Review of Breaking Dawn

Breaking Dawn, releasing Nov. 2007 from Ransom Books as part of its Cutting Edge series. Breaking Dawn is the story of a the suicide of a young gay man, and what his best friend, Dawn, goes through as a result.

Breaking Dawn is the debut novel of Young Adult Fiction author Donna Shelton. Part of Ransom's Cutting Edge series, Breaking Dawn is a powerful account of a teenage girl's friendship with Perry, a closeted gay teenager whose life, with the exception of the time spent with Dawn and her parents, is hellish.

Breaking Dawn addresses suicide, homophobia, alcoholism, and guilt -- and it doesn't shrink from the ugliness of any of it. Although written for reluctant readers and targeted toward a teen audience, Breaking Dawn is a story that will speak to readers of all ages.

Donna Shelton skillfully portrays Dawn's butterfly-feelings as she experiences first love; irritation with Perry's "third wheel" status, and the fading of Dawn and Perry's best friend status will bring tears to the eyes of adults as they remember what it was like when relationships shifted.
Breaking Dawn speaks to teenagers on their level--and struggling readers will find the text accessible, which is Ransom Book's mission-- yet respects their intelligence and need for relevant stories in a captivating way. Breaking Dawn is unforgettable.

Beth Fehlbaum
Author, Courage in Patience

Best Breaking Dawn entitled book!

An intense read which grasps the controversial topics of child abuse, sexuality and teen-suicide. The battlefield associated with lifetime friendships versus new relationships are presented in its true, dark colours. The conjoining of Dawn's nuclear family and Perry's unconventional mother brings forth compassion and sorrow when the novel reaches its horrifying climax.

Dawn's dream-like prose portraying a blinkered perspective concerning the true cause of her best friend, Perry's, troubles, exacerbate an unexpected twist revealing the real cause of his mysterious behavior. Breaking Dawn depicts grief with outstanding accuracy making a truly harrowing read, which I would recommend to all older readers, struggling or not!

There is real intrigue from the outset of the story which continues throughout to create good pace and encourage page turning. Shelton is able to establish real emotion very quickly and effectively which is why I felt so involved with the characters so early. The story flows very well and fairly quickly making it exciting and gripping, I really didn't anticipate how engaged I would become! I think this comes from the realism in the writing and the genuine emotion evoked through Dawn's thoughts.

There are some very tense build ups to shocking moments which comes across perfectly in the descriptions Shelton provides us with. The writing is consistently real and evocative across some of the most controversial and difficult subject matters; these range from relationship troubles to teen suicide. Following Dawn through some extremely traumatic experiences is a real journey; we are able to see how she deals with grief and tries to create happiness out of such devastating times. It is a very powerful book to read and it comes highly recommended.

I loved Breaking Dawn by Donna Shelton

Dear Donna Shelton,

My name is Georgina  and I'm 13 years old. My school is doing a reading challange, were you have to read a book every week, this week I got a book you wrote called "Breaking Dawn". I loved it!!! I couldn't put it down and had read it within 2 hours. I have to say it's one of the best books I have ever read. I loved Perry!!! I was so upset when he died. I'm trying to write a book, but not easy. I'd hope you would give me a few pointers.



Hope you are well,
Georgina