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Cures for Heartbreak

(2007, Fiction - Coming of Age, Written by Margo Rabb)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 14, age appropriate for kids over 16; suggested age 14.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0

  • Common Sense says

    Sad, witty, powerful read about a parent dying.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 14–16

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    Mia's progression through grief is real and while there is no "sure-bet" cure, she leans on family and friends to grow. Her father and mother don't have a happy marriage and her mother may have been pursuing a former flame.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    Many passages describe scenes in hospitals. Some mentions of Holocaust concentration camps. Stories told of two suicides: one from ingesting pills, another by hanging.

  • Sex:

    Descriptions of kissing, fondling, heavy petting under skirts, virginities, fantasies, and wearing skimpy clothing to be sexy. Teen girl suspects her father is having sex with his girlfriend.

  • Language:

    "F--k" said amongst teens and by teens to their father.

  • Consumerism:

    Mention of Bloomingdales and other shops in NYC.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    People smoke cigarettes and drink. Parents let teens sip wine at dinner. A person dies from ingesting pills.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Cures for Heartbreak

Parents need to know that the mother of 15-year-old Mia dies 12 days after being diagnosed with cancer, and her father has a heart attack. Each chapter could stand alone with vivid descriptions of Mia's evolving grief, her relationships with her stodgy father and sharp-tongued older sister, and her challenges with boys, peers, and fitting in. Teens discuss sex and romance, sip wine, use profanity, and skip school. There is also reference to the Holocaust and aftermath for Mia's mother's family.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the title of this book: What was the "cure" for Mia, or is there one? How are these related to Mia's needs as a teen -- such as the comfort of a best friend, finding love in a boyfriend (one who has his own experiences with illness), or the safety net of a family? How is Mia a more evolved person in the end?
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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    Meghan O.
    Lives in Ohio
    I rate this title on for age 10 and give it 5.0

    Amazing

    i love this book ive read it many times

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  2. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    sophmore2010
    Lives in Massachusetts
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 2.0

    well not too amazing.

    I got this book thinking i was going to learn how teenage daughters cope losing their mothers but i did not.What i learned was more about her family. her edged sister her father who is very stonefaced and its all too easy yet confusing to follow.

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate

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