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Fragments
Ever since the accident, Chase feels shattered. He can't remember that night, and everyone's treating him like a broken freak. He just wants things to go back to normal. So when he starts getting flashes of memory, he's relieved. He's sure once he remembers everything, he can put the crash behind him and start over.
But when the flashes reveal another memory, Chase starts to panic. He's desperate to leave his ugly past behind. But if he wants to put the pieces together once and for all, he must face the truth about who he is . . . and what he has done.
But when the flashes reveal another memory, Chase starts to panic. He's desperate to leave his ugly past behind. But if he wants to put the pieces together once and for all, he must face the truth about who he is . . . and what he has done.
204 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
12 people are currently reading
352 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
August 11, 2021
this is a YA book perhaps best left to the YAs. it is not a book that hides its secrets well, and when it comes time for "the big reveal(s)," most people who are old enough have read a million books, or to have watched a shameful amount of TV/movies are going to be unsurprised and left a little cold. even people who read the entire book in the throes of physical illness bordering on feverish insanity and emotional unrest. (i.e. - me). i could see where part of it was headed on page three. and that's no good. but for someone on the very-Y end of the YA spectrum, it is probably fine. fewer comparisons will be made, fewer things may be painfully obvious because of a shallower pool of references from which to draw. and that's fine, but i personally wasn't wowed by this book, even though it served exactly the purpose i needed it to serve - a distraction from the breakdown of my poor body and mind.
part of this may be the result of the influence of a religious mindset. and i am not knocking organized religion. i am very disorganized myself, but an observation i have made of modern writers coming from a religious background is that they are rarely edgy. jen opened my eyes to the fact that there are many who are not, with the relief journal her man (still??) is the editor of, but for the most part, there is a consistent feel in the stuff i have read that seems unaware of other, secular, literature. and this book isn't overtly religious, not at all. the main character is the son of a minister, and the author is the husband to a minister, and this might be a completely crazy observation for me to make, but again - fever. there is a sense that these surprises are meant to be shocking, and the fact that they are so obvious points to a cluelessness that can be explained by someone who might be really sheltered in their available references. and again - i am probably just talking nonsense. it might just be that the author doesn't know a lot about what teens do or think or how far YA lit has come in terms of writing density or themes. or that this was written in 2007. feeeeever.
but whatever the cause, there is no denying that the twists and turns can be seen from miles away. and even though it is a really short book, there are parts of it that seem too undeveloped. there is the very breeziest of romantic entanglements in this book, where there is no reason for two characters to become attracted to each other. and yet, they are, with no impetus except proximity. both the start and the finish of the "relationship" is muddled, unrealistic, and can clearly be seen to be just a plot-advancing device.i know young people fall into surprising attachments all the time (believe me, i remember any number of unsuitable matches) but in a book, i don't want to be able to see the wires holding it all together as contrivance.
in short: brief book, no surprises, fever.
that concludes my book report.
come to my blog!
part of this may be the result of the influence of a religious mindset. and i am not knocking organized religion. i am very disorganized myself, but an observation i have made of modern writers coming from a religious background is that they are rarely edgy. jen opened my eyes to the fact that there are many who are not, with the relief journal her man (still??) is the editor of, but for the most part, there is a consistent feel in the stuff i have read that seems unaware of other, secular, literature. and this book isn't overtly religious, not at all. the main character is the son of a minister, and the author is the husband to a minister, and this might be a completely crazy observation for me to make, but again - fever. there is a sense that these surprises are meant to be shocking, and the fact that they are so obvious points to a cluelessness that can be explained by someone who might be really sheltered in their available references. and again - i am probably just talking nonsense. it might just be that the author doesn't know a lot about what teens do or think or how far YA lit has come in terms of writing density or themes. or that this was written in 2007. feeeeever.
but whatever the cause, there is no denying that the twists and turns can be seen from miles away. and even though it is a really short book, there are parts of it that seem too undeveloped. there is the very breeziest of romantic entanglements in this book, where there is no reason for two characters to become attracted to each other. and yet, they are, with no impetus except proximity. both the start and the finish of the "relationship" is muddled, unrealistic, and can clearly be seen to be just a plot-advancing device.i know young people fall into surprising attachments all the time (believe me, i remember any number of unsuitable matches) but in a book, i don't want to be able to see the wires holding it all together as contrivance.
in short: brief book, no surprises, fever.
that concludes my book report.
come to my blog!November 29, 2016
I really liked this book it was really good and had a big plot twist around the end of it. It was sort of sad too because of what happened at the end of it. It got confusing for me at the plot twist until the book explained it to me.
