All the Broken Pieces by Ann E. Burg

All the Broken Pieces by Ann E. Burg is about Matt Pin, a young Vietnamese boy who has been adopted by a family in the U.S. just after the Vietnam War. This story details Matt's struggle to fit in at his school, where the other students see him as the enemy. Many of his classmates' siblings went to fight in the Vietnam War and never came home. Their anger about their loved ones' deaths is taken out on Matt. Matt also struggles with his memories of his mother and brother. Matt never knew his father, an American soldier who abandoned them. Matt's brother was terribly injured in a landmine explosion, and Matt believes it was his fault. His mother, trying to keep him safe, sent Matt with the American soldiers to go to America for a better life. Matt, however, thinks she sent him away as a punishment for what happened to his little brother. Matt's adoptive father teaches Matt to play baseball, and he's really good. He even makes the school team! But, it's even harder for him to fit in there, because he is mercilessly taunted by his own teammates. This story is about Matt's search to fit in somewhere, to feel loved, wanted, and worthwhile.

I loved this book. It is a quick read because it is written in free-verse. The suthor does a wonderful job at weaving all parts of the story together. The reader feels so sad for Matt and all he's been through, but also feels some compassion for the kids at his school who lost siblings in the war. This is a thought-provoking, well told story about a very sad time in history.