Reviews for The heartbreak messenger

Horn Book
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

When his best friend's older brother needs help breaking up with a girlfriend, thirteen-year-old Quentin can't turn down the easy money. Quentin's reputation builds as The Heartbreak Messenger forges a full-fledged (though morally questionable) business. Run-ins with spurned teen lovers are lightheartedly humorous but never glib, and Quentin's priorities, relationships, and narrative voice are just right for a tween audience. (c) Copyright 2014. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.


Publishers Weekly
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

After seventh-grader Quentin accepts $20 to deliver a breakup message for a friend's older brother, a new business is born: he becomes the "Heartbreak Messenger," hired to perform breakups for the weak-willed. Quentin believes his single mother, an auto mechanic, is struggling to pay their bills, so there's an altruistic side to his entrepreneurship, but he also enjoys the power the job gives him. Problems arise, including bad reactions from the recipients of his services, as well as the friction created as Quentin lies to his close friend Abby about his secret profession. His complicated feelings for Abby don't help, especially after she starts dating another boy. The laughs are plentiful in Vance's debut, between Quentin's wry voice and the awkward situations the author creates (like when Quentin gets decked by a girl after delivering the bad news); Quentin's communicative, protective relationship with his mother is another high point. The lessons Quentin learns about love, compassion, and himself can be slightly heavy-handed, but overall it's an entertaining and funny read with a clever conceit. Ages 10-13. Agent: Jennifer Weltz, Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency. (July) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.


Book list
From Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission.

Breaking up is hard to do, but not if you have the Heartbreak Messenger do it for you. For 20 bucks he will deliver a breakup message to your soon-to-be ex. But who is the man behind the myth? None other than 13-year-old Quentin, who invents the surprisingly lucrative business after assisting his friend's older brother. Quentin finds being a professional relationship ender harder and more dangerous than he expected, but he doesn't fully understand the emotional fallout until he is hired by the boyfriend of his best friend, Abby. The situations Quentin finds himself in are humorous and heartfelt, often underscoring his own cluelessness about Abby's true feelings. With strong supporting characters and an appealing lead, this funny, feel-good tale is perfect for those beginning to think about dating.--Hutley, Krista Copyright 2010 Booklist

Back