November 13, 2012
Reviewed by Dianna Geers for TeensReadToo.com
FRAGMENTS begins with all of the things a good book should: tension, problems, and many questions. Chase is a junior at a new school, recently discharged from a long hospital stay after a car accident, and struggles with the loss of his memory. His older brother sneaks into the house to see him, but Chase is told to keep his visit a secret. And that's all in the first four pages!
Readers immediately care for Chase and want him to be able to find some peace. As he deals with all of the issues and struggles to grab hold of fragments of memories as they pop into his head, you, too, want to know what happened the night of the car accident. Especially when you find out that he is suffering from "survivor guilt." You hope that the accident wasn't Chase's fault--and feel the need to know the truth.
While Chase searches his memories for bits of information, he is continually taken back to another memory of his brother when they were younger. Chase can't remember the whole situation, but it seems to haunt him, too. It's almost as though the memory of his brother will help to lead him to remembering the events of the accident. However, Chase later realizes that he has kept his own secrets which are worse than the events of the night of the accident . Can Chase handle knowing all of the truths he has tucked away inside his mind?
FRAGMENTS is a fast-paced book with continual tension and unending surprises. This is the first novel of Jeffry W. Johnston, but he is bound to become a favorite young adult author.
FRAGMENTS begins with all of the things a good book should: tension, problems, and many questions. Chase is a junior at a new school, recently discharged from a long hospital stay after a car accident, and struggles with the loss of his memory. His older brother sneaks into the house to see him, but Chase is told to keep his visit a secret. And that's all in the first four pages!
Readers immediately care for Chase and want him to be able to find some peace. As he deals with all of the issues and struggles to grab hold of fragments of memories as they pop into his head, you, too, want to know what happened the night of the car accident. Especially when you find out that he is suffering from "survivor guilt." You hope that the accident wasn't Chase's fault--and feel the need to know the truth.
While Chase searches his memories for bits of information, he is continually taken back to another memory of his brother when they were younger. Chase can't remember the whole situation, but it seems to haunt him, too. It's almost as though the memory of his brother will help to lead him to remembering the events of the accident. However, Chase later realizes that he has kept his own secrets which are worse than the events of the night of the accident . Can Chase handle knowing all of the truths he has tucked away inside his mind?
FRAGMENTS is a fast-paced book with continual tension and unending surprises. This is the first novel of Jeffry W. Johnston, but he is bound to become a favorite young adult author.
February 21, 2022
3.5 the end is really really good love the plot but the story was kinda messy from the beginning
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October 9, 2013Fragments. Tiny pieces of something that make no sense.
One, two, three, four.
If you break something, like a mirror, into pieces, and litter it around on the ground, sometimes you can't even tell what it is.
Two, four, six, eight.
Sometimes you can't ever tell what it is, what it was, what it could be if only you could piece all of the fragments back together again.
Three, six, nine, twelve.
And if you could? Find all the fragments and take glue and clean slate and glue them all together in a picture - a whole, coherent picture....
Four, eight, twelve, sixteen...
Would it be pretty? This picture? This picture made from broken, smashed pieces that lay jumbled about forever, or at least for as long as Chase has been counting in his head to stay calm?
Chase the Teenager, the Survivor.
Accident.
Death.
Superboy - boy of steel.
Brother.
Mother.
Father.
Bloody Crucifix.
Fragments.
One, two, three, four.
If you break something, like a mirror, into pieces, and litter it around on the ground, sometimes you can't even tell what it is.
Two, four, six, eight.
Sometimes you can't ever tell what it is, what it was, what it could be if only you could piece all of the fragments back together again.
Three, six, nine, twelve.
And if you could? Find all the fragments and take glue and clean slate and glue them all together in a picture - a whole, coherent picture....
