All the Broken Pieces

Two years after being airlifted from Vietnam, twelve-year-old Matt Pin lives with his American adoptive family in the United States. He plays baseball, takes piano lessons, and tries to build a new life while carrying memories of the family he left behind. Matt faces racism and hostility from some peers who lost relatives in the Vietnam War, particularly on his baseball team. His attempts to navigate middle school life intersect with his struggles to process his wartime experiences and understand his place between two cultures. The novel-in-verse format mirrors Matt's fragmented memories and emotional journey as he works through his past trauma. Through Matt's story, the narrative explores themes of belonging, forgiveness, and the lasting impact of war on both soldiers and civilians.

Readers connect emotionally with Matt's struggles as a Vietnamese adoptee and his journey to find belonging in America. The novel-in-verse format receives praise for making complex themes accessible to young readers while maintaining depth. Readers appreciated: - The authentic portrayal of post-war trauma and healing - Strong character development, especially Matt's relationship with his adoptive family - Use of baseball as a bridge between cultures - Educational value about Vietnam War impacts Common criticisms: - Some found the verse format difficult to follow - A few readers wanted more detail about Matt's life in Vietnam - Several mentioned the plot felt predictable Ratings: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (6,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (190+ ratings) Common Sense Media: 4/5 Reader quote: "The sparse writing style perfectly captures a young boy's voice while dealing with heavy themes in a way middle grade readers can process." - Goodreads reviewer

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🌟 Author Ann E. Burg wrote this novel-in-verse after being deeply moved by stories of Operation Babylift, which evacuated thousands of Vietnamese children to the United States in 1975. 🌟 The book tackles complex themes of PTSD and war trauma through baseball metaphors, showing how America's favorite pastime can help heal emotional wounds. 🌟 Many details in the story were inspired by real Vietnamese adoptees who shared their experiences of adjusting to life in America after the Vietnam War. 🌟 The novel's format—written in free verse poetry—mirrors the fragmentary nature of protagonist Matt's memories and emotions, hence the title "All the Broken Pieces." 🌟 During the Vietnam War, approximately 2,000 Vietnamese children were adopted by American families through Operation Babylift, though the program was controversial and faced criticism from both Vietnamese and American groups.