Cracked Pots

This is the long awaited sequel to "Clay Girl", which was released in 2016 and written by a Toronto area author. It starts up at the end of the previous novel. Ari is once again in Toronto and one of her friends has gone missing. We follow Ari's journey as she grows from high school student to woman and she has to come to terms with the fact that she is the child of an addicted neglectful, mother and an abusive father. She deals with further troubles (which she refers to as mayhem) with the help of her aunts and many sisters. Once again this is a wonderful recommendation for readers and although it can be read as a stand alone, I would encourage people to read "Clay Girl" first. I really loved these two books and the characters will stay with me for a long while.

I absolutely loved "The Clay Girl" so I was ecstatic to discover that Heather Tucker had written a sequel. While this is a difficult book in many regards as it deals with childhood abuse and neglect, it is ultimately a story of hope and rising above your upbringing and circumstances.

Heather Tucker's writing is magical and I hadn't realized how much I had missed it, until I picked up this book. I love it's lyrical quality and how the writing carries you along.

I don't think you need to read the first book before reading this as it stands well on it own, but you'll probably want to after reading this one! I would recommend that you give yourself some time to get used to the writing in this book before setting it down or giving up as it is definitely written in a unique way.

Thanks to NetGalley and Misfit Book for the ARC!

Cracked Pots is the follow-up to Clay Girl. I haven’t read the first novel; I read this as a standalone. I didn’t have any trouble understanding the plot or the characters. The plot of the novel is very difficult to describe correctly in brief. Ari belongs to an extremely troubled family; their past tinged with the horror of abuse by their parents. Ari is the youngest of her sisters. The best way to summarize the story is that we see Ari grow and embrace her life through all the crap of the past and the present.
The characters of the novel are the backbone of this story. Every character has a significant place in Ari’s life and her journey. Ari is so brave and strong even after what she has been through, there is a kindness in her. She is always ready to take care of everyone never thinking twice. The first example of this is her relationship with her young step-brother Mikey. She practically takes care of him, shielding him from their troubled household as much she could. She has a strong support system, people who understand her and want to help. Ari is an amazing artist, and her art is often an outlet for her. You feel proud of how far she comes by the end.
The story becomes so raw and emotional in certain situations; it was hard not to let it get to me. The way Heather Tucker has written the novel is quite poetic and metaphorical. I loved Ari’s journey in the novel. It is her story and her journey that keeps you invested but there are strong characters around her, who help her every step of the way. This book is beautiful, poetic, and heartbreaking. I have never read a coming-of-age novel like this one.