Review: Split by Swati Avasthi

Title: Split 
Author: Swati Avasthi
Published: March 9, 2010
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
Pages: 280
Source: Library
Rating: 5 stars
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“Sometimes I wonder why words can't actually make us bleed.”
―Swati Avasthi, Split

Synopsis
Sixteen-Year-Old Jace Witherspoon arrives at the doorstep of his estranged brother Christian with a re-landscaped face (courtesy of his father’s fist), $3.84, and a secret.

He tries to move on, going for new friends, a new school, and a new job, but all his changes can’t make him forget what he left behind—his mother, who is still trapped with his dad, and his ex-girlfriend, who is keeping his secret.

At least so far.

Worst of all, Jace realizes that if he really wants to move forward, he may first have to do what scares him most: He may have to go back. First-time novelist Swati Avasthi has created a riveting and remarkably nuanced portrait of what happens after. After you’ve said enough, after you’ve run, after you’ve made the split—how do you begin to live again? Readers won’t be able to put this intense page-turner down. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts
I have been behind on reviews lately and that is NOT ACCEPTABLE! But don't worry, I'm on it. Sometimes, I read like a woman possessed and forget I'm supposed to actually be reviewing those books...

So, this review was tough to write. I don't know if I can ever fully describe all of the emotions Split made me feel. It was an intense read, and once I started, I couldn't stop. I needed to know what happened next. I tend to stick to the fantasy and paranormal genres because books are my chance to escape from reality. Yes, I might read darker fantasy, but after I finish that Stephen King book, I realize that none of these supernatural creatures exist outside of my imagination. Hopefully, that is. But the demons that haunt Jace Witherspoon are all too real. Yet while Split was a painful, emotional read, it was also a touching tale of two brothers rediscovering what it means to be family, and I thought it was brilliantly done.

Split explores the aftermath of domestic violence. Jace has finally escaped his abusive father and has driven across country to arrive on his brother's doorstop. But it has been years since Christian and Jace have seen each other. Ever since Christian made a break for it years ago, the two brothers haven't so much as written to each other. Christian has made a life for himself; he has a girlfriend, an apartment and his dreams of a medical career. He is trying to move on when Jace turns up out of the blue, a painful reminder of what Christian has been running from. Tensions are high right from the start, as the two brothers struggle to reconnect.

Split is very much a character-driven novel. This book explores the psychological repercussions of being raised in a violent household. While their physical wounds have healed, both Jace and Christian carry scars that are invisible to the eye. I really sympathized with Jace. I can hardly imagine such a traumatic childhood when I was raised in a loving home. Sure, I have tiffs with my parents, we all do, but none of my problems can even compare to what Jace has endured. Yet despite his father's abuse, Jace cannot help but love him. He's the only father he's even known, and that leaves him feeling more conflicted than ever. Jace wants to hate his father, but he does have some fond memories of him. He still has trouble understanding how his father can switch from loving father to abuser, from Dr. Jekyll to Mr. Hyde.

Jace is not just leaving his violent father behind; he's also trying to run from himself. Jace is terrified that he will turn into his father. He worries that he will make the same mistakes his father made, and this tortures him. What I loved about Split is that not even the victims are entirely innocent. Both Christian and Jace are wracked with guilt for entirely different reasons. Christian regrets leaving behind his brother to suffer in his place, and Jace is desperately trying to control his anger issues so that he does not follow in his father's footsteps. These characters were far from perfect, but that just made Split all the more realistic. I mean, how can anyone grow up in a dysfunctional family and not suffer emotionally?

My favorite part of Split was watching the brothers slowly restore their trust in each other. Christian and Jace have forgotten what it means to be brothers, but as Split progresses, they learn to confide in and support each other. They become a family, and that was touching to witness. Jace learns from Christian that you can argue without your fists. He also realizes that you can walk away when angry. Up until that point, Jace believed that physical confrontation was inevitable. But Christian shows him how to control his emotions, and it changes everything for Jace.

There are some painful scenes in Split, but that was far from surprising. Christian and Jace may want to reconnect, but it isn't always easy. I may not always like these characters, and I may not always understand their actions, but I always sympathized with their plight. They make mistakes, but they learn from them. As for the ending, it wasn't entirely to my satisfaction, but it was believable. And it was fitting for such a dark tale, and, sadly, domestic abuse cases rarely end happily ever after in real life.

I knew what I was getting into when I picked up Split, but this book still carried quite an emotional punch. Split was a gripping, shocking tale of human suffering and conflict, but it was also a heart-warming, poignant tale of two brothers rediscovering a bond they once shared and cherished. I can guarantee I will remember this book for a long time.