they think their brothers were murdered and team up together to figure out just who killed them.
The plot, I think, is a bit genre-bending. For the first half or so of the book the story seems contemporary, rooted in a modern day time period off the New Zealand coast. There are a few mentions of witches – the town of Summertown has a witchery store that Keri’s brother’s girlfriend works at – but for the most it seems to be contemporary. Then about halfway through the story the focus becomes much more based on fantasy and mythology, as Maori mythology is woven through and the witchery shop becomes more prominent. I found this to be a little jarring, especially as it’s such a sudden switch, but it does work well for the story, as our three main characters must slowly begin to believe in magic.
The other qualm I had with the plot was the ending. The climax of the story is a battle and as the story winds down the characters must recover from the battle and move on with their lives. The ending seemed rushed, trying to fit in tons of information in only a few chapters. I wanted it to go slower, especially after such a dramatic battle scene, but the book went quickly and wrapped everything up in a number of rushed pages. Other than those two issues I found the plot to be pretty unique, an interesting take on grief and suicide.
The characters I liked. They were strong and independent, and Keri, Janna, and Sione both had strong, unique voices. Keri was quiet; Janna was a rebel type; and Sione was in the middle, unsure of his identity. These descriptions are of course broad strokes, and they are truly three-dimensional and in-depth characters. The issue I had with the characters was this – how they were written. Keri may be the most central of the characters, the one that holds up the narrative. She’s written in a very likable, strong first person voice. However, Janna and Sione were written in more of a detached third person. I liked Keri’s perspective more – I felt I grew to know her more in first person – and while I enjoyed reading about Janna and Sione, I felt less connected to them in third person. This change of perspectives seemed a bit strange to me, but it confirmed my theory that Keri is the more central of the trio. I really did enjoy all three characters but my opinion was detracted by the writing.
However, the writing is pretty. It’s fluid and sweet, and Healey certainly can show and write how teenagers act and talk. She seems better at first person then third ( Guardian of the Dead is written in first) but her writing was still strong.
I enjoyed the story, and I will stick around for Healey’s other books – she seems to be a strong emerging writer. I had some issues but if you enjoy mythology, fantasy, or contemporary, this would be a good choice for you – and you’ll learn a bit about New Zealand.
Four stars.
October 20, 2011
Is this a story about teen suicide? A murder mystery? A dystopian parable? A paranormal tale about plucky young people holding off the forces of evil? A realistic take on coming out of the closet? Well… yes. The Shattering is undoubtedly an engaging read, but there’s a lot of competing themes to contend with.
The story opens with Keri, a Maori girl who has lived her entire life in the idyllic New Zealand seaside hamlet of Summerton. Her older brother Jake has recently committed suicide, leaving her in a frustrated limbo of rage and grief, and straining the bonds of her family. However, her childhood friend Janna comes to her with a shocking assertion: Jake was murdered. At Janna’s request, they meet with an online friend and former summer fling of Janna’s, Sione, who has deduced that not only do the three of them have firstborn older brothers that have committed suicide, but that the trend spirals unsettlingly outward. Each year, a firstborn older brother from somewhere in New Zealand or Australia visits Summerton, and is subsequently reported to have killed themselves shortly afterward. Determined to put an end to what they are convinced is a serial murder spree, the trio bumps up against a force much more powerful and insidious than a lone killer, which weaves through the entire town and is tied to everyone who lives in it.
I didn’t know a whole lot about this one when I started. I guess I was expecting something like Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher after reading the blurb, but the story took a hard left in the first few chapters. Once the pace really started to ramp up, it changed directions again as the neo-Pagan elements came to the fore. Out of nowhere, everything stopped for a minute to ponder on the complexities of being gay in a small town, in an almost completely internal conflict. Finally, after the intense, rapid-fire climax, we slide right back into the suicide motif that started everything off. Quite frankly, this whirlwind of themes is extremely disorienting. All of them fit nioely into the story, adding dimension to the characters and making for a story that is never boring. However, the sheer number of ideas pretty much ensures that none of them get explored very deeply. I left the story feeling vaguely dissatisfied, as a result.
Other than a slight case of multiple personality disorder, though, the book is a fairly engaging read. The upshot of all these themes is that the story remains fresh and occasionally surprising from cover to cover. The character work is great, with a multicultural cast of sympathetic characters that are unapologetically flawed and believable. Healey also did some interesting stuff with the setting, here. For all that the story takes place in a beautiful coastal tourist town, there isn’t much in the way of flowery descriptions. The closest the narrative comes to describing the backdrop is a vague trance that occasionally overcomes Summerton’s visitors, leaving them ensnared by a picturesque beauty that is never really depicted in detail (which makes perfect sense as the plot begins to thicken). Meanwhile, the reader is immersed in various words, rituals, and articles of clothing in the Maori and Samoan cultures, and bombarded with New Zealand and Australian geography. The result is an understated but real and comprehensive introduction to the setting, delivered almost wholly through the somewhat jaded eyes of the characters themselves.
Ultimately, I wasn’t really blown away by this book, but I did enjoy following the various narrative twists and turns. There are a lot of moving parts, but if you aren’t particular about your story focusing on one thing at a time, the parts make for a decently fun read for a wide swath of YA readers.
The story opens with Keri, a Maori girl who has lived her entire life in the idyllic New Zealand seaside hamlet of Summerton. Her older brother Jake has recently committed suicide, leaving her in a frustrated limbo of rage and grief, and straining the bonds of her family. However, her childhood friend Janna comes to her with a shocking assertion: Jake was murdered. At Janna’s request, they meet with an online friend and former summer fling of Janna’s, Sione, who has deduced that not only do the three of them have firstborn older brothers that have committed suicide, but that the trend spirals unsettlingly outward. Each year, a firstborn older brother from somewhere in New Zealand or Australia visits Summerton, and is subsequently reported to have killed themselves shortly afterward. Determined to put an end to what they are convinced is a serial murder spree, the trio bumps up against a force much more powerful and insidious than a lone killer, which weaves through the entire town and is tied to everyone who lives in it.
I didn’t know a whole lot about this one when I started. I guess I was expecting something like Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher after reading the blurb, but the story took a hard left in the first few chapters. Once the pace really started to ramp up, it changed directions again as the neo-Pagan elements came to the fore. Out of nowhere, everything stopped for a minute to ponder on the complexities of being gay in a small town, in an almost completely internal conflict. Finally, after the intense, rapid-fire climax, we slide right back into the suicide motif that started everything off. Quite frankly, this whirlwind of themes is extremely disorienting. All of them fit nioely into the story, adding dimension to the characters and making for a story that is never boring. However, the sheer number of ideas pretty much ensures that none of them get explored very deeply. I left the story feeling vaguely dissatisfied, as a result.
Other than a slight case of multiple personality disorder, though, the book is a fairly engaging read. The upshot of all these themes is that the story remains fresh and occasionally surprising from cover to cover. The character work is great, with a multicultural cast of sympathetic characters that are unapologetically flawed and believable. Healey also did some interesting stuff with the setting, here. For all that the story takes place in a beautiful coastal tourist town, there isn’t much in the way of flowery descriptions. The closest the narrative comes to describing the backdrop is a vague trance that occasionally overcomes Summerton’s visitors, leaving them ensnared by a picturesque beauty that is never really depicted in detail (which makes perfect sense as the plot begins to thicken). Meanwhile, the reader is immersed in various words, rituals, and articles of clothing in the Maori and Samoan cultures, and bombarded with New Zealand and Australian geography. The result is an understated but real and comprehensive introduction to the setting, delivered almost wholly through the somewhat jaded eyes of the characters themselves.
Ultimately, I wasn’t really blown away by this book, but I did enjoy following the various narrative twists and turns. There are a lot of moving parts, but if you aren’t particular about your story focusing on one thing at a time, the parts make for a decently fun read for a wide swath of YA readers.
February 25, 2016
Karen Healey's The Shattering was a gripping paranormal thriller that I just could not put down. The story was involving and the characters very authentic and relatable.
The novel focuses on three characters: Keri, Janna and Sione. These three teens have something terrible in common - their elder brothers all committed suicide. Keri's brother is the latest victim. After his death, Janna comes to Keri with the notion that it was not suicide after all - she believes that it was murder. Janna has been in touch with a visiting tourist Sione, who has a theory that their brothers (and scores of other young men) have been the victims of a serial killer and has been gathering documentation that would support this supposition. Every year a young boy is killed. The only thing they have in common is that they either live or have visited their hometown of Summerton at New Year.
Keri doesn't take much convincing; she was very close to her elder brother Jake and cannot believe that he would have taken his own life. She joins up with Janna and Sione to try and uncover who has been taking these young men's lives. The truth, however, is even more horrifying that they could have possibly imagined. The deaths seem to have been part of some elaborate ritual, something that has kept Summerton prospering, kept it an idyllic haven for its residents and visiting tourists alike. Not knowing who to trust, the three teens are determined to get to the bottom of this but someone is watching them and will do anything to keep them from getting to the truth. What follows is a deadly game of cat and mouse. Can Keri, Janna and Sione stop the town from claiming yet another victim?
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It was gripping, exciting and scary all rolled into one. It was also refreshing for a young adult book not to have romance taking centre stage. There is of course a little romance thrown in but it does not take the turn you would expect it to and does not over-shadow the story. I also really liked the three teen leads. Keri was probably the easiest to relate to (given that her point-of-view chapters were in first person whilst Sione and Janna were in third). I felt for her heartache at the loss of her brother. She deals with this by throwing herself into their investigation but the truth is even more heartbreaking for her when it is finally revealed. Keri was a very strong character, grappling with many issues in her life . I also really like Sione. He was not your typical male lead, being very self-conscious and insecure, but he was smart and really stepped up when it was required. His crush on Janna was a little uncomfortable to read about as it was completely unreciprocated . Janna was a little harder to get a handle on at first but by the end I really liked her character. She seemed a little vapid at the start but you soon realize that's mostly a front.
Overall, The Shattering was a thoroughly gripping read. The teen characters, although very smart and capable, felt like actual teens. The story was very different (loved the New Zealand setting) and the paranormal aspects were very well integrated. I will be seeking out Karen Healey's earlier novel Guardian of the Dead very soon and any other works she may have on the horizon.
Four stars ****
The novel focuses on three characters: Keri, Janna and Sione. These three teens have something terrible in common - their elder brothers all committed suicide. Keri's brother is the latest victim. After his death, Janna comes to Keri with the notion that it was not suicide after all - she believes that it was murder. Janna has been in touch with a visiting tourist Sione, who has a theory that their brothers (and scores of other young men) have been the victims of a serial killer and has been gathering documentation that would support this supposition. Every year a young boy is killed. The only thing they have in common is that they either live or have visited their hometown of Summerton at New Year.
Keri doesn't take much convincing; she was very close to her elder brother Jake and cannot believe that he would have taken his own life. She joins up with Janna and Sione to try and uncover who has been taking these young men's lives. The truth, however, is even more horrifying that they could have possibly imagined. The deaths seem to have been part of some elaborate ritual, something that has kept Summerton prospering, kept it an idyllic haven for its residents and visiting tourists alike. Not knowing who to trust, the three teens are determined to get to the bottom of this but someone is watching them and will do anything to keep them from getting to the truth. What follows is a deadly game of cat and mouse. Can Keri, Janna and Sione stop the town from claiming yet another victim?
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It was gripping, exciting and scary all rolled into one. It was also refreshing for a young adult book not to have romance taking centre stage. There is of course a little romance thrown in but it does not take the turn you would expect it to and does not over-shadow the story. I also really liked the three teen leads. Keri was probably the easiest to relate to (given that her point-of-view chapters were in first person whilst Sione and Janna were in third). I felt for her heartache at the loss of her brother. She deals with this by throwing herself into their investigation but the truth is even more heartbreaking for her when it is finally revealed. Keri was a very strong character, grappling with many issues in her life . I also really like Sione. He was not your typical male lead, being very self-conscious and insecure, but he was smart and really stepped up when it was required. His crush on Janna was a little uncomfortable to read about as it was completely unreciprocated . Janna was a little harder to get a handle on at first but by the end I really liked her character. She seemed a little vapid at the start but you soon realize that's mostly a front.
Overall, The Shattering was a thoroughly gripping read. The teen characters, although very smart and capable, felt like actual teens. The story was very different (loved the New Zealand setting) and the paranormal aspects were very well integrated. I will be seeking out Karen Healey's earlier novel Guardian of the Dead very soon and any other works she may have on the horizon.
Four stars ****
September 18, 2011
Like the best of speculative fiction, this refreshingly different young adult book beautifully illuminates reality and highlights truth, in this case, the nature of grieving for those left behind after the suicide of a loved one. ‘The Shattering’ also has an imaginative take on the term ‘magic’ when we apply it to a beautiful landscape.
Have you ever seen the glassy-eyed stare of a tourist as they stand bewitched by the beauty of a glittering bay? You may look at that stuporific stare a little differently after reading this book. Summertown is on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand, and having grown up near Christchurch, I know better than most how impossible it is for a town on the Coast to always be sunny between Christmas and New Year. Yet Summertown is. The locals put it down to a special microclimate, but some of them know different, and in the course of the novel, our three main characters unmask the conspiracy.
The story is told from the view point of Sione, a Samoan boy visiting from Auckland, Jana, a local Pakeha (New Zealander of primarily Anglo descent) and Keri, a Maori girl. All of them have lost an older brother to suicide and are suffering the after affects, but when Sione looked into the data on suicides in New Zealand, he discovered that one boy every year who suicided was in Summertown on New Years Eve and each of them was the oldest sibling. Is this just a coincidence or does it suggest that these suicides were in fact murder? When their search for a serial killer takes an unexpected turn, suspicion is cast on those they trust the most. As secrets shatter around them, can they save the next victim? Or will they become victims themselves?
The main characters are fully fleshed out, realistic and likeable with a range of the usual kind of adolescent insecurities and secrets. They are very different to each other and what brings them together is their shared grief and quest for answers. The relationships between them are complex, and when a magical spell tries to break the friendship apart, they find themselves telling each other the worst thoughts they may have had about each other but would normally never say. I found this a particularly interesting idea, because not only did they forgive their bewitched friends for their outbursts, but also what was said became a cause for self-reflection.
I really enjoyed the New Zealand setting, partially because it’s one I’m familiar with, but also because it’s different to most contemporary novels in this genre. To those who have never been to New Zealand, I expect it will give the novel an exotic feel.
The effect that suicide has on those left behind was beautifully and sensitively portrayed. We see the shattered parents and bereft siblings searching for an explanation for the tragedy, primarily, why did he do it and what did we do wrong? We gain a sense of the unrelenting nature of grief and we are left to ponder whether or not the grieving would be easier if you discover the death was murder.
I recommend this for all young adults and particularly for anyone in danger of contemplating suicide. The message is - think about those you’ll be leaving behind. I give it 5 stars.
Have you ever seen the glassy-eyed stare of a tourist as they stand bewitched by the beauty of a glittering bay? You may look at that stuporific stare a little differently after reading this book. Summertown is on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand, and having grown up near Christchurch, I know better than most how impossible it is for a town on the Coast to always be sunny between Christmas and New Year. Yet Summertown is. The locals put it down to a special microclimate, but some of them know different, and in the course of the novel, our three main characters unmask the conspiracy.
The story is told from the view point of Sione, a Samoan boy visiting from Auckland, Jana, a local Pakeha (New Zealander of primarily Anglo descent) and Keri, a Maori girl. All of them have lost an older brother to suicide and are suffering the after affects, but when Sione looked into the data on suicides in New Zealand, he discovered that one boy every year who suicided was in Summertown on New Years Eve and each of them was the oldest sibling. Is this just a coincidence or does it suggest that these suicides were in fact murder? When their search for a serial killer takes an unexpected turn, suspicion is cast on those they trust the most. As secrets shatter around them, can they save the next victim? Or will they become victims themselves?
The main characters are fully fleshed out, realistic and likeable with a range of the usual kind of adolescent insecurities and secrets. They are very different to each other and what brings them together is their shared grief and quest for answers. The relationships between them are complex, and when a magical spell tries to break the friendship apart, they find themselves telling each other the worst thoughts they may have had about each other but would normally never say. I found this a particularly interesting idea, because not only did they forgive their bewitched friends for their outbursts, but also what was said became a cause for self-reflection.
I really enjoyed the New Zealand setting, partially because it’s one I’m familiar with, but also because it’s different to most contemporary novels in this genre. To those who have never been to New Zealand, I expect it will give the novel an exotic feel.
The effect that suicide has on those left behind was beautifully and sensitively portrayed. We see the shattered parents and bereft siblings searching for an explanation for the tragedy, primarily, why did he do it and what did we do wrong? We gain a sense of the unrelenting nature of grief and we are left to ponder whether or not the grieving would be easier if you discover the death was murder.
I recommend this for all young adults and particularly for anyone in danger of contemplating suicide. The message is - think about those you’ll be leaving behind. I give it 5 stars.
September 4, 2011
2.5 stars
A dark, intense book that blends reality and dark magic to create a story that is at times horrifying and other times relatable. The Shattering is a story that explores the lives of three teens from New Zealand whom are all coping with the loss of their older brothers who have supposedly died from committing suicide. I say supposedly, because that's what it's suppose to appear like, but for the teens who's siblings died, they know that's the furthest thing from the truth.
I liked that Karen wrote a story from three different points of views, and that all three of the characters are brought together to solve the mystery behind the deaths of their loved ones. In working secretly together, not only do Keri, Janna and Sione start to form strong relationships, but they try to piece together the overlooked evidence to find out what really happened to their brothers. One of the things I admired about the three characters is they're are not afraid to ask questions or to find their answers. This is definitely a hard subject to tackle and Karen has three great characters she uses to do so.
I loved the setting. I've always wanted to visit New Zealand and now I feel like I've gotten to have a little peak into this beautiful, vast country. Karen even includes some of her story's terminology at the end of the book, which I found to be extremely helpful. Karen incorporates a few different elements into her storyline with her folklore, murder-mystery, suspense, a little bit of romance, and a dash of humor, and then gives it's a twists by adding a paranormal element like magic to it. This isn't just any magic, it's dark magic.
Even though I loved the setting and enjoyed getting to know the characters, I struggled with the book itself. I had such a hard time with the flow of the book and the over all plot line. I couldn't get into the story like I had hoped to at all, and there's not one exact thing I can point to to say why. In the end The Shattering ended up being a book that wasn't my cup of tea, but I think it's one a lot of fans of Karen's will enjoy. This is a book I'd definitely recommend to older YA readers. There's a lot of themes discussed or mentioned through out the book, some of which are suicide, racism, and bullying that may be sensitive to younger readers.
