Jars of Glass

by Brad Barkley, Heather Hepler

Teenage sisters Chloe and Shana recall fondly the days when their mother wove stories about kingdoms under the sea. Now that Mom is away, Chloe does not allow herself to believe in fairy tales. She is too busy caring for her adopted brother, Micah, because Dad has become withdrawn. Shana copes by escaping every night under the cover of Goth garb. The day the family visits Mom for the first time is the day Chloe learns why Shana will never allow their mother to return. It is up to the sisters to pull together and form a new definition of family.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Contemporary, Teen, Childrens, Adoption

246 pages, Hardcover

First published October 4, 2008

About the author

Brad Barkley is the author of the novels Money, Love (Norton), and Alison's Automotive Repair Manual (St. Martin’s), two collections of short stories, and three YA novels with Penguin: Scrambled Eggs at Midnight , Dream Factory, and Jars of Glass. Brad has won numerous awards, including four Individual Artist Awards from the State of Maryland and a Creative Writing Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts. His short fiction has appeared in nearly thirty magazines, including Southern Review, Georgia Review, the Oxford American, Glimmer Train, and the Virginia Quarterly Review, which twice awarded him the Emily Balch Prize for Best Fiction. His work was anthologized in New Stories from the South: The Year's Best. A native of North Carolina, he lives in Western Maryland with his wife Kristin and their dog, Millie Grace. When not working, he plays as a hang glider pilot and a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

Reviews

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 2 out of 5]

Barkley, Brad and Heather Helper Jars of Glass, pgs. 246. Dutton (Penguin), October 2008. Language- R; Sexual Content- PG-13; Violence- PG;

Chloe and Shana are going through some tough times. Their mother is going crazy, there dad just adopted a Russian boy,who only speaks a handful of English words. And Shana is going through a phase. And their little brother might be taken away from them.

I loved this book!!! I must say, it is one of my favorites, but because of the language it should probably stay in the public library.

MS, HS - NO. Student Reviewer: SH
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2008/...

[Kati Kettleson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jars of Glass was an excellent book. I could never guess what was going to happen next because Chole and Shana were very interesting people. This book switched narrators every chapter; the two narrators were Chole and Shana, who are also sisters. The book goes through there life for a year after their mother left. In the middle of the book, you find out that their mother is in a mental hospital because she has Schizophrenia. In the beginning you find out that the setting takes along the West Coast of the U.S., but they just moved there from Maine. The reason they moved is because of their mother. When they moved, their father bought a funeral home; which is also there house. The funeral business is on the bottom floor, while the live upstairs. Right before the family moved and before they found out about their mother's disorder they adopted a little boy named Micah. While living in Maine, their mother was an amazing artist. Her art was also the way they found out she had Schizophrenia, because she started a panting and never finished it. While living in Portland, the life they had in Maine was disappearing fast. First their dad was very depressed and was ruining the business. Next, Shana went gothic and was never there for Chole or Micah. The people that held the family together were Micah and Chole. During the book, things started to change. Chole got a job, Shana figured out she could be herself again, their dad was never "there for them", and Micah started becoming comfortable. At the end, it was Christmas and their mother was going to come home for a day; but Shana didn't like the idea so she cancelled the appointment. Instead the whole family went to see her. The book ended with Chole and Shana deciding that in the New Year things would change and they would become a family again.

I would recommend this book to teenage girls because there was a lot of interesting drama. I also got that family and friends will always be there for you in rough times from reading this book, and that is a very important lesson for teen girls.

I really enjoyed this book because there was a lot of things you could learn from it. I also liked how the authors had two different narrators because you could see both sides of the story.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chloe and Shana remember the days when their mother wove stories about kingdoms under the sea, but now that their mother is "away", Chloe does not allow herself to believe in fairy tales and Shana blocks everything out and sneaks out every night in under cover Goth grab. Chloe is too busy taking care of their adopted brother, Micah, because their dad is withdrawn and doesn't know how to move on. The day the family visits their mother on the 5th floor of the Hospital, Chloe learns why Shana will never allow their mother to return. Both sisters want the same thing- everything to go back to the way it was- but can they pull it together to form a new definition of family?

This book was good...but not great. There was nothing that really got me, or pulled me in, it was just a good book. I wouldn't be surprised if in a couple months I forgot I even read it. This is why I rated it a 3 stars out of 5.

Deals with: Mental illness, family, friends, hiding from yourself, love

[Thea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't usually read books like this... But I was intrigued with the synopsis and ended up enjoying the whole book.

