Broken

Some stories meet you exactly where your memories live.

“Broken” by X. Fang did that for me.

At the heart of this book is a truth I hold close.

Every patch and every repair tells a story.

Mei Mei’s mistake. The guilt. The fear of disappointing someone you love. Her journey toward honesty and forgiveness felt deeply real and tender.

This story brought me back to my first year teaching Grade 1 and our class pet, Coco the monkey. Coco went home with every child, collecting stories along the way. Scratches became memories. Stains became adventures. Until one day, a family dog ripped him apart.

The child was heartbroken. The mum lovingly put Coco through “hospital.” When he returned, he had a patch on his little butt. And that patch became part of Coco’s journey. A reminder that being repaired does not make us less. It makes us more.

Just like Mei Mei, Coco taught my students that mistakes do not end a story. They add depth to it.

This week, my Grade 3, 4, and 5 students had the most honest conversations after reading Broken.

When do you tell the truth?

How do you repair a mistake when you are scared?

This is a book every classroom needs. Gentle. Wise. Deeply human.

Coco will be making another visit soon. Patch and all.