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  • The Science of Breakable Things by Tae Keller book cover
  • The Science of Breakable Things by Tae Keller book cover
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The Science of Breakable Things

by Tae Keller

Science, friendship, and a family facing depression

$10.91 USD
$18.19 USD $10.91 USD
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Awards & Recognition

  • Editorial selection

    Named one of Kirkus Reviews’ Best Books of the Year

    Named one of Kirkus Reviews' best books of the year.

  • Critical praise

    Kirkus Reviews Starred Review

    Received a starred review from Kirkus Reviews, which called it a compassionate glimpse of mental illness accessi...

AlbakiReads Editorial

Science, friendship, and a family facing depression

Natalie sees an egg-drop competition as a way to win money for a trip that might help her mother, who is living with depression. Her hope rests on the Cobalt Blue Orchids her botanist mother admires, but the story also brings Natalie’s friends into the effort and turns attention toward the value of talking about difficult problems. The science-project premise connects with questions of hope, care, and the moment a child begins to understand a parent as a person with struggles of their own. Natalie’s Korean heritage is also part of the story.

Good fit for readers who enjoy

  • Kids ages 9–12 interested in friendship-centered fiction
  • Readers looking for a story that addresses depression within a family
  • Readers interested in science projects, plants, and Korean heritage

Themes

FriendshipDepression and familyHopeGrowing upKorean heritage

Based on publisher information and book metadata.

Book overview

Natalie's uplifting story of using the scientific process to "save" her mother from depression is what Booklist calls "a winning story full of heart and action."

Eggs are breakable. Hope is not.

When Natalie's science teacher suggests that she enter an egg drop competition, Natalie thinks that this might be the perfect solution to all of her problems. There's prize money, and if she and her friends wins, then she can fly her botanist mother to see the miraculous Cobalt Blue Orchids--flowers that survive against impossible odds. Natalie's mother has been suffering from depression, and Natalie is sure that the flowers' magic will inspire her mom to love life again. Which means it's time for Natalie's friends to step up and show her that talking about a problem is like taking a plant out of a dark cupboard and giving it light. With their help, Natalie begins an uplifting journey to discover the science of hope, love, and miracles.

A vibrant, loving debut about the coming-of-age moment when kids realize that parents are people, too. Think THE FOURTEENTH GOLDFISH meets THE THING ABOUT JELLYFISH.

NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY NPR * KIRKUS REVIEWS * THE CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY *

"Natalie's Korean heritage is sensitively explored, as is the central issue of depression."
--Publishers Weekly

"A compassionate glimpse of mental illness accessible to a broad audience."
--Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW

"Holy moly!!! This book made me feel."
--Colby Sharp, editor of The Creativity Project, teacher, and cofounder of Nerdy Book Club
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