I loved all the characters, I felt for them all, even with Ellie, the children, and the old. They were just so real and broken that I couldn't put the book down or abandon it halfway. I needed to know how their story ends!

And I felt satisfied with it... It was a likely ending for a broken family. Some would find their happiness, and some won't be able to unless he makes his own move to change. I was happy that the characters had pairs, so that they wouldn't be left alone: Ellie with the Dad, Chloe and Sean, Chloe with Micah, Micah with Izzy, Chloe and Shana, Shana and Vernon (Very insightful character, by the way. He thinks like me XD), etc.

I could only give the novel 3 stars though because the syntax was really bugging me. Yes, the story is in the perspective of two young teens, but I just don't like it.

[Darien · Rating 3 out of 5]

Contemporary Fiction
Darien Munden

"Jars of Glass" is about two sisters whose mother has been committed to an insane asylum for attempted suicide. As the story progresses the chapters alternate between the two sisters, each one telling the events of the "day" from her own perspective. Both sisters, Chloe and Shana, are teenagers struggling to cope with the condition of their family, each in their own way. Shana turns to drugs and the Goth scene, distancing herself from her family. Chloe wants to be more like Shana, but only ends up getting herself hurt in the process. I found the story very depressing and it was difficult to enjoy a tale I spent more time wanting to cry about than anything else. Still, a decent story that would help teenagers dealing with unorthodox family life and coping with the challenges that it brings.

[itsjoeytan. · Rating 4 out of 5]

***SPOILERS***

Jars of Glass Review

Click https://www.pinterest.com/itsjoeytan/... to go to my Pinterest art gallery.

Jars of Glass is a book by Brad Barkley and Heather Helper. It’s a book which has a strong theme of “family”. Not just a family in general, but all it’s ups and downs, all it’s rights and wrongs, and the deepest darkest secretive parts of a family. This book is about two teenage sisters, Chloe and Shana. They remember the days when their mother would talk about the stars and the voices whispering. When their mother would tell stories about kingdoms under the sea. Now that mom is away, Chloe has all the responsibility. She does not allow herself to believe in fairy tales, as she is too busy caring for their adopted brother, Micah. Her sister, Shana, has no responsibility, whatsoever, even if she is the older sister. Shana completely runs away and escapes from all her problems every night under the cover of a different persona. Their dad has become withdrawn, and lives only in the small dark world of his. One sister wants mom to come home forever, the other doesn’t. But the day the family visits mom for the first time is the day Chloe learns why Shana will never allow their mother to return. It is up to the sisters to pull together and form a new definition of family. Will they find the right path?


The theme that I find in this book:

A family bond. A relationship. Finding happiness. This is what everybody is looking for in life, and the two sisters in the book “Jars of Glass”, by Brad Barkley & Heather Helper, Chloe and Shana, look for the same. I believe the authors of this book really showed the theme of what a real family is, through many ways of this book, but it all comes to a simple point. The two sisters know that they have to come together to save their family, so things can go back to normal. Just like the ways things were before their mom went to the hospital and their dad started being alone, and straying away from the light of their family. Although what both sisters want is for life to be “normal”, what they seek for is two different paths. Chloe wants their mom to come back home, so they can be a complete family again, while Shana believes that Chloe doesn’t understand the situation their mother is in, and never wants to see their mother again. Shana tries to escape her problems by hiding and being a different person, and Chloe is left being the responsible one caring for her family. But of course, things go from bad to worse, and the sisters know that they have to come together in order to redefine the meaning of a family.

Both sisters go through myriads of problems and obstacles in life as they try to overcome their fears and really find the meaning of a family. Because this is what a family with. A real family isn’t perfect. It’s messed up, broken, and every one has problems. The author really showed this in the sense that this family is not a family, and everyone in it are isolated in their own little world, trying to escape reality. But everyone finds a way to deal with their issues. While Chloe and Micah, the family’s adopted little brother, seek for a brighter way of dealing with the pain, Shana and their dad seek for the darker path of dealing. When one day, Shana happened to pass by the coffee shop that Chloe and Micah always hung out in. In that split second, Shana smiled as she watched Chloe and Micah laugh along with the people who worked there. When I was reading this part, I could really in a way hear Shana’s voice, because she finally found what it is like to have a family.

Then there was Christmas. The most classic way of showing how a family is really supposed to be. Close, and bonding. During that time of the year as Shana watched her siblings decorate the house, she finally felt the fuzzy feeling of a family. But things didn’t just end there on a hight note. The girl’s mother was supposed to come home for Christmas, but because Shana never wanted to see her mom again, she found a way to escape seeing her mom’s face. Of course, Chloe and their father really wanted to see mom, so they went to the hospital to visit her anyways. As things happened and the situation got worse, Shana’s heart broke as she watched her mom suffer through grieve and pain in her own little world in that disgusting hospital room. After the hospital incident, Shana got into a fight with her whole family, and distanced herself from everyone.

