Swati Avasthi

This one nearly missed my radar. I found the story compelling, the characters very well developed, and the disorders well researched. The author digs in deep and uncovers the contempt, hatred, and love the family members have for one another. She also presents a conundrum. I just love that word.

Judge Witherspoon is all about appearances. If you live in his house (and you WILL), you will abide by his rules. A complete narcissistic personality lawyer type. Excellent.

The mother is beaten down show more emotionally and physically. She sees no way out. Interesting symbolism of the Queen chess pieces and Jace's compulsion to save/steal them and what he eventually does with his collection.

Christian gets out after careful planning and makes a life for himself with conditions. He will never, ever risk being found by his dad and he will never allow abuse in his home.

Jace was one of his father's favorite punching bags. When he left, he also left some secrets. In order or healing to occur, all secrets will be spilled, consequences will follow and Jace may alienate his brother.

I loved the complexity of the characters and the circumstances. I loved the exploration of Jace's feelings for himself, Lauren, Dakota, his mom, and his dad. I loved that Jace's appearance is the catalyst for Christian developing true intimacy with Mirriam, the voice of logic in this story.

The story is told through Jace's POV, although in third person. The present time is given but Jace's mind flashes back and fills in the holes. Particularly compelling is the detail used to describe the first time Christian is used as a punching bag, the consequences, and the way the Judge responds to each of the characters. It. Was. Incredible. show less

Swati Avasthi first novel, Split, is a beautifully written story about a boy trying to deal with his past. Jace leaves his home in Chicago after his extremely abusive father beats him up and kicks him out of the house. Jace travels to New Mexico to live with his older brother, Christian. Christian is 22 years old and left home when he was 17 and Jace was 11. Jace had not seen him since then.

I've read a lot of books that have abuse as a common theme, but this one was different in a wonderful show more way. Some of the story is told in flashbacks but the majority of it is Jace trying to figure out a life without abuse, and also worrying if he will end up just like his father.

I borrowed this book from the library, finished it within a few hours, then bought a copy for myself at Amazon. Split is a very emotional and raw read. The author does a wonderful job with Jace's narrative and as a reader, I felt everything Jace felt. She even did a great job developing Christian's character who is also dealing with the abuse. Their father was a sick, disgusting man and the brothers, along with Christian's girlfriend, who knew nothing about the abuse until Jace came along, help each other to deal and move on.

This touching novel stays with you weeks after you finished reading it. show less

I finally finished this one, after many starts and stops. A well written, emotionally tense tale of a high school aged boy named Jace who is kicked out by his abusive father and who drives cross country from Chicago to Albuquerque to live with his brother, Christian, who had run away already prior to that. The two live in fear that their father will discover where they are and also for their mother's safety. Jace is convinced that his mother will also eventually join them if only she can get show more away. Meanwhile, Jace also lives with the fear that he might become just like his father due to an incident in his recent past when he struck his girlfriend, Alison, in anger.

The nightmarish situations of living with domestic abuse are central to this book. The author, prior to writing SPLIT, coordinated a domestic-violence legal clinic according to the "about the author" notes on the dust jacket. This undoubtedly is a large reason why she is able to at times convey the tension and fear Jace and Christian feel at times when thinking about their father and the things they've witnessed him do and their desperate hope to be able to save their mother from the cycle of abuse.

I only gave it 3 1/2 stars here purely on a personal level. This type of realistic fiction is not one of those genres that I am especially interested in. However, I would recommend it to those who do find this genre enjoyable.

Book is one of the Florida Teens Read 2011-2012 nominee titles. show less

"Now I have to start lying. While I stare through the windshield at the building my brother lives in, I try to think up a good lie, but nothing comes to mind… my face will tell half the story. For the other half, I’ll keep my mouth shut and lie by omission. Someday I’ll fess up, tell him the whole deal, and then he can perform a lobotomy or whatever it takes. But right now, I just need Christian to open his door, nudge it wider, and let me stay."

Jace is sixteen years old when he leaves show more home, drives across the country from Chicago to Albuquerque, and shows up on his brother’s doorstep, where Christian and his girlfriend Mirriam are just about to celebrate their first anniversary. Over the next few weeks, Jace and his brother begin to unpack what it means to come from an abusive family. Jace enrolls at a local high school and gets a job at a nearby bookstore, while Christian tries to figure out his role as an older brother suddenly living with a little brother. Mirriam, who had no idea Jace even existed, pushes her way into Jace’s life, causing fights with both brothers, but also helping them to better understand one another. Meanwhile, Jace plots to contact his mother and get her away, while Christian worries about their father coming after them once again. But Christian doesn’t realize the secrets that Jace himself is hiding — until they get a call from their father.

This is an extraordinary novel about abuse and the effects it has on those who witness and experience it. Avasthi captures the confusion, frustration, fear, and anger which Jace experiences, as well as painting a vivid picture of those who interact with him — Christian, Mirriam, Dakota. There is no pat ending to the story — much as the reader hopes for it — and that makes it all the more realistic. A gritty, well-written debut novel. show less