Four, eight, twelve, sixteen...
Would it be pretty? This picture? This picture made from broken, smashed pieces that lay jumbled about forever, or at least for as long as Chase has been counting in his head to stay calm?
Chase the Teenager, the Survivor.
Accident.
Death.
Superboy - boy of steel.
Brother.
Mother.
Father.
Bloody Crucifix.
Fragments.
January 1, 2012
Chase tries to kill himself after surviving an awful car accident where three of his good friends died. He can't remember anything about that night and he's now in therapy trying to work his way through it but some other memories about his brother seem to be tied up in it as well. His therapist tells him that everything will work itself out and he will be able to figure out what has really happened to him. I found this book very predictable though it did have a quick pace. An easy read but not necessarily something that I would reread often.
November 1, 2019
Fragments Book Review
Is everything we know just a fragment of what truly took place? This is the main idea of Jeffry W. Johnston’s realistic fiction Fragments. Fragments follows the character of Chase Farrell and the traumatic events that led him to where he is. Chase got into a car crash one night with a group of friends. Out of all the people, he survived, and nobody knows how he was spared. Chase also is not able to remember the crash or what happened after. Burdened with survivor’s guilt, Chase attempts to kill himself. He is then admitted to a psychiatric ward and everyone tries to figure out what is wrong with this used-to-be a normal kid. After he is discharged from the psychiatric ward, he talks to a rather odd therapist to help uncover what secrets his own mind is keeping from him. Between his attempted suicide, his family constantly moving around, and the crash, Chase’s life is left in small fragments.
The concept for Fragments was intriguing but I did not feel the book told a complete story, rather, just like the title, it left me with fragmented ideas and stories that were never truly addressed during or at the end of the book. We readers are introduced to multiple characters within a given page, but when a new character was introduced, they never had a back story or much of a personality. Not knowing details about each character made the story confusing and hard to comprehend because you never knew who was with Chase or against him. The book also started with the multiple traumatic events he went through such as, “A week and a half since the new school year started. My junior year. Six weeks since I got home from the hospital. Four and a half months since the car accident.” Following comments like these, the author would add great imagery and descriptions to aid the reader in understanding what Chase went through, and it was a joy to read all of these descriptive lines; however, by the end of the book, the author fizzled out and didn’t add any emotion, just leaving the reader wanting something more. However, the author did have an extortionary plot that was enjoyable to read and seemed relatable to the everyday teen. He added drama and suspension that would catch a young reader’s attention such as when he said, “What is it, are you afraid of messing up again,” and Chase replies, “Maybe.” Chase, just like most other teenagers, is afraid of being judged and this allows the story to come across as more relatable and realistic to the target audience.
Fragments overall was a good book with an extraordinary plot, but not a well-written book. I believe I would recommend this book to another teen or young adult. The story of the book was enjoyable, but I didn’t agree with the author’s writing style. Someone else who reads this book could love the way the author describes the events that are taking place and find this book to be a great read. I would recommend this book to a fellow peer, but no one who is younger than me due to the more mature subjects within the book. My overall review of the book would be that I did not enjoy this book as much as I had like to, but I would definitely recommend it to someone else.
Is everything we know just a fragment of what truly took place? This is the main idea of Jeffry W. Johnston’s realistic fiction Fragments. Fragments follows the character of Chase Farrell and the traumatic events that led him to where he is. Chase got into a car crash one night with a group of friends. Out of all the people, he survived, and nobody knows how he was spared. Chase also is not able to remember the crash or what happened after. Burdened with survivor’s guilt, Chase attempts to kill himself. He is then admitted to a psychiatric ward and everyone tries to figure out what is wrong with this used-to-be a normal kid. After he is discharged from the psychiatric ward, he talks to a rather odd therapist to help uncover what secrets his own mind is keeping from him. Between his attempted suicide, his family constantly moving around, and the crash, Chase’s life is left in small fragments.
The concept for Fragments was intriguing but I did not feel the book told a complete story, rather, just like the title, it left me with fragmented ideas and stories that were never truly addressed during or at the end of the book. We readers are introduced to multiple characters within a given page, but when a new character was introduced, they never had a back story or much of a personality. Not knowing details about each character made the story confusing and hard to comprehend because you never knew who was with Chase or against him. The book also started with the multiple traumatic events he went through such as, “A week and a half since the new school year started. My junior year. Six weeks since I got home from the hospital. Four and a half months since the car accident.” Following comments like these, the author would add great imagery and descriptions to aid the reader in understanding what Chase went through, and it was a joy to read all of these descriptive lines; however, by the end of the book, the author fizzled out and didn’t add any emotion, just leaving the reader wanting something more. However, the author did have an extortionary plot that was enjoyable to read and seemed relatable to the everyday teen. He added drama and suspension that would catch a young reader’s attention such as when he said, “What is it, are you afraid of messing up again,” and Chase replies, “Maybe.” Chase, just like most other teenagers, is afraid of being judged and this allows the story to come across as more relatable and realistic to the target audience.
Fragments overall was a good book with an extraordinary plot, but not a well-written book. I believe I would recommend this book to another teen or young adult. The story of the book was enjoyable, but I didn’t agree with the author’s writing style. Someone else who reads this book could love the way the author describes the events that are taking place and find this book to be a great read. I would recommend this book to a fellow peer, but no one who is younger than me due to the more mature subjects within the book. My overall review of the book would be that I did not enjoy this book as much as I had like to, but I would definitely recommend it to someone else.
January 29, 2024
While a very fast read, there's plenty to ponder in here. Chase was the lone survivor of a car crash. His ability to remember the details are close to nil when the story begins, but bits and pieces return at unexpected times, mixed in with things he remembers about his older brother. How many are what actually happened, and which are ones his mind has changed to protect his sanity, constitute the bulk of the story. With the help of a crusty, but caring therapist, Chase begins to put his mental jigsaw puzzle back together. While at least one aspect is pretty easy to figure out early on, why that piece is the way it is will surprise some readers.
This is an excellent story about guilt, families that pretend until it hurts too much to ignore reality, and coming to grips with what was never your fault.
This is an excellent story about guilt, families that pretend until it hurts too much to ignore reality, and coming to grips with what was never your fault.
October 15, 2019
This was a quick and dark read. Not sure this book would be for everyone.
June 7, 2022
Short book. Easy read. Nice intro into getting back into reading.
June 29, 2023
I like to reread books I liked as a young teenager and see how I feel as an adult. I understand why I liked this book as a kid, but as an adult it was very predictable
April 7, 2013
The night of the party, Chase and his friends are too drunk to get behind the wheel, so Chase calls his ex-girlfriend, Angie, to pick him up. But as Angie is driving home, a car comes speeding around a curve in the road. Angie can't avoid the vehicle and it hits them head-on. Everyone in Angie's car dies except for Chase, who falls out of the passenger door.
Because he survived, he feels huge survivor's guilt. When he's asked to describe what happened, Chase only has a few images, which are all frightening. No matter how hard he tries or how demanding Angie's then-boyfriend Kevin is to him, he can't seem to figure it out.
Weeks after the accident, he starts to hear voices that tell him to hurt, even kill himself. During the school play of Godspell, Chase gives in to the voices and is sent to the hospital for two months.
Now back to school, Chase feels awkward, exposed, and shattered. Kevin's friendly neighborhood bitches harass Chase, he doesn't want to try out for the play, despite his amazing and natural acting, and his parents would have a heart-attack if they found out his juvenile delinquent brother Ben, whom is barely out of jail, is visiting him.
The only person he can talk to is his smoking shrink, Dr. Braun. Dr. Braun is completely fascinated by Chase's dream of the real-life memory; Ben jumping off of their roof, claiming he's "Superboy! Boy of Steel!". Chase is the only one who saw him jump. Dr. Braun becomes set that this dream is attached to something bigger, and one that might explain the whole thing,
-------
Okie, can I just explain HOW MUCH the new girl, Darla, irritated me throughout the beginning of the book?? Yeah, well.
Whenever Darla meets someone, she instantly expects to be judgmental of her rather tom-boyish, "lesbian" (i didn't mean to offend.) appearance. When the person doesn't really give two rat tooth's, which as I would, she presses on.
"Aren't you gonna ask me if I'm gay?"
"Aren't you gonna ask why I dress like this?"
"Aren't you gonna run away screaming because I'm intimidating af?!" lawl no jk.
But she was basically hurling herself at any oncoming student, just to ask them irrelevant questions about herself. When something goes wrong, she immediately it assumes it's because of her hair. "OHMYGOD THE EGGS ARE GONE, ITS BECAUSE OF MY HAIR, ISN'T IT?!?!"
And then, she brings out the scar bomb. Good for you, Darla ._.
AND I QUOTE:
"You're the kid who tried to kill himself. Now that's a way to get noticed."
"I'm just curious. I don't know anybody who's tried suicide. Did it hurt? Did you feel anything?"
"Just tell me why you chose to cut your wrists. It takes a long time to bleed, doesn't it? Is that èwhy you did it?"
"I read once the method a suicidal person chooses says a lot about them. Sleeping pills, thats simple. But somone has to be really pissed to jump off a building, or crash a car......"
And then... "Do you mind showing me your scars?"
LIKE NO.
Later, on, I begin to tolerate her a little bit.
---
I gave this book a 3.5 because I thought the ending was spectacular, and it was well written.
Seriously, the ending doe.
Because he survived, he feels huge survivor's guilt. When he's asked to describe what happened, Chase only has a few images, which are all frightening. No matter how hard he tries or how demanding Angie's then-boyfriend Kevin is to him, he can't seem to figure it out.
Weeks after the accident, he starts to hear voices that tell him to hurt, even kill himself. During the school play of Godspell, Chase gives in to the voices and is sent to the hospital for two months.
Now back to school, Chase feels awkward, exposed, and shattered. Kevin's friendly neighborhood bitches harass Chase, he doesn't want to try out for the play, despite his amazing and natural acting, and his parents would have a heart-attack if they found out his juvenile delinquent brother Ben, whom is barely out of jail, is visiting him.
The only person he can talk to is his smoking shrink, Dr. Braun. Dr. Braun is completely fascinated by Chase's dream of the real-life memory; Ben jumping off of their roof, claiming he's "Superboy! Boy of Steel!". Chase is the only one who saw him jump. Dr. Braun becomes set that this dream is attached to something bigger, and one that might explain the whole thing,
-------
Okie, can I just explain HOW MUCH the new girl, Darla, irritated me throughout the beginning of the book?? Yeah, well.
Whenever Darla meets someone, she instantly expects to be judgmental of her rather tom-boyish, "lesbian" (i didn't mean to offend.) appearance. When the person doesn't really give two rat tooth's, which as I would, she presses on.
"Aren't you gonna ask me if I'm gay?"
"Aren't you gonna ask why I dress like this?"
"Aren't you gonna run away screaming because I'm intimidating af?!" lawl no jk.
But she was basically hurling herself at any oncoming student, just to ask them irrelevant questions about herself. When something goes wrong, she immediately it assumes it's because of her hair. "OHMYGOD THE EGGS ARE GONE, ITS BECAUSE OF MY HAIR, ISN'T IT?!?!"
And then, she brings out the scar bomb. Good for you, Darla ._.
AND I QUOTE:
"You're the kid who tried to kill himself. Now that's a way to get noticed."
"I'm just curious. I don't know anybody who's tried suicide. Did it hurt? Did you feel anything?"
"Just tell me why you chose to cut your wrists. It takes a long time to bleed, doesn't it? Is that èwhy you did it?"
"I read once the method a suicidal person chooses says a lot about them. Sleeping pills, thats simple. But somone has to be really pissed to jump off a building, or crash a car......"
And then... "Do you mind showing me your scars?"
LIKE NO.
Later, on, I begin to tolerate her a little bit.
---
I gave this book a 3.5 because I thought the ending was spectacular, and it was well written.
Seriously, the ending doe.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 29, 2016
« Jeffry W. Johnston's Fragments is an amazing book.
✮✮✮✮✮ 4.7/5 »
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Alright, to be honest, I chose it randomly because I was bored.