In the end, each and everyone of the family members finally discovered what it is like to be a family. Warm, fuzzy, filled with love and belonging. The book ends as the family gathers to watch the ball drop on New Year’s, and as their father wraps his arms around his girls, as they hold each other’s hand, squeezing until all the love has been shown, as they finally become a family.

Inspired famous art:

This is Van Gogh's famous painting of sunflowers. This connects to the theme in a deep and complicated way. When you look at it, it looks like very nice picture, but when one flower starts drooping, the whole picture doesn't look that bright anymore. Instead, it looks cold and empty. In addition, when you look at the science part of nature, we know that the sun and water supports the flowers to keep them growing. This relates to how a family supports each of the family members because without one or the other, the whole picture/family is ruined.

This is a painting by the Spanish artist, Miro. When I looked at it, it reminded me of a kite, flying away. I made a connection to what a real family is. You have to let go. Even if it's painful, even if you don't know or understand why. You still have to let go out of love. A family isn't easy. A family isn't always happy. They fight, they collide. It isn't always pretty. But one day, you have to stop being the rock that holds everyone down, and you have to let go, and allow everyone to be free.

This picture is "Two Girls Reading", of Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) in 1934. The two sisters are like Chloe and Shana at the end of the book. They have to hold each other up through thick and thin. Reading the letter is like looking back at their life with mom. Even though the memories hurt, they still have to support each other through everything. This is what a family really is. At times, there might be traces of not belonging, or hatred, but in a family, the members that build it up like a great pyramid, need to always be there for each other.

This piece of art is called the "Benois Madonna" by Leonardo Da Vinci. I could only imagine how happy and filled of love mom was when she was with her two daughters, Chloe and Shana. It reminded me of my own family. Even though we drag each other down sometimes, but we still love each other very much. We enjoy being together as a family, and doing activities that no one else can, including us individually, do but us as a family. In addition, you can see the faint trace of a halo on top of the heads of the two. This reminds me of the way mom would always tell her daughters stories about angels and other fantasies. A family is filled with love. And mom loved her daughters very much, even if they might never get the chance to understand why she is the way she is.

Additional pictures:

Amongst so many different sea glasses, red is the hardest to find in this book. This is a picture of a red sea glass. One of the rarest sea glass you can find.

This reminds me of "sea glass", because it is a model of a wave (from the sea) and it's sculpted with glass. This is a connection that I made because sea glass it is a symbol or evidence of the theme, family. The sea glass is what ties and holds the family in the book together. Even though it may not be mentioned so much during the course of the book, it's hidden beneath those words.

[Elaine Su · Rating 4 out of 5]

Click here for my Listopia link with my book recommendations

*There are also some spoilers in here*

Jars of Glass - Brad Barkley
Little pieces of smooth, vulnerable sea glass can mean something so powerful, so powerful it could have made all of these pieces come together to become one big one. This book is called Jars of Glass, written by Brad Barkley. It talks about a family that is falling apart because of their deranged mother who has gone to a mental institute. The main characters, two sisters Shana and Chloe, are going through a lot, facing obstacles that come their way every day. Yet, they find that family is still the most important. One evidence of this is that on the last few pages, they find a new family, even though they have no blood relations, a family that actually keeps them together, a family that keeps their hopes up, a family who are able to help them through the hard times. This shows that they find out that family is actually the most important, and having a family is one the best things you can have. In conclusion, the book Jars of Glass incorporates the theme of how family is the most important.

Hope was here - Joan Bauer
The book Hope Was Here by Joan Bauer is one of the books that has inspired me the most. In this book, the main character Hope and her aunt Addie have just moved to a small town in Wisconsin, and they take the job as a waitress, for Hope, and a cook, for Addie, in a diner owned by G.T., an old man with leukemia. Hope starts to find her place in the diner, and G.T. isn’t ready to give yet, so he runs against a corrupt candidate for mayor. In this book everyone is hoping for things they don’t have, hoping for things like family, and fitting in, and finally able to have their own opinion. For example, when G.T. tries to prove that the candidate he is running against is corrupt, his “family” at the diner is the one that is able to help him the most. That is when they realize that hope and family all come together, and they know that family is really important.

Flush - Carl Hiaasen
The book Flush by Carl Hiaasen really incorporates humor and thinking all into one book. In the book Flush, Noah’s dad has just gone to jail because he thinks that the owner of the Coral Queen casino boat is dumping raw sewage into the harbor of the Florida Keys. Now, Noah is trying to find a way to prove that his dad was right, even if it involves some of what Noah would call “incriminating” activity. From this experience, their whole family experiences why they, as a family are so important. They are supposed to support each other, like Noah supported Noah’s dad. They are supposed to help each other, in all different kind of ways. Thus, in this book, the theme of family is very evident.

Keeping the Moon - Sarah Dessen
This next book called Keeping the moon by Sarah Dessen also has a similar theme to Jars of Glass. In this book, the main character Colie expects the worst when she is going to spend her summer with her aunt Mira while her mom goes on her Europe fitness tour. Soon after, she lands a job at the Last Chance Cafe, and she meets the waitresses Isabel and Megan, who have a loving, but sometimes hating friendship. When we go back and look at how Colie thinks of her family, you can see that she actually takes family as something that is very important to her. For example, when her aunt Mira always gets picked on in their small town, she will stand up for her every time, even if Mira stops her. Thus, this book really uses the theme of family.

Legend - Marie Lu
In the book Legend by Marie Lu, I was thrown off-course so many times because of all the emotions hidden inside the pages. The two main character’s, Day and June, are in a dystopian society where the western part of the United States, the Republic, is enemies with it’s borders. 15 year old June is a prodigy that is being groomed for success in the Republic’s highest military circle. On the other hand, 15 year old Day is the country’s most wanted criminal, but his motives may not be as malevolent as they seem. These two people, who are very different, cross paths in a situation where June’s brother, Metias is murdered, and Day is the prime suspect. In the beginning of the book, you can see how family is important just from how Day thinks. In the beginning, you can infer that his family does not know that he is still alive, but he is still trying to help them, keeping close to them, keeping an eye on them. He is doing so many incriminating things, and keeping close to his family could mean putting his family in danger, but to him staying with his family is the most important.

If I Stay - Gale Foreman
This next book called If I Stay by Gale Foreman also has a similar theme as Jars of Glass. If I Stay is about 17 year old Mia who is facing decisions on if she should go after her cello dreams even if it means leaving behind her boyfriend and her friends and family. Then one morning, a devastating car crash happens and everything in her life changes. She then wakes up, in spirit form, and see’s everything that is happening around her in the hospital, and she is trying to wake up in her physical form. In this book, the reason she wakes up is because of family. Her family is really important to her, and since her brother and parents died, she only has her boyfriend, grandparents, aunts and uncles, and mainly the belief of living for them. She believes that even though she could just die, she has to live for love and family.

Lock and Key - Sarah Dessen
The book Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen really makes me smile at every corner. In this book, the main character, Ruby, has a mom who has just ran off, and she has been living in their house by herself illegally, because she is only 17. Then, one day she gets taken by child services to live in her sister’s house, who is married and left home at the tender age of 18. Soon, Ruby is immersed into the environment of being in a private school, being in a luxurious house, have her own wardrobe. One example of how the theme of family is the most important really shows through how Ruby thought in the beginning she didn’t need family to live, and she thought that living by herself in her old yellow brick home would be enough for her to live a happy life. Yet, she realized that after being actually immersed into an actual loving family that didn’t walk out on you or left you in the middle of the night was an actual loving family. That is when she realized that family was the most important thing in the world.

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up this book without realising it was written for teens, and thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish. The sisters, Chloe and Shana, were so well done and reminded me what it was like to be a teen on an emotional rollercoaster. There were many points in which I wanted to wrap both girls in a hug.

If you are looking for a fairly quick read with depth to it, this book is a good choice.

[Erica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very cute, solidly written book. The ending was tied up in a perfect little bow. I think this story is more geared towards younger teens as it has a kind of coming to age plot. This was a re-read for me and while I don’t regret reading it again, I don’t think I’ll be keeping it.

[Christi M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love, love, love! Sometimes, books written from the viewpoints of more than one character can get confusing or start to lose fluidity. This did neither. Awesome journey, awesome read!!

[Joanna Hahn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had so much potential but never delivered. The ending was also disappointing...nothing really resolved.

[Storm Ainsely · Rating 2 out of 5]

Better than I expected, but when I took it off the shelf with the idea of "read it and give it to the library book-box to make space" I wasn't wrong.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a lot of plot development but still a sweet story. Ending was a bit abrupt though

[Hannah Fields · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and the story behind it. I wish the ending had been given more depth.

[Holly Tabbutt · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had a whole review for this written but I accidentally deleted it so here are my thoughts summarized.

This book was dripping with ableism. Not okay, authors.

The two main characters were so unlikeable and boring that I genuinely wanted to strangle them most of the time.

The dad pissed me off a lot.

Only redeeming quality was Shana and Jason’s relationship. It was cute for what we got tho there was so little of them that it’s not enough for me to change my rating.

Nothing fucking happens in this book. I can’t tell you one plot point in this book BECAUSE NOTHING EVERY HAPPENS.

Such a boring read, don’t even bother checking this one out.

[Laina SpareTime]

Cross-posted from my blog where there's more information on where I got my copy and links and everything.

This was mostly an okay little book. Honestly I've got a cold and haven't been able to talk for five days because I've lost my voice so badly. My brain is a little fuzzy. I've been watching a lot of dorky movies and Come Dine With Me, and mostly sleeping for eighteen hours a day. (I've got antibiotics now, so I should be feeling better in a couple days.) Words are just really hard right now. But overall, while I enjoyed this, I don't think I could recommend it because of the ableism.

Things I liked: The relationship between Shana and Chloe, the humour at times, the writing almost all the time.

What I didn't like: There is definite ableism. Spoilers ahead. The fact that their mother is sick is treated with very little sympathy, almost like she did something wrong by being mentally ill. Honestly, the idea that because their mother has schizophrenia and did a very bad thing, that they get to decide that she never gets to come home is kind of scary. Doesn't matter if she gets treatment, doesn't matter if therapists say it's okay, the two teenage girls know better that she should never be allowed to leave the hospital again. I think there's some messed up reinforcing of bad stereotypes - people with schizophrenia are more likely to be victims of violence than to be violent - and, really, if you have a family member with schizophrenia or you yourself have a mental illness, you are probably going to be really freaked out by this book.

Can you imagine getting sick enough that you did something you would never do if you were well, and then never, ever being allowed to work past that? That's horrible.

Beyond that, these girls have essentially become the caretakers of both their younger brother and their father. One is basically parenting the brother, and the other is basically running their father's business with the janitor. That can't last forever. These girls are fourteen and fifteen. They're gonna get ulcers before they're eighteen. A fourteen year old should not be expected to replace her mother, and that's essentially what's happening with Chloe. She's having to mother their little brother, since their mother is gone and their father has checked out and is avoiding everything to do with life, basically.

Meanwhile, the little brother probably needs so much therapy - as do all of them - but, nah, therapy's only for "lunatics". Little dude can't even look at their mother without screaming. He needs to talk to someone. I liked the story of two sisters bonding and coming together to overcome hard times, but the way the book ends? It leaves so many questions open as far as I'm concerned, but the happy ending can't last if you think about it for a few moments. These girls are being put in adult roles before they're even finished high school, and there is no way that is substainable.

So I liked this while I was reading it because the voice is good, but I would not recommend this one. Like, if I think about a kid whose mother is schizophrenic, would I give them this book? No, I highly doubt I would. I wouldn't want them to basically be told that they can never have a relationship with their mother again, and that there's essentially no hope for her to be well. And what about teens with schizophrenia? This would probably scare them so much! I think if you're going to tackle a subject like this, you need to really think about whether you'll be adding to existing stigma, and I think this doesn't work against stigma at all. It reinforces it. And frankly, that can be dangerous.

So even though I did like the writing and the relationship between the sisters, and I enjoyed reading this, I can't recommend it in good conscience. Perhaps other books by the authors are better.

[Nicole Karlikowski · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book Review for Jars of Glass
Chloe and Shana are two sisters, each with very different personalities, that have to find a way to cope with their new lifestyle. Jars of Glass by Brad Barkley is a book about family and friendship and is for young adults. The family recently adopted a boy from Russia that has now become the girl's new little brother. Sadly, their mother began losing her mind and became hospitalized. Their father moved the family into an apartment where he works in a mortuary in the downstairs rooms (this is his occupation.) The girls meet and become friends with new people and manage to take care of their brother at the same time. It's hard for everyone, but Shana, to exept the fact that their mother is never coming back and they will have to find a way to carry on without her.
Shana has adopted a goth look for herself by covering her face in black and white makeup, wearing all black clothes, and sneaking out of the house every night to hang out with her goth friends around town. She is really just hiding her true feelings behind all the goth things and for some reason, she never wants her mother to come back. Chloe on the other hand is a caring sister and loves to paint. She mostly does everything around the house. She always feeds and helps her younger brother Micah, because he barely speaks English and is still a bit shy. Most of all, Chloe just wants her mother to come back from the hospital. She keeps her mother's paintings but doesn't dare go into the room where her mother used to paint. She misses her mother's stories that she would tell before bed and the way she would make everything better. Every time Chloe would ask Shana if she could come with her to town to meet her friends, Shana would say no. One night she surprised Chloe and said, "Yes Chloe, you can come with me. Just don't wear any pink"(119). Chloe was finally able to meet Shana's friends and actually made her own friend at Starbucks.
One day, their father comes into the kitchen and anounces that their mother will be coming home from the hospital for Christmas. Shana is completely shocked and becomes furious. She begins shouting that that is not a good idea because Micah does not know her that well and they don't know what his reaction will be. Eventually, their dad agrees that they will meet their mother at the hospital instead of her coming to their house. However, everyone must learn what it means to be a family in order for the visit and reunion to work out and go smoothly.
Jars of Glass expressed the meaning of family and compassion, as well as many emotions and stress. Every chapter switches between being told from Shana's to Chloe's point of view. They talk about how they feel and what is going on with their lives. This helped me to get a better understanding of each character and see how they developed throughout the book. The book somewhat appealed to me because I was able to see how the family coped knowing their mother would never return and also how their sisterhood became stronger and they became closer by finally accepting each other. However, some parts of the book weren't that engaging and were a bit boring because nothing interesting was going on. Overall, it was a pretty good book, with only minor uniteresterting parts, but otherwise I would still recommend it to anyone interested in reading about family and friendship.
If you seem interested in the book "Jars of Glass" by Brad Barkley, you can purchase it at Barnes and Noble for $8.00. This book was published October 16th, 2008 by Dutton Juvenile. Other books by Brad Barkley are Dream Factory, Scrambled Eggs at Midnight, and Money, Love.

[Cam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Um...yes?

I originally read this book on one of my trips to the library during the summer as a random book pulled off the shelf. That was 2.5 years ago. Something like that. The book didn’t particularly captivate me at the time, it was a easy read with not too many excerpts or writing for older audiences. You see, I was just beginning to browse the terrifying teen section and would occasionally stumble upon something I could not understand, relate to, or did not want to know about.

I found this book, along with many others that I call ‘the quiet time’. Slow summer days when I read contemporary fiction with no particular amounts of action.

Actually, I read this after I read The Art of Lainey by Paula Stokes, so it wasn’t exactly a quiet time. It was a quiet read, nonetheless. I look fondly back at these stories and days.

Chloe is more of a free spirit while Shana is the rational and pessimistic sister. Chloe finds her place in a fun atmosphere of friends while Shana feels the need to hide behind a mask with other sullen teenagers. She does find a solid relationship with someone in this group and finds herself while. The two of them are close in age and yet they differ so widely. They were also the best of friends until their mom left and they began to skip away as their family broke apart. Throughout the book, however, the bond between them stay ever present, their thoughts never straying far from the other’s. That really made my heart ache because sisterly love is a truly beautiful thing that should be treasured when possible.

Their father is absent minded and unable to take care of himself, let alone his rest of his family, once again, after his wife was gone. He resorts to smoking constantly on the roof and leaving his children to take care of themselves when he can’t gather the courage to face confrontations in life. He really did love his family with every ounce in his heart, but faded as time went by since the break. My heart also ached for him because of these hard times he couldn’t seem to get over.

Micah, the sweet boy, is an adopted child from Russia, away from a harsh life at an orphanage, adapting to his new life with the father, Shana, and Chloe. He represents tainted innocence, in my eyes, because of his dark childhood. He cares a lot of Chloe, and vice versa, and while he may not show the same about Shana, Shana still constantly looks out for him. The only difference is that she refuses to coddle him, Chloe having already taken over that job.

Their mother has issues and though she also loves them all very much, she is led to some questionable actions that unraveled their family.

Everyone reacts to situations differently and this book shows the results of a changed family. They pull back away from each other and into their respective shells, seeking solace in new places. They struggle to continue their lives, no longer able to continue the ‘normal’ they are all used to. Meanwhile, some of them are able to find themselves and at the end of the day, even though everything isn’t quite alright, it somehow is. Things are cleared up in this story, but they don’t have nice clean endings tied up with a bow. They continue with their lives, making the most of what they do have, supporting and caring for each other.

It’s a very bittersweet story.

PS. The cover is really cool

[Katie Kaste · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story of two sisters. They are each dealing with a crisis in a different way. The older sister runs away and finds her way back, the younger sister stays home and tries her best to keep things together. Both are struggling with the loss of their mother. One wants her to come back the other wants her to stay gone. The two sisters drift apart and find the path back to each other through love of each other and the support of friends. I liked this story, it had a great connection with the sea glass and their families.

