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Breathe My Name (by R. A. Nelson)

common sense media says

Teen copes after sisters die at mom's hand.

parents & educators say
  • 40% say violence is an issue
See all 8 reviews | Review it

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this is a book you may want to read before your kids do. A mother kills three of her children and attempts to kill a fourth. Parents should also be aware there are instances of serious mental illness, sexual situations, some product placement, and issues of adoption, forgiveness, coping, and trust in this very heavy, often disturbing book.

Positive messages: There are some true horrors in this book, however there is also forgiveness, positive coping, and recovery. We see teens who have great capacities for communication who still make stupid mistakes. Those mistakes are handled by very present adults in an appropriate manner.
Violence: A mother kills three of her daughters and attempts to kill a fourth; we see how the bodies of the dead children looked. A girl is almost choked to death and a man is killed when he is hit in the head. The blood and how his bludgeoned head looked is described.
Sex: Sex is discussed, often jokingly, in typical adolescent ways. A teen girl and boy are involved in heavy petting and bed sharing at a motel. Teens talk about a book where the characters "diddle" each other.
Language: Mild swearing, including "s--t." Usually used in reaction to a difficult situation.
Consumerism: Most product placements are used in the description of a scene, including Saturday Night Live, CNN, XBox, VW Bug, Hundai, Google, and Walmart.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Adults drink alcohol.
Our ratings and reviews are informed by child development guidelines. Learn more.

More on Breathe My Name

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about how important trust is in a friendship. Do you have a friend who you can trust with your own issues and pain? Have you ever had a friend place their trust in you?Families can also talk about the media's role in sensationalizing the news and empathizing with those who are featured in news stories.

What's the story?

What's the story?
Frances' story could have been ripped from the headlines: "Mother Kills Her Three Children, Attempts to Kill Fourth." This novel picks up after the incident -- Frances copes with her grief and anger while she tries to live a normal life. When she's paired up in chemistry class with an unusual new student, Nix, Frances struggles with trusting their friendship with her biggest secret. How can she open up when she still worries about her mother finding her again?

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
BREATHE MY NAME is an intense novel that's hard to put down. The reader is forced to relieve the most horrific moments in Frances' childhood. If they can cope well with the startling subject matter, they will enjoy this nicely paced, contemporary story.

R.A. Nelson walks the audience through Frances' emotional journey with grace, conveying horror without sensationalism. Teens will see themselves in Frances as she struggles with things outside of her control, like her past, while navigating through the trials of the average teen experience. The tone is increasingly hopeful except for one jarring moment in the final plot twist that feels more like a made-for-TV movie incident. That aside, this will entrance the right mature reader who likes books on tough teen topics.

Book themes & details

Book Details
Author: R. A. Nelson
Publisher: Razorbill
Publication date: October 18, 2007
Number of pages: 320
Hardcover price: $16.99
Read Aloud: 14
Read Alone: 14
This review was written by Terreece Clarke
 
 

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What parents & educators say

15
Based on 5 parent & educator reviews:
  • 40% say violence is an issue
Read the reviews

Most useful reviews by all members

alibaba1
parent
15
 
frightening because the monsters are real
My teen recommended this book, and I read it in about 3 hours. I could not put it down, it was very, very compelling. Of course, after reading it, and knowing my teen had found it so compelling as well, led to a serious discussion of the mental health and violent images in the book. This was good, however, I wish I had read the book before her and prepared for the issues. It is a heartbreaking, tragic story, that will make you want to hug your kids for a long time!
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helped me decide (2) | had useful details (3) | read my mind (3)
storyofmylife
adult
14
 
No hook.
There was absolutely nothing worthwhile about reading this boook except for the pleasure of finishing it. It was a drag from start to finish. The main character seems untouchable. Throughout all of these horrible events in her life you never find out what she is THINKING! In order to write a novel, you need a good basis of characters. It is obvious that the author didn't know her characters well enough to tell us what they were thinking. I mean the girl is tied to a chair and almost killed and all R.A. Nelson gives us is an "gee, i'm scared." This book falls flat on many different levels including the emotional one.
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helped me decide (4) | had useful details (5) | read my mind (6)
christian_carmela
adult
14
 
You Have To READ THIS!!
It was an amazing book. Kind of hard to follow at first but stick with it. You will not be disappointed.
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helped me decide (4) | had useful details (4) | read my mind (4)
theycallmedezzy
adult
15
 
It's good for mature teens
I loved it when I read it, I actually named it one of my favorite books.
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helped me decide (5) | had useful details (3) | read my mind (3)
hgirl1693
teen, 17 years old
13
 
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helped me decide (2) | had useful details (3) | read my mind (2)
valentinebaby
teen, 14 years old
13
 
scary
kind of great book but too scary for children under 13
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OGORMAN
teen, 16 years old
2
 
Lacks the oomph needed to attract the reader's interest.
I tried (as hard as I could) to read this book, but the first chapter in itself felt emotionless, demented, and dragged on for what seemed like hours. After about the third or fourth chapter I finally just said "Enough!" Frances' voice carries no emotion at all. The other characters as well were emotionless and rather flat. I do not recommend this book to anyone.
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helped me decide (3) | had useful details (2) | read my mind (1)
jackiebrookee
adult
15
 
good for 15 and up but too involved for anyone younger
I actually really enjoyed this book because the story was incrediable. the main character goes through so much it just breaks your heart reading it.
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helped me decide (1) | had useful details (2) | read my mind (3)

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