REVIEWED by Jay V.
TITLE: Boy Shattered 
AUTHOR: Eli Easton
PUBLISHER: self-published
LENGTH: 352 pages
RELEASE DATE: October 16, 2018
BLURB:
Brian
You’ll make it out of here, Brian. I swear.
I had everything—school quarterback, popular with girls, and my dad was proud of me. I told myself it didn’t matter no one knew the real me. And then I nearly died. Landon saved my life. He’s the bravest guy I know. He came out a few years ago, proud and fierce, and he ran into gunfire to help others. Me, I’m a mess. Can’t even stand to be in a room with the curtains open. But here’s the thing about losing it all: You get a chance to start over and be someone new. Only how can I move on when the two shooters who attacked our school were never caught? And why do I feel like I’m still in the crosshairs?
Landon
Will you kiss me?
When I came across Brian Marshall,the hottest guy in school, dying on the cafeteria floor, I did what anyone would do. I tried to save him. His request surprised me, but I figured he needed comfort, so I kissed him on the forehead. When he survived and came back to school, he was broken in body and mind. He still needed me, and soon we were unlikely besties. But what I saw at school that day woke me up. I want to demand action on gun control, lead protests, raise my fist. I’ll tear the world down if I have to. And if I can get the man of my dreams and save the world at the same time? I’ll take it. Only I didn’t understand that the horror at Jefferson Waller High wasn’t over.
REVIEW:
A ton of really great books came out in October along with what I would consider this Must Read. It took some time before I could get to reading this self published book and then after finishing the novel I was left with so much to feel, think about, and ponder that I am now just writing this review. I rarely give the title of Important Book, but this one rightfully deserves it and is on my short list as one of the Best Books in 2018. This novel transcends the genre to give us a story of the trials and tribulations every American student faces in this era.
As a preface, this book does have many trigger warnings – violence in school and the aftermath, parental rejection, PTSD, and all the horrors surrounding those issues. The book follows two young men through a traumatic event as they find comfort in each other. The exploration of the different reactions from the main leads and the other characters is a fascinating study. It makes me question – would I react in any of these ways? How would growing up in this generation affect my life? How do parents and students not live in constant fear?
I’m not a parent, but my heart breaks to have read this book. Their journey is told with elegance and a realism that is almost haunting. This subject in lesser hands could have gone terribly wrong, but Easton treats her writing with a delicate hand. The characters are fleshed out and not perfect, which leads to an intriguing journey. I didn’t always agree with some of the two young men’s choices in the book but it’s a story of actions/reactions and trying to live a true life, free from the craziness that has overtaken our world.
It was a tough read but I found myself moving through the book fairly quickly as I wanted to know what happened next. There is a sense of dread that permeates the book, but the outcome is rewarding as the characters grow immensely from the situations they are involved. I know that some have already read this, but if you have not, please do yourself a favor, set some alone time to read this wonderful novel.
RATING: 
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