The Heartbreak Messenger

May 27, 2013
After seventh-grader Quentin accepts $20 to deliver a breakup message for a friend’s older brother, a new business is born: he becomes the “Heartbreak Messenger,” hired to perform breakups for the weak-willed. Quentin believes his single mother, an auto mechanic, is struggling to pay their bills, so there’s an altruistic side to his entrepreneurship, but he also enjoys the power the job gives him. Problems arise, including bad reactions from the recipients of his services, as well as the friction created as Quentin lies to his close friend Abby about his secret profession. His complicated feelings for Abby don’t help, especially after she starts dating another boy. The laughs are plentiful in Vance’s debut, between Quentin’s wry voice and the awkward situations the author creates (like when Quentin gets decked by a girl after delivering the bad news); Quentin’s communicative, protective relationship with his mother is another high point. The lessons Quentin learns about love, compassion, and himself can be slightly heavy-handed, but overall it’s an entertaining and funny read with a clever conceit. Ages 10–13. Agent: Jennifer Weltz, Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency.

Starred review from August 1, 2013

Gr 5-8-When his best friend's brother wants to break up with his girlfriend but doesn't know how, Quentin agrees to do it for him for $20. He never expects it to turn into a business, but after being successful and taking the ex's advice to soften the blow with flowers and chocolate, he becomes the heartbreak messenger. Wanting to help out his car-mechanic mother with what he assumes are money problems, he takes on more breakups. However, most of them are not so simple. He gets punched by a girl, has to figure out how to break up with two girls at the same time without telling them about each other, and must comfort an enormous football player whose heart is broken. As he struggles to keep his business and his body safe from harm, he finds himself with conflicting feelings about his other best friend, Abby. When her boyfriend asks for his services, Quentin must decide about his true feelings for her. Quentin is a likable and funny narrator. His confusion over his feelings for Abby is authentic, and his decision that he is not ready to pursue a romantic relationship will strike a chord with other preteens. This clever read will find an audience with both boys and girls.-Kefira Phillipe, Nichols Middle School, Evanston, IL

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2013
Grades 5-8 Breaking up is hard to do, but not if you have the Heartbreak Messenger do it for you. For 20 bucks he will deliver a breakup message to your soon-to-be ex. But who is the man behind the myth? None other than 13-year-old Quentin, who invents the surprisingly lucrative business after assisting his friend's older brother. Quentin finds being a professional relationship ender harderand more dangerousthan he expected, but he doesn't fully understand the emotional fallout until he is hired by the boyfriend of his best friend, Abby. The situations Quentