Shattered by Eric Walters Date of Publication: ISBN: 9781551251264 Number of Pages:

REQUIRED READING ABILITY: Intermediate: Average
GENRES: Realism
THEMES : Good versus Evil - Sacrifice and Redemption - Family

SUMMARY:
In order for Ian to complete his Civics course and obtain his 16th birthday gift (a brand new car), he must complete community service hours. Ian chooses to volunteer at a place called "The Club." He believes that he has chosen wisely and that this placement will be fun. He is surprised to find that he has chosen to volunteer at a soup kitchen in one of the roughest areas of the city.

On his way to "The Club" for the first time, he decides to take a short cut through the park. While in the park he is cornered and nearly robbed by two men. A homeless man named Sarge comes to his rescue. Ian becomes very interested in Sarge and why he has become homeless. He interviews him for extra credit and learns that he was a Canadian Peace Keeper in Rwanda. What Ian learns from Sarge is chilling. Life takes on a whole new meaning for Ian and he begins to give back some of what he was given…

WHO WOULD LOVE THIS BOOK? A kid who...
- likes to think about and discuss current affairs and social justice issues
- likes to learn about new things e.g. Holocaust, wars, etc.
- likes Eric Walters
- enjoys stories based on real people and real events
- likes contemporary fiction

This book is recommended for students in grades 7 and 8 only (Young Adult).


WHAT ELSE?
This author has written many amazing and award-winning books. Shattered has been selected by the Ontario Library Association as a White Pine nominee for 2006.

There are sensitive themes and issues in the book. Students should be familiar and comfortable with the topics of homelessness, parent abandonment, mass genocide, mental illness.