However, I was in for a pleasant surprise. This is definitely a deep and darker book with a cleverly woven plot. It mainly focuses on the main character's psychological state. The plot is brilliant and keeps the reader interested and yearning to know about what exactly happened. The main character, Chase, is a likable character who is attempting to piece together an event from 'fragments' of memories and in the process comes to find many truths about himself and his past that he'd locked away. Secrets intertwine and snake throughout the book and reveal themselves at the perfect moments. With its many twists and surprises, this book did not fail to keep my attention. Although it was too short and some of the characters were not very well developed. And the ending was not that satisfying and weak. [Though it did tie a lot of loose ends together.]
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MAJOR SPOILER
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April 16, 20094Q 4P JS
This “Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers” was a fast read, that kept me engrossed and guessing. As we begin the story, the main character Chase is recovering from a car accident. He is healing not only from the physical aspects of the crash; but also the emotional aspects, since he was the only survivor. In therapy Dr. Braun is helping him to cope, as flashes of memory begin to return. Darker family secrets begin to emerge, as the emotional scars stem far beyond the accident itself. Chase has moved frequently with his family, following his father’s ministry. The family made this last move when they were disgraced by the arrest of Chase’s brother Ben. The family just seems to go about their business without addressing or discussing these issues that arise. The book incorporates several aspects that relate to developmental aspects of teens: parties and underage drinking, designated drivers, teen relationships and cheating, etc. More controversial issues are also included in the story line: accidents and dealing with death, crimes and arrest, suicide attempts, obsessive-compulsive behaviors, therapy, and sexual abuse. The story provides the true feel of a teen facing all the obstacles that life can throw at you. Chase’s strength may help teens to face their own obstacles and hidden fears. Information could also be made available on teen hotlines and other resources where they may seek help if needed.
This “Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers” was a fast read, that kept me engrossed and guessing. As we begin the story, the main character Chase is recovering from a car accident. He is healing not only from the physical aspects of the crash; but also the emotional aspects, since he was the only survivor. In therapy Dr. Braun is helping him to cope, as flashes of memory begin to return. Darker family secrets begin to emerge, as the emotional scars stem far beyond the accident itself. Chase has moved frequently with his family, following his father’s ministry. The family made this last move when they were disgraced by the arrest of Chase’s brother Ben. The family just seems to go about their business without addressing or discussing these issues that arise. The book incorporates several aspects that relate to developmental aspects of teens: parties and underage drinking, designated drivers, teen relationships and cheating, etc. More controversial issues are also included in the story line: accidents and dealing with death, crimes and arrest, suicide attempts, obsessive-compulsive behaviors, therapy, and sexual abuse. The story provides the true feel of a teen facing all the obstacles that life can throw at you. Chase’s strength may help teens to face their own obstacles and hidden fears. Information could also be made available on teen hotlines and other resources where they may seek help if needed.
February 1, 2013
Chase can’t remember anything about the night of the car accident. He was at a party with his friends and they were all drunk. Chase did the responsible thing and called another friend to drive them home. What they didn't count on was being hit by a speeding reckless drunk driver. Chase is the only survivor from the crash. He doesn't remember anything about the accident. Just that he survived while his friends, and ex-girlfriend didn’t. But what if Chase just hadn't gone to the party? Or what if he hadn't called Angie to drive them home? There are so many what ifs, yes nothing can change the past. Chase has survivors guilt and his memory is a defense mechanism. Part of him wants to remember what happened to know the truth. So when he starts seeing a psychologist, after a suicide attempt he talks and tries to share his thoughts and feelings. He regains a few flashes of memory, and they are making progress. But when his memories from the night of the accident lead him to other long forgotten memories, memories of his brother and what happened to them when they were younger.He doesn't want to remember. But if he is ever to understand himself and his life, he must acknowledge the truth about his past.
