All The Broken Pieces

Written by Ann E. Burg

Published by Scholastic Press in 2009

“Whether we went,/ or whether we stayed,/ the war changed us all.” (109)

Summary: Matt Pin was ten years old when he was airlifted out of worn-torn Vietnam and adopted into an American family. After witnessing bombings, deaths, and his own baby brother step on a bomb, Matt has nightmares and trouble adjusting to his new life. Even though he has a caring new family, these nightmares, and the unanswered questions about his American soldier father, haunt him. Matt doesn’t talk to his new family about his life in Vietnam, that is, until he meets a Veteran who gives him piano lessons and encourages him to open up. But Matt fears that after he shares his story, the kids at school will outcast him even further. Will Matt find the courage to speak up? Or will he continue trying to cope in silence?

Awards and Acclaim:

•  “Graceful symmetries between brother and brother, father and son, past and present, guilt and forgiveness shed light on the era and the individual.” –Kirkus’ Reviews
• Cybils Award Nominee for Middle Grade Fiction (2009), Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award Nominee (2011)

Reading Level: Lexile Framework: 680L Grade Level: 5-6

Suggested Delivery: Small Group Read

Description: Poetry/Prose, Historical Fiction, Diversity

Key Vocabulary (by page number): shrill (2), alcove (61), medic (97), veterans (100), heave (13), divisive (144), remission (217)

Teaching Suggestions:

1. Before reading, invite students to share any personal stories they have about the current war in the Middle East. Do they know someone who has been affected by it, either here or overseas? Hold a respectful and sensitive discussion on the topic.
2. Throughout the novel, Matt is picked on by his peers. After discussing the history of the Vietnam War (see Before Reading Strategy), briefly discuss how Vietnamese children were often judged and discriminated against in America. Discuss the conditions under which they were out casted and ask students to think about how this may have made them feel.
3. Provide a map of Vietnam on the board for students to reference as they read.

Comprehension Strategies:

Before Reading: Before Reading this novel, students should have a basic understanding of the Vietnam War. In order to learn about the time period, divide students into small groups and give each group a different topic related to the war. Use important dates, figures, places, etc. Then, students will use internet and library resources to research their topic. After collecting basic information, students will share their findings with the class. Lastly, invite students to contribute to a class-wide timeline on which students will write where their various topics fall within the context of the war. This will help students learn about different aspects of the war without being overwhelmed, as well as providing them with a visual reference while reading.

During Reading: Throughout the novel, Matt holds on to broken pieces of things, most notably, broken pencils and an unwound baseball. Matt says, on page 59, “Even the broken pieces/ are worth something/ to me.” Prompt students to think about this idea and why Matt likes to hold onto broken things. What type of metaphor does this create? Encourage students to connect this statement not only to Matt’s life right then in American, but his past in Vietnam. This question could be used as a writing prompt or a small group discussion.

After Reading: Towards the end of the novel, Coach Williams makes the team participate in an activity where one partner is blind-folded and the other partner must lead them. After Rob is paired up with Matt, he insists on remaining silent and refusing to let Matt help him. Rob repeatedly says “My brother died/ because of you” (188). Suddenly, Matt opens up and talks about his own baby brother and Rob has compassion for him. Briefly discuss with students why the coach initiated this activity, how it helped Matt and Rob and what it meant that they opened up to each other. Then, have your won students do this activity! Choose the partners so the social circles are mixed up a bit and have students hare their findings afterwards. Did they find it useful? Did they have a similar or different experience from Matt and Rob?

Writing Activity: Throughout the novel, Matt talks about how “his” Vietnam (war-torn and gray) is different from the one describes by other Vietnamese-Americans (culture-filled and vibrant). Ask students to think about how experiences shape perspectives on a place. Then, ask students to write about a place and how they view it, but how others may view it differently. It can be positive or negative, but it should include perspective and personal experience.

Electronic Resources:

Vietnam Memorial Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, where users can view The Memorial Wall in Washington D.C. and learn about all other aspects of the war.

Discussion Questions Additional discussion questions for the novel.

Burg, E. (2009). All the Broken Pieces. New York: Scholastic Press.