I commend Karen for including a letter at the very end of her book to her readers about suicide prevention and along with hot line numbers. I really admire authors who are going above and beyond to reach out to their readers.
A dark, intense book that blends reality and dark magic to create a story that is at times horrifying and other times relatable. The Shattering is a story that explores the lives of three teens from New Zealand whom are all coping with the loss of their older brothers who have supposedly died from committing suicide. I say supposedly, because that's what it's suppose to appear like, but for the teens who's siblings died, they know that's the furthest thing from the truth.
I liked that Karen wrote a story from three different points of views, and that all three of the characters are brought together to solve the mystery behind the deaths of their loved ones. In working secretly together, not only do Keri, Janna and Sione start to form strong relationships, but they try to piece together the overlooked evidence to find out what really happened to their brothers. One of the things I admired about the three characters is they're are not afraid to ask questions or to find their answers. This is definitely a hard subject to tackle and Karen has three great characters she uses to do so.
I loved the setting. I've always wanted to visit New Zealand and now I feel like I've gotten to have a little peak into this beautiful, vast country. Karen even includes some of her story's terminology at the end of the book, which I found to be extremely helpful. Karen incorporates a few different elements into her storyline with her folklore, murder-mystery, suspense, a little bit of romance, and a dash of humor, and then gives it's a twists by adding a paranormal element like magic to it. This isn't just any magic, it's dark magic.
Even though I loved the setting and enjoyed getting to know the characters, I struggled with the book itself. I had such a hard time with the flow of the book and the over all plot line. I couldn't get into the story like I had hoped to at all, and there's not one exact thing I can point to to say why. In the end The Shattering ended up being a book that wasn't my cup of tea, but I think it's one a lot of fans of Karen's will enjoy. This is a book I'd definitely recommend to older YA readers. There's a lot of themes discussed or mentioned through out the book, some of which are suicide, racism, and bullying that may be sensitive to younger readers.
I commend Karen for including a letter at the very end of her book to her readers about suicide prevention and along with hot line numbers. I really admire authors who are going above and beyond to reach out to their readers.
November 19, 2011
I did not think that the middle of a black magic ceremony was an appropriate time to be pashing your boyfriend.
Summerton is a small, perfect town on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island. It's untouched by the usual social problems - drugs, unemployment, crime. It never rains in the week from Christmas to New Year. It's a tourist magnet - even after the major attraction, a set of limestone shelves (shade of the Pinka nd White Terraces) was destroyed, busloads of tourists continue to roll over the hill into the bay, pausing, awestruck, at their first glimpse of the bay: the so-called Summerton Effect.
None of this matters much to 17 year-old Keri, who two weeks ago walked into her older brother Jake's room to find he'd just shot himself in the head. Keri is scared, angry and broken. So when her ex-friend Janna walks up to her in the town's only department store and says 'If you want to find out who murdered your brother, follow me', she does.
Like 'The Guardian of the Dead', 'The Shattering' plays out as a thriller with a love story (or three) and a good dollop of the supernatural. But where 'The Guardian of the Dead' took Maori mythology and wrought a genuinely frightening, and very original, story from it, 'The Shattering' feels thinner and more predictable. The characters are more pigeon-hole-able: smart Samoan boy struggling with girls and being a 'potato' (the New Zealand version of 'oreo', a phrase I haven't heard before); a pretty girl who struggles at school, plays bass like a demon and likes the thrill of the chase; a female jock who's scared to come out in a small town. In a set piece in the second half of the book, Healey does an interesting job of taking all three character's inner struggles and doubts and making them horribly explicit, but it's still a bit less than fresh.
Having said that, I swallowed the book down in two big gulps, and look forward to Healey's next book.
April 22, 2016
Also reviewed on my Youtube channel.
I wasn't quite sure what to expect with this book. It seemed like a fairly standard YA crime novel, based on the blurb and the first few chapters. But what I got was a fabulous mixture of crime, thriller, contemporary, and fantasy/paranormal/something.
The story is set in a small town on the south island of New Zealand, and is split between three narrators who've just finished high school. Keri is half Maori and . Sione is Samoan and from a wealthy family in Auckland. And Janna is a Pakeha punk rock chick who's in a band and is dyslexic. So it's a pretty diverse book, especially when you add in the fact that there are numerous other Maori, Samoan and Polynesian characters, as well as a Japanese exchange student and a guy who's Chinese-New Zealander. Really, there were more significant characters from a diverse background than there were significant Pakeha characters. Which is pretty damned fabulous.