March 4, 2012
Ah, another book about the human mind. Well, sort of. Anyways, when I first got this book, I wasn't even sure if I was going to like it. But, this book did one thing that rarely happens to me with stories...it surprised me. There was one twist in this story that I had not expected. Once I read it, my mouth literally dropped. I will say that there are some parts that I didn't read as much into detail because they got a little lengthy (for me). But overall the story was really good. The story is mainly about a boy who has experienced a traumatic event, and is need of putting the pieces of his mind and himself back together again. Whether or not he actually succeeds is for you to find out if you decide to read it. But it is a good small story, and probably could be finished within a day. Out of all the books that I have read, this is one of those that have stayed in my memory til this day. =)
November 16, 2009
This is becoming one of my favorite book, once i started I found it hard to put down. It begins with the mystery of a car accident. Chase with a few friends was drunk out of a party therefore he called his ex-girlfriend to pick them up. They got into a car accident, everyone in the car died except Chase. He forgot everything that happens during the accident. He survive but he had a hard time on finding a way out and a pardon, he wants to live a normal life but his guilt and fragments of the accident distanced him from normal. He think of suicide and blames he is the one that cause the accident. His ex-girlfriend's boyfriends and his teammate started harrassing him when Chase can't tell them what happen that night. This book surely reminded me of books written by sharon M. Draper "Tears of a Tiger" and "Forged by Fire". They are all about teen struggles in society and all very intense.
April 25, 2011
FRAGMENTS is a well written, quick but darker read, by first time author Jeffry W. Johnston; dealing with some very sensitive and sadly very real subject matter.
High School Junior Chase is dealing with survivor’s guilt and partial amnesia after a drunken car accident kills some of his friends. When Chase starts to recover flashes or “fragments” of memory, not all the memories are from the accident; some reveal a much more traumatic and disturbing event from his past. Question is… Should some secrets stay hidden?
FRAGMENTS has well developed characters, a solid plot with some suspenseful twist and a strong pace, making for a good read; although the delicate and emotional content makes for a read that might not be for everyone.
High School Junior Chase is dealing with survivor’s guilt and partial amnesia after a drunken car accident kills some of his friends. When Chase starts to recover flashes or “fragments” of memory, not all the memories are from the accident; some reveal a much more traumatic and disturbing event from his past. Question is… Should some secrets stay hidden?
FRAGMENTS has well developed characters, a solid plot with some suspenseful twist and a strong pace, making for a good read; although the delicate and emotional content makes for a read that might not be for everyone.
June 1, 2010
Chase is trying to go through his life with out people in his way. In this book Chase and his friends have encountered a car accident and he was the only one that survived the crash. One of his friends was his girlfriend. Since the crash he has been getting his memory back in "fragments." Chase does not know what he should do with himself any longer.
I thought this book was really good and I would definitely read this book again. This book teaches you what happens in the real world on a daily basis. It is hard for kids to live with out friends that they were close to and now are gone. Do you think you would be able to handle this type of situation if it had approached you?
I thought this book was really good and I would definitely read this book again. This book teaches you what happens in the real world on a daily basis. It is hard for kids to live with out friends that they were close to and now are gone. Do you think you would be able to handle this type of situation if it had approached you?
November 22, 2010
so far.. I like this book. The main character is unsure of what happened at the accident. And I wonder why? That's what everyone, including his therapist, is trying to figure out. Why was he the only one that survived? He was right next to Angie?
I am a little confused about that new girl and her behavior. Whats wrong with Chase and his behavior. He didn't try out for the play and hes got a talent for acting! I do not understand his thoughts....
Oh my God!! I'm sooo surprised!! How could Chase and Darla be together!? Never expected that coming! wow. i can't believe that also Ben died... so sad..
I am a little confused about that new girl and her behavior. Whats wrong with Chase and his behavior. He didn't try out for the play and hes got a talent for acting! I do not understand his thoughts....
Oh my God!! I'm sooo surprised!! How could Chase and Darla be together!? Never expected that coming! wow. i can't believe that also Ben died... so sad..
March 14, 2011
Fragmented by Jeffry W. Johnston is a story of one young adult’s life and his struggle in coping with the car wreck he feels he somehow caused. It is a very fast read. He explains his thoughts well; it is clear which are his and which are the voices in his head causing his discomfort. It is intense in the way that it feels like it’s in your face, you are feeling what he feels, understanding how he feels. I feel it is easily relatable, but this is completely subjective. It is simple, but the simplicity creates a very in depth connection from the protagonist to the reader. The first person point of view is key to this text. The emotions of the main character are what make it good.
