Broken Pencils
J. R. Rice
(Author)
Tea But with Coffee Media
(Prepared by)
21,000+ Reviews
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Description
Jonah Tarver, a troubled Oakland teenager grappling with his parents' troubled marriage, his own mental disorder, and the weight of his best friend's death, embarks on a desperate quest to find meaning in life. On his eighteenth birthday, coinciding with his Senior prom, Jonah, along with his girlfriend Taniesha, his best friend Trevon, and a group of peers, spirals into a night of reckless indulgence in drugs and alcohol in the vibrant city of San Francisco. As tensions escalate and emotions run high, Jonah finds himself thrust into a gripping twelve-hour journey through the dark underbelly of San Francisco's nightlife, forever altering his perception of the world. Will Jonah uncover the purpose he so desperately seeks, or will he discover that life, like broken pencils, may have no point?
Product Details
Price
$16.99
$15.80
Publisher
Tea But with Coffee Media
Publish Date
June 11, 2024
Pages
212
Dimensions
5.25 X 8.0 X 0.58 inches | 0.5 pounds
Language
English
Type
Paperback
EAN/UPC
9781957893563
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About the Author
Once upon a time, in the bustling city of Oakland, California, there was a man named J.R Rice. He was a Black man with a passion for writing, teaching, and spoken word artistry. J.R had always been captivated by the power of words and their ability to inspire, motivate and transform lives. As a young man, he knew that he wanted to make a difference in the world through his writing and his ability to connect with people. After receiving his B.A in Creative Writing and an English Education teaching credential from California State University of Long Beach, J.R set out to pursue his dreams. He traveled abroad to Greece, where he had the honor of being mentored by the renowned author, George Crane. It was there that he honed his skills and developed his unique voice, which he would later use to inspire and empower countless others. His novella, Broken Pencils earned the 2024 Literary Titan Gold Book Award, the Literary Global Gold Award, 2024 Hawthorne Prize finalist, 2024 Independent Author Awards finalist in both Best African-American Literature and Best Debut Fiction, and 2024 International Firebird Book Award Third place winner in Best African-American Literature and Best New Fiction. In addition to his writing accolades, he earned the Rookie of the Year award at the 2005 National Collegiate Poetry Slam in Philadelphia. He was a Semi-Finalist in the 2023 Berkeley Poetry Slam Finals. He is the host and curator of SOCIAL SATURDAYS artist showcase in Oakland. He currently resides and teaches in the Bay Area.
Reviews
2024 Pencraft's Summer Best Book Award Winner for Best Book for Young Adults - Coming of Age2024 International Book Awards Finalist for Best African-American Fiction2024 Readers Choice Book Awards Silver Winner for Best Adult Book2024 Literary Titan Gold Book Award Winner2024 Literary Global Gold Award Winner2024 Independent Author Award Finalist for Best African-American Fiction and Best Debut Fiction2024 Hawthorne Prize Finalist for Best Fiction
"Broken Pencils is a modern-day take on the classic 'Rebel Without a Cause.' Jonah Tarver, much like James Dean's iconic character, grapples with a lack of moral courage in the face of overwhelming pressure and internal conflict. The story is both heartbreaking and thought-provoking, offering a raw and unfiltered look at the struggles of today's youth."- Peggy S, Authors Reading
"I highly recommend "Broken Pencils," and not just for a young adult audience. I think that everyone who reads this book will put it down with a heavy heart and a deeper understanding of what many people go through when grappling with bipolar disorder. J.R. Rice is a fantastic writer and I'm hoping to read more of his work."- Richard Bist, ReaderViews Kids
"J.R. Rice's Broken Pencils is more than a story of a teenager's life; it's a reflection of how things from the past can unfold in a single day...At its core, the novel grapples with the theme of brokenness, portraying it not as a defect to be mended but as an intrinsic part of the human experience."- Karen Almeida, Literary Titan
"Broken Pencils tackles a sensitive and difficult topic in a meaningful way that provides food for thought and allows one to become introspective about mental illness and the difficulties faced by those who live with it."- Jennie More, Readers Favorite
"Broken Pencils is a modern-day take on the classic 'Rebel Without a Cause.' Jonah Tarver, much like James Dean's iconic character, grapples with a lack of moral courage in the face of overwhelming pressure and internal conflict. The story is both heartbreaking and thought-provoking, offering a raw and unfiltered look at the struggles of today's youth."- Peggy S, Authors Reading
"I highly recommend "Broken Pencils," and not just for a young adult audience. I think that everyone who reads this book will put it down with a heavy heart and a deeper understanding of what many people go through when grappling with bipolar disorder. J.R. Rice is a fantastic writer and I'm hoping to read more of his work."- Richard Bist, ReaderViews Kids
"J.R. Rice's Broken Pencils is more than a story of a teenager's life; it's a reflection of how things from the past can unfold in a single day...At its core, the novel grapples with the theme of brokenness, portraying it not as a defect to be mended but as an intrinsic part of the human experience."- Karen Almeida, Literary Titan
"Broken Pencils tackles a sensitive and difficult topic in a meaningful way that provides food for thought and allows one to become introspective about mental illness and the difficulties faced by those who live with it."- Jennie More, Readers Favorite
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