Editorial Review: Broken Pencils by J.R. Rice

Jonah Tarver is a troubled Oakland teenager whose life spirals out of control on the day of his eighteenth birthday, which coincides with his Senior prom.

Broken Pencils introduces readers to Jonah Tarver, a young black teenager from Oakland who has a lot on his mind. Jonah not only has a mental disorder for which he has to take medication but must also deal with his parent’s troubled marriage. In addition, Jonah continues to struggle with the death of his best friend, who was like an older brother to him, in a car crash.  

The story opens with Jonah getting ready for his Senior prom, which coincides with his eighteenth birthday. It’s supposed to be a day of celebration as Jonah will be joining his girlfriend Taniesha, his best friend Trevon, and the rest of his friends for a memorable evening. However, things quickly spiral out of control, and before the sun rises, Jonah will have had a harrowing journey set in the gritty world of San Francisco’s nightlife scene.

 Broken Pencils is a book with an important story to tell, and it doesn’t pull any punches to do so. Jonah is no angel, and his journey of self-discovery is one that is filled with sex, drugs, violence, and profanity. It is a tragic tale in many ways but written so captivatingly that it’s impossible not to get drawn into Jonah’s predicament. 

 J.R. Rice wrote an engaging story with an important message and succeeded in making Jonah a sympathetic character despite his shortcomings and bad decisions. While many of his actions can be dismissed as the recklessness of youth, Jonah has plenty of inner demons that he is grappling with, and the author has done a great job of portraying this realistically. The story is written in a manner that makes it feel like readers are accompanying Jonah on his gut-wrenching search for meaning. However, readers are also privy to his innermost thoughts, which makes the story even more compelling.    

The tale of Broken Pencils spans less than a day, but there’s never a dull moment as Jonah is always either getting into some predicament or reflecting on the choices that lead him to where he is. His mental issues are never used as an excuse or justification for his actions but instead, shine a light on the struggles faced by many. The book can be challenging to read in parts, especially the scenes involving violence, and the language used in the story is also not for the easily offended. However, the use of these is never gratuitous and is instead used for a realistic depiction of the situations Jonah finds himself in.  

Overall, Broken Pencils is a thought-provoking novel with a memorable protagonist. It offers an unflinching look at many of the heavy topics that teenagers and young adults have to deal with.