August 29, 2011
I picked this book up at the library along with another 15 books, and I decided to start with this one because it was the shortest in the stack. I had NO idea it was going to end up being that good. One of my roommates picked up this book, and said the writing was awful because it wasn't descriptive but this was one of the parts I liked the most. Things weren't very descriptive at all in the beginning, sentences were fragments. For me, this helped bring Chase's issues to life. There were so many twists in the story that I had no chance of guessing what was going on until right before they told you. All in all, definitely an exceptionally good book for such a short story.
September 28, 2012
I read the book called Fragments by Jeffry W. Johnston. Aboy by the name of Chase wanted to gain his memory back fram a fatal car accident. But he has blocked out the entire memory so the book is about his journey to gain his memory back. I thought this book didnt have much thought or character. At the end of the book he is still tring to gain his memory. The theropists says to Chase that he still has a long way to go but has made progress. This is boring because they just talk and don't do much. I would recommend to book to noone. I wouldn't recommend this book to people who like action packed books because this is the opposite from action.
August 21, 2015
Wow. This book was amazing. Unlike a lot of YA, everyone in here felt real enough.
I loved the whole thing, the characters, the plot, and most of all the memories Chase regained and the ones he twisted. I've read plenty of books dealing with dark topics and mental illness, and this is definitely a really really good one.
This might just be a personal thing, but I especially loved that they were pastor's kids. A lot of people assume you're perfect since your parents work at the church, a place people often connect with morals, and this book just proved how anyone can be messed up and need help. I loved this aspect.
Overall, five stars.
I loved the whole thing, the characters, the plot, and most of all the memories Chase regained and the ones he twisted. I've read plenty of books dealing with dark topics and mental illness, and this is definitely a really really good one.
This might just be a personal thing, but I especially loved that they were pastor's kids. A lot of people assume you're perfect since your parents work at the church, a place people often connect with morals, and this book just proved how anyone can be messed up and need help. I loved this aspect.
Overall, five stars.
April 18, 2009
I read this book because David had read it and liked it and wanted me to read it. Some of the material was not appropriate for a 12 y.o. but other than that I think it's a great book for maybe a 14 y.o. or older. It's about a 16 y.o. boy who is the only survivor of a fatal car crash that kills 3 of his friends. He sinks into depression, is suicidal, experiences survivor guilt and the story keeps building suspense right up to the last page. I couldn't wait to finish it and even though there are some disturbing parts to it, it was very well written. The author lives in Broomall.
October 7, 2011
I think Fragments By Jefry W. Johnston was a good book. I thought this because it realy got my attion. It got my attion when they described the car accdent which he was the only one that lived. The only part i dint get was when Ben doesnt come live with them. Ben is chase's big brother. Chase had realy good luck that night of the accident. but towrades the end he loses it. he has to rember everthing that happend that night. He gets bulied during school becasue of all the scares. If i had to rate this book 1-10 i would say 9.
December 11, 2008
I loved this book, I got so emotionally hooked on this book, it really pulled me in. It didn't take me very long to read it, mostly because it is such a page-turner. I would recommend this to people who like a good story, but don't want to read a big book. I can relate to all of the characters somehow, and I love that in a book. There is some vulgar in it, so probably not for people under 13. This is definitely going on my favorite books list. :)
March 24, 2008
The cover of this book looked rather intriguing to me. I know, I know.. don't judge a book by its cover, but it's kinda necessary to me. Anyways, the book was rather dull in my opinion. The cause of the main character's problem has nothing to do with the actual problem. Also, there really isn't that much change of setting which can get pretty boring.
April 18, 2008
I borrowed Fragments at the library because i like to book cover and the title. its a good book. i read it months ago so i dont really remember the characters, but i like how the borther of the main character was already dead and the main character kept him alive. i nver saw that coming.
i had to read that part twice because i got a tad bit confused
i had to read that part twice because i got a tad bit confused
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 26, 2010
This book was extremely good, it is about a boy named Chase who had gotten into an accident and can't remember anything about his past. People around him treat him as though he is special, but Chase just wants to remember everything. But when he starts to remember again he remembers things he used to do and it scares him. I would recommend this book to everytone
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