With Valentine's Day right around the corner, I thought I would share a fun book that focuses on matters of the heart. But don't worry, you know I wouldn't throw anything too sappy at you. In this fun story, kids are trying to figure out the whole dating scene, and how to avoid a visit from the Heartbreak Messenger, a person hired by their significant other to break up with them.
Don't forget to see all my inspired book choices for kids from preschool to Grade 8 at www.onegreatbook.com
Title: The Heartbreak Messenger
Author: Alexander Vance
Target: Grade 5-7
Series: No
What this book is about:
Quentin is in seventh grade and isn’t even thinking about a girlfriend. But when his friend’s high school brother needs to break up with a girl, Quentin offers to do it for him, for a fee of course. The next thing Quentin knows he is in high demand and he has become the Heartbreak Messenger. It proves to be a dangerous business but he has a talent for it and his family needs the money so he keeps it up. But he finds over time he isn’t feeling so good about himself anymore.
Why I love this book:
This was a nice story. Quentin is a good kid and I really liked the relationship he had with his mom. I think the message of the book is solid - that in a good relationship there must be trust and understanding. I also liked that he struggled with his feelings for one of his female best friends and in the end decides that he is a little too young to date yet.
Of course the humor in the book lies with his breakup jobs. Comforting a tougher than nails football player, searching the garbage filled sewer for a high school ring that was flung there in anger and delivering the message to the wrong Susan, who knew there were two at the same address, all add to the fun.
Who this book is for:
Nice book for sixth and seventh graders who are beginning to navigate the whole dating scene. This book works for both boys and girls
Final thoughts:
Please don’t shoot the messenger!
This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.
The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?