[Andye.Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jars of Glass is the story of a family trying to deal with tragedy. The story is told in alternating chapters by the two main characters, Shana and Chloe, who are sisters, 15 and 14 years old respectively. Each sister has their own way of handling what has happened to their family while also trying to deal with their father and 4 year old adopted brother.

The girls approach life very differently but both are determined to keep their family together. Their struggle includes a father who has "checked out", a brother who has been adopted from a Russian orphanage, living above a funeral home and all the issues of being a teenage girl.

Shana has chosen to deal with life by hiding behind dark clothing and make up and running with a crowd of people who do not know who she really is. She escapes her home at every possible opportunity and tries to ignore reality. She is the "older sister" by a year and tries to shield Chloe from her negativity.

Chloe takes on the responsibility of keeping the household running and caring for her brother, Micah. She tries to keep things in the family as normal as possible. Two upcoming visitors bring even more stress to this little family and the way all members handle them bring the story to a climax. Both girls have been forced to grow up much sooner than they should have and take on responsiblilities beyond their ages.

Kit's Review:
I feel odd saying that this book was good because the storyline is pretty sad, or that I enjoyed it because that would imply I have a twisted sense of humor. But I also can’t say that it wasn’t good or I didn’t enjoy it because that would be a lie. Heather and Brad are amazing at what they do and this book is very well written, but this isn’t another cute “Happily Ever After” teen comedy/romance. With that out of the way I have to say that this book is captivating, surprising, and I had a very hard time setting it down. The ending is more about accepting life the way it is and making the best of it, instead of waiting for everything to get better. I would definitely recommend this book for teens or young adults.

Janeth's Review:
This is not a fun story, but I enjoyed reading it very much. I liked the characters and was interested in finding out who they were and where they were going in life. There isn't a lot of action, in fact, one episode of violence caught me off guard. The characters feel real to me and the situation is one that many people can relate to. The girls are not perfect nor are they delinquents. They make some wrong choices but also some really strong and courageous decisions. I would recommend this book.

Parents need to know: There is a moderate amount of cussing in this book as well as a few other questionable things. For more details, go to Jars of Glass on http://ParentalBookReviews.com/

[Brenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my most favorite book, but it was still decent. Two teenage sisters, Chloe and Shana always believed in the fairy tales their mother used to make up. They loved having their mother around because she reminded them to have fun and enjoy life. But when she went "away" to a mental hospital, Chole and Shana must forget all those stories and try to keep their family together. However, no one knows how to handle the situation. Shana decides to hide behind the dark make-up and dark clothes, becomes a Goth and tries to run away from her problems. Their father smokes endlessly and can't seem to remember how to act like a father. He let's his daughters and son slip through his fingers while he tries to figure out what is the purpose of moving on. And little Micah, the adopted son, was the most injured by his "mother". Chloe continues to struggle as she tried to understand why no one seems to want things to go back to what they used to be, when they were the perfect family.
Even though this novel has great themes and ideas, it doesn't do them justice. The characters are very complex, maybe too complex. It's difficult to understand what exactly happened between Micah and the mother. The way the characters handle things isn't very real either. It seems like the author just wrote down anything in order to try to make sense. But as mentioned before, it wasn't half bad. I did love the fact that it emphasized the importance of family and communication. A very good lesson that most people never learn.

[Adriana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the ARC of the book. It is told from alternating perspectives of two sisters, whose mom is an artist and paranoid schizophrenic. Their dad is becoming more and more detached, and right before the mom was taken to a mental hospital, they had adopted Micah, a young Russian boy who had it pretty rough before and now is coping by eating a lot of sugar and barely speaking. Mainly the story focuses on how each sister handles the changes brought on by their mother's mental illness. They have very differing opinions, but it is apparent that they both love each other and truly just want to have a good family and home life. I felt like the story was paced and told well. Each sister has their own unique voice, and quite frankly I wasn't rooting for one more than the other. The read would be good for teens, probably will appeal to girls more than guys, and also parents and teachers may like it as well. And even though I personally prefer the sappy, perfect endings, for this story it fit that the ending was a little jagged and unfinished.

[Myra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was all that I thought it would be and more. Barkley and Hepler always impress me with their novels, and their story of Shana and Cloe is brilliantly developed and written.