All three of our narrators have lost an older brother to suicide, and following some research, Janna and Sione have decided that there's a very clear pattern of teenage boys with younger siblings committing suicide around New Year's Eve, and that it must be murder. Keri's initially hesitant but the evidence makes sense, and it's coming up on New Year's Eve, so she joins in to help prevent another family from going through what they've all been through.
It's not always an easy read. There's discussion of suicide and murder, and the characters end up effectively being tortured by dark witches. But I loved the setting and the characters, and I loved how it involved so many elements of so many different genres.
In short, it wasn't what I was expecting at all. It was much, much better.
I wasn't quite sure what to expect with this book. It seemed like a fairly standard YA crime novel, based on the blurb and the first few chapters. But what I got was a fabulous mixture of crime, thriller, contemporary, and fantasy/paranormal/something.
The story is set in a small town on the south island of New Zealand, and is split between three narrators who've just finished high school. Keri is half Maori and . Sione is Samoan and from a wealthy family in Auckland. And Janna is a Pakeha punk rock chick who's in a band and is dyslexic. So it's a pretty diverse book, especially when you add in the fact that there are numerous other Maori, Samoan and Polynesian characters, as well as a Japanese exchange student and a guy who's Chinese-New Zealander. Really, there were more significant characters from a diverse background than there were significant Pakeha characters. Which is pretty damned fabulous.
All three of our narrators have lost an older brother to suicide, and following some research, Janna and Sione have decided that there's a very clear pattern of teenage boys with younger siblings committing suicide around New Year's Eve, and that it must be murder. Keri's initially hesitant but the evidence makes sense, and it's coming up on New Year's Eve, so she joins in to help prevent another family from going through what they've all been through.
It's not always an easy read. There's discussion of suicide and murder, and the characters end up effectively being tortured by dark witches. But I loved the setting and the characters, and I loved how it involved so many elements of so many different genres.
In short, it wasn't what I was expecting at all. It was much, much better.
September 11, 2011
THE SHATTERING is an exciting and mysterious novel that will have your head spinning! The plot is creepy yet entertaining. It wasn't at all predictable and I had a hard time figuring out what exactly was going on. The characters all had their own stories and worked well together in trying to solve the supposed "suicides" of young men. The ending will leave you feeling perfectly satisfied, yet wanting more from Healey. She is a phenomenal writer and knows how to keep her readers interested.
We are first introduced to Keri, whose brother is the most recent victim of suicide. She is still a bit raw from the pain of her brother's death. The way she describes her brother made me hurt just as much as she did. I was immediately drawn in to her perspective and was just as eager as her to figure out what was causing the suicides.
Sione is an awkward and somewhat fragile boy who also gets to tell his side of the story. I really didn't like him much at first, just because he was annoying and seemed a little desperate. But as the story went on, I was able to understand why his personality was that way and grew to like him more.
Janna was my least favorite character. She seems very shallow and she got on my nerves from the get-go. She seems much more concerned about finding a boyfriend rather than finding out about the suicides. I mean, her brother was one of the victims so you would think she would show a little concern. THE SHATTERING would have been a much better book without Janna.
THE SHATTERING really surprised me. I though it was just going to be a mystery, but it was so much more. There is something magical behind the deaths of the boys and you will just have to read the novel to find out!
We are first introduced to Keri, whose brother is the most recent victim of suicide. She is still a bit raw from the pain of her brother's death. The way she describes her brother made me hurt just as much as she did. I was immediately drawn in to her perspective and was just as eager as her to figure out what was causing the suicides.
Sione is an awkward and somewhat fragile boy who also gets to tell his side of the story. I really didn't like him much at first, just because he was annoying and seemed a little desperate. But as the story went on, I was able to understand why his personality was that way and grew to like him more.
Janna was my least favorite character. She seems very shallow and she got on my nerves from the get-go. She seems much more concerned about finding a boyfriend rather than finding out about the suicides. I mean, her brother was one of the victims so you would think she would show a little concern. THE SHATTERING would have been a much better book without Janna.
THE SHATTERING really surprised me. I though it was just going to be a mystery, but it was so much more. There is something magical behind the deaths of the boys and you will just have to read the novel to find out!
October 14, 2011
This is a book that was just okay for me. It was good, I enjoyed it, but I can't sit here and tell you that it was the greatest thing ever and you should run right out and buy it. I'd be lying. And well, what good would that do anyone?
Let me start off by saying that it wasn't at all what I expected but that has nothing to do with my lack of enthusiasm. I wasn't familiar with the author's previous work and based on the synopsis I went in thinking this was going to be a straight-up mystery, which excited me to no end, but it ended up going paranormal on me. This isn't a bad thing, it just wasn't what I thought I was reading.
