Reviews by Teens

Review by Jm, age 13

Shattered, by Eric Walters depicts the story of a fifteen-year-old boy named Ian Blackburn. He wants to finish his community service hours to pass his social studies class. Ian chooses to work in a soup kitchen for the homeless called “The Club” with Mr. MacDonald (also known as Mac). One day, he meets Sarge (also known as Jacques) in the park near The Club. Jacques is a pipe-wielding, homeless man who warns Ian about people who might have been watching him. Before, Jacques was a peacekeeper in Rwanda, an African country Ian barely knows. What Ian will learn, it might change his point of view about the world, which could also help Jacques.

I would rate this book 4/5 stars because I enjoyed several aspects of the book. I have read no other book like this because I thought it was a well-organized plot. This book was based on the experience of Lieutenant-General Romeo Dallaire, which I thought was a wonderful inspiration for Eric Walters to write this book. I feel this book made me want to take action in the darkest times in world history. Shattered is perfect for people who are interested in reading historical fiction. I would recommend this book to grade eights who love history because I feel this book has inspired me to learn about history.