drey's library

Split is a difficult book to read, but is so powerful and riveting that once you’ve picked it up, you have no choice but to see it to its end. Sixteen and homeless, Jace Witherspoon drives nineteen hours from Chicago to Albuquerque, hoping his brother will take him in. With only $3.84 in his pocket, he has no other options.Once he gets to Christian’s, Jace has other demons to battle. Instead of dealing with an abusive father, Jace now has to figure out his relationship with an older brother who ran away years ago. Emotions run thickly through this book – anger predominantly, but there’s also plenty of regret and shame, and relief.Jace and Christian are both victims trying to move on with their lives. Both don’t talk about the abuse – from years of conditioning. Keeping their anger in check is something one has perfected, and the other is working on. It is so disheartening to know that this happens to more people that we can imagine, that what’s hidden is oftentimes almost impossible to identify and therefore help with. My heart broke for Jace and Christian as I read Split.I think everyone should read Split, just as I thought everyone should read Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott. Why? Because even though most of us read to “get away,” some books just open our eyes to the plight of those who are caught in situations beyond their control. And with open eyes, we can start doing something about it. After all, we do have to acknowledge a problem before we can address it.drey’s rating: Excellent!