That said, there are a lot of things I liked about this book. For one, the paranormal concept is unique to an over-saturated genre. I'll give it credit even though I wish it had been billed that way. Second, while a few sections here and there were slow, for the most part it was fast paced and kept me guessing, thus flipping pages.
And then there's Keri. The story is told in alternating point of view of the three main characters, but I found myself drawn more to Keri than the others. Like me, she plans for every possible event/outcome and I really came to like her despite the fact that the story wasn't working for me.
Still, I failed to truly connect with the story. It lacked a certain something. That intangible that makes me want to attack strangers on the streets and force a copy of a book I love into their hands. However, I would certainly recommend reading it and giving it a chance. It's something different and if you're looking for something a little dark or a little unique, this book could definitely be for you.
Let me start off by saying that it wasn't at all what I expected but that has nothing to do with my lack of enthusiasm. I wasn't familiar with the author's previous work and based on the synopsis I went in thinking this was going to be a straight-up mystery, which excited me to no end, but it ended up going paranormal on me. This isn't a bad thing, it just wasn't what I thought I was reading.
That said, there are a lot of things I liked about this book. For one, the paranormal concept is unique to an over-saturated genre. I'll give it credit even though I wish it had been billed that way. Second, while a few sections here and there were slow, for the most part it was fast paced and kept me guessing, thus flipping pages.
And then there's Keri. The story is told in alternating point of view of the three main characters, but I found myself drawn more to Keri than the others. Like me, she plans for every possible event/outcome and I really came to like her despite the fact that the story wasn't working for me.
Still, I failed to truly connect with the story. It lacked a certain something. That intangible that makes me want to attack strangers on the streets and force a copy of a book I love into their hands. However, I would certainly recommend reading it and giving it a chance. It's something different and if you're looking for something a little dark or a little unique, this book could definitely be for you.
April 3, 2012
The Shattering is about a 17 year old girl (Keri), who is grieving over her brothers death. Her best friend tries to tell her that he committed suicide because her brother died almost the same way. Janna tries her hardest to convince Keri that her brother wasn't murdered, that he committed suicide, so she brings her friend Sione over, who also lost her older brother to suicide. The three begin to find clues to all their deaths and soon realize that maybe it wasn't suicide. They soon find out that there could be another victim and try their best to find out what's going to happen next.
The book really wasn't my favorite. It was hard to stay interested and the beginning was difficult to understand. I think I'm so in love with Ellen Hopkins books that I won't be able to like any other book nearly as much. The book was confusing and often went off track into their personal life that didn't catch up with the murder story. But the story was very descriptive and you could pretty much visualize anything that was happening.
My rating on the book would have to be a 2. I don't recommend it to others, though the book was good at giving a good visual image of what was happening, it wasn't interesting enough to keep my attention or make me want to keep reading. The book was long, and ongoing for too long. It's like you could almost expect what was coming next.
The book really wasn't my favorite. It was hard to stay interested and the beginning was difficult to understand. I think I'm so in love with Ellen Hopkins books that I won't be able to like any other book nearly as much. The book was confusing and often went off track into their personal life that didn't catch up with the murder story. But the story was very descriptive and you could pretty much visualize anything that was happening.
My rating on the book would have to be a 2. I don't recommend it to others, though the book was good at giving a good visual image of what was happening, it wasn't interesting enough to keep my attention or make me want to keep reading. The book was long, and ongoing for too long. It's like you could almost expect what was coming next.
June 29, 2013
Keri lives in an idyllic town on the coast of New Zealand. One day, her beloved brother commits suicide. Or does he? When an old friend suggests that maybe her brother was a victim of a serial killer, Keri begins investigating a pattern of death.
I am such a big fan of Karen Healey. I love that her stuff is set outside of amerika, I love that her characters don't fit in stereotypical boxes, I love that her mythologies aren't the same as most fantasies.
This could be called a thriller, this could be called a problem novel, this could be called an urban fantasy, this could be called a mystery, this could be called a multicultural read... There are many boxes this would kind of fit in.
I particularly enjoyed the character dynamics between the three kids we get to know the best - we hear the story through the perspectives of Keri, her friend Janna, and Sione. They all have their own hang-ups and issues. They are complicated, real people.
But they are dealing with extraordinary circumstances -
This is great writing, great development. I can't wait for more kids to discover Healey's work.
I am such a big fan of Karen Healey. I love that her stuff is set outside of amerika, I love that her characters don't fit in stereotypical boxes, I love that her mythologies aren't the same as most fantasies.
This could be called a thriller, this could be called a problem novel, this could be called an urban fantasy, this could be called a mystery, this could be called a multicultural read... There are many boxes this would kind of fit in.
I particularly enjoyed the character dynamics between the three kids we get to know the best - we hear the story through the perspectives of Keri, her friend Janna, and Sione. They all have their own hang-ups and issues. They are complicated, real people.
