The Science of Breakable Things

The Science of Breakable Things

Tae Keller2018
How do you grow a miracle? For the record, this is not the question Mr. Neely is looking for when he says everyone in class must answer an important question using the scientific method. But Natalie's botanist mother is suffering from depression, so this is The Question that's important to Natalie. When Mr. Neely suggests that she enter an egg drop competition, Natalie has hope. Eggs are breakable. Hope is not. Natalie has a secret plan for the prize money. She's going to fly her mother to see the Cobalt Blue Orchids--flowers that survive against impossible odds. The magical flowers are sure to inspire her mother to love life again. Because when parents are breakable, it's up to kids to save them, right? An extraordinary debut about the coming-of-age moment when kids realize that parents are people, too, and that talking about problems is like taking a plant out of a dark cupboard and giving it light. Think THE FOURTEENTH GOLDFISH meets THE THING ABOUT JELLYFISH.
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Reviews

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safiyah@safiyah
4 stars
Jan 21, 2024

I cried reading this. One of my favourite novels on mental illness. 'The Science of Breakable Things' is a touching middle-grade novel about a girl whose mother has depression and never gets out of bed, and whom the girl calls 'Not-Mom'. She starts out sad and angry, and tries to win a science competition to 'fix' her mother, but slowly her emotions and attitudes change as she figures out what her mom is actually going through, and how her parents have been dealing with the condition all this while. An emotional story on mental illness, how it impacts families, and the patience needed to win the everyday battles it brings.

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eliz@thornedscenery
5 stars
Nov 5, 2022

now this is THAT book that I will never forget. it’s beautiful how a plant had become a symbol of hope for a young child of a depressed parent.. love it from the bottom of my heart.

Photo of JESSICA  DUMITRU
JESSICA DUMITRU@jessicad
5 stars
May 24, 2024
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Martha F.@marthaq
5 stars
Mar 6, 2024
Photo of Jennifer Filer
Jennifer Filer@jennyf
5 stars
Mar 15, 2022
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adria@likeareader
4 stars
Nov 9, 2021

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