The plot is easy to follow, yet there is a twist - an "ah-hah" moment, if you will - near the end that solves the question of "Really, what happened?" that readers have until that point. This novel was a quick-read for me, but that could be because I'm such a fan of Barkley's and Hepler's YA lit.

The characters of Shana and Cloe are very well developed and thought out. While reading this book, I literally could envision myself being friends with either of them, they are just that believable and authentic.

The novel tackles the very heavy subjects of schizophrenia and depression, and it delves deeply into the effects of both upon the family. It's gritty and candid, all the while still leaving room for hope.

[Dottie · Rating 3 out of 5]

My copy is a 246p. ARC of the book with the isbn listed for this edition under the 13 digit isbn

I don't very often dip into YA reading though I have recommendations of YA frequently from the younger daughter bookster. This one she had on her shelves when we did the bookcase switch over the hoildays last Novemeber and I brought it home as it looked interesting. I think I might enjoy revisiting it in its polished, finished form as the story still had a few rough spots I feel in this advance proof. Overall we care about both girls and their younger adopted sibling and are lulled into believing we know the problems faced whwen in actuality there is a more to the story thread which we begin to sense as we go along. Just enough unease to draw us deeper and yet to be surprised at the end. As the ARC ends, it leaves the reader wanting to know what happens next -- which in my opinion is a good thing. Lends itself to discussion of possible paths.

[Alessandre · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of those books that's really good for a pleasant (though the character's lives aren't in most of the book) afternoon read. It's got parts that'll make you laugh, cringe, maybe even cry. Vernon's signature "bad" jokes made me laugh out loud every time - I'm a sucker for stuff like that.
The writing was some of the best I've seen in a while, pulling me in right away and keeping me turning the pages. The characters were mostly developed, though I would have liked to learn more about all of them. I like the way the book was focused regardless, and realize that it was less about the underdeveloped characters (it's not so much that they were underdeveloped as developed to fit the story, I guess) than about Chloe and Shana, Micah, etc. I liked a lot of the analogies she put together.
I don't really know what more to say, other than I recommend this book and I'm glad I picked it up at the library.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

HM. I'm not sure there was an entire book here? It never quite connected for me.

But I like that it was about sisters! I could relate to Shana and that feeling of being protective of a little sister who's so close to you in age that maybe it shouldn't make a difference except for it does, you're still the big sister.

However, I'm not sure there was enough of a payoff and most of the relationships weren't as well developed as I would have liked.

And, random complaint, but I didn't have a very good sense of how old some of the characters were! Like Todd and Sean were both introduced as just "guys" and I first assumed they were older than they were supposed to be. (At least, I'm fairly sure they're both supposed to be young. See, I don't even know!)

[Alexa Angioletti · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was very interesting. Throughout the book you felt many of the main characters emotions (Shana and Chloe) both sisters. Within the book they are trying to cope with the tragedy that their whole family is going through. Shana deals with the struggles in a way more "dark" way than Chloe does, Shana has starts dressing in dark clothing and wearing dark makeup. On the other hand the younger of the two, Chloe, copes with the situation by making sure nothing worse happens, she makes sure the house and everybody is in order. While reading this book I felt what the characters were feeling, it was very sad but it showed me to be grateful for what I have, because some people aren't as fortunate as others.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a rather depressing book about a family's struggles after their mother is institutionalised with schizophrenia. Told in alternating chapter by the two sisters, Shana (15) and Chloe (14), the reader follows how the girls, their father and adopted little brother, deal with the situation they find themselves in.

While I quite enjoyed the story I never really developed a deep liking for either girl and I felt they could have been further developed. I also found their father irritating and, at times, the plot slow and boring. There is no happy ending, which didn't bother me, but it's certainly not going to leave anyone in tears. Overall, a fairly forgettable book.

[Anya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read this book many times throughout the years and its rawness still takes me to a sad and strange place that I think every human being should go to now and then, just to know what that feeling really is. The subject material is kind of ableist towards schizophrenics as I believe it is very rare you will find a schizophrenic like the one featured in this novel but the book is less about the mental illness itself and more about how the illness affects the children of said schizophrenic person. I think that in that sense at least, it's realistic especially with what happens to the dad. I feel for both daughters despite their vastly different experiences and perspectives.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully written from 2 perspectives/2 authors. Voice is very strong and authentic. Two teenage sisters are trying to stay afloat after their artist mother is committed to a mental hospital, their father's alcoholism increases, and their adopted brother from Russia remains mostly noncommunicative. The family lives above a funeral home, to further the maudlin tone. Not much happiness and may not appeal to all YA readers, but beautiful prose and moments of hope here and there make it a worthwhile read.