But they are dealing with extraordinary circumstances -
This is great writing, great development. I can't wait for more kids to discover Healey's work.
September 23, 2011
Omg, this was awesome. I could barely put it down! And to throw in another cliche, for about the last quarter of the book, I was literally on the edge of my seat! Sort of bouncing up and down, like.
A little disappointed (although not surprised, as it made sense) that ?
But yeah, anyway, that one bit aside, loved this book like burning. It's a vast improvement over Guardian of the Dead. (Although I did like GotD too, mind you!)
(Random aside: Idk why people consider to be a spoiler, really - it was pretty obvious early on. I mean, I know I came into this knowing someone was queer in some way, shape, or fashion, but... Seriously, I thought it was pretty obvious? Maybe it's less obvious to straight people? Idk, idk.)
A little disappointed (although not surprised, as it made sense) that ?
But yeah, anyway, that one bit aside, loved this book like burning. It's a vast improvement over Guardian of the Dead. (Although I did like GotD too, mind you!)
(Random aside: Idk why people consider to be a spoiler, really - it was pretty obvious early on. I mean, I know I came into this knowing someone was queer in some way, shape, or fashion, but... Seriously, I thought it was pretty obvious? Maybe it's less obvious to straight people? Idk, idk.)
September 17, 2011
I have the same major criticism for this as I did for Karen Healey's previous book, Guardian of the Dead (which was nevertheless one of my favorites read that year): the build-up is too slow. The characters are introduced. The characters come together. Something is Going On. The protagonists investigate. The protagonists investigate. The protagonists investigate. One protagonist figures out part of the mystery, but the others don't buy it. And that's when the book really gets good, roughly halfway through. This book is definitely a worthwhile read, and it's not something you see in YA literature every day. Just make sure you hold out for the good stuff--it's there, I promise. (Though I still like Guardian of the Dead better.)
August 9, 2016
I am so glad i picked up this book for my read! The title really did justice to the story. Literally shattered the concepts of cliche by its end :)
When i started reading it initially, I was skeptical. The story line seemed to follow the usual route of 3 people setting out to find out who did away with their brothers. I confess i found it rather monotonous, as if i could read it and at the same time think of something else too. But then, somehow, the story picked up steam. I found myself too absorbed in the story, too much invested in the happenings and the twists of the plot.
Over in all, a pretty good work and thankyou Karen Healey for a memorable book.
When i started reading it initially, I was skeptical. The story line seemed to follow the usual route of 3 people setting out to find out who did away with their brothers. I confess i found it rather monotonous, as if i could read it and at the same time think of something else too. But then, somehow, the story picked up steam. I found myself too absorbed in the story, too much invested in the happenings and the twists of the plot.
Over in all, a pretty good work and thankyou Karen Healey for a memorable book.
July 26, 2012
The premise was really interesting, but I wasn't fond of the characters. Sione whined. Keri complained. Janna was slutty. Takeshi took up space. I was really interested in the story yet the character's petty thoughts and behavior made it hard to really root for them. There was a nice revival for them all at the end, turning their supposed weaknesses into strengths, plus a few unexpected twists. It still wasn't a great book, though, too many social issues that felt rushed (sexualiy, suicide, depression, etc.) and I honestly didn't find the romances all that believable on any of their parts. The witchcraft element was tenative and thrown in at all the appropriate moments with next to no background. It worked yet everything felt forced.
October 2, 2013
Maybe I'm just not in the mood for this one right now, but I can't seem to push myself past the 50-page mark. I don't like any of the characters, and something about the abrupt way Janna tells Keri that her brother was murdered and something about the way Keri responds to that felt fake and forced and...somehow ridiculous. I felt like I couldn't take any of it seriously after that. But everyone else seems to be enjoying it, so...
September 7, 2011
I started of really liking this story. I thought it was a crime-type mystery with three teens who had lost their older brothers searching for a murderer. And then, this book had an identity crisis and I stopped liking it and just got confused. The way the story is told is another reason for the confusion. One character is told from first person point of view (I,me, etc) and the other two are told from what I think is third person omnicient. I didn't like the mix.
August 27, 2011
What began as a book about the grieving process ends up being a book about magic. It was a kind of weird mashup of ideas and doesn't combine very well. The story different because it takes place in New Zealand and has lots of local terminology included. If you read this you'll need to refer to the back of the book for definitions.
May 6, 2013
4.5 LOVED. Summerton reminded me of Punakaiki on steroids (although I tweeted the author and she said the fictional town is a combo of all West Coast towns. Anyway,I liked this better than Gaurdian of the Dead. Really compelling read with strong characters and that supernatural twist I love.
Review to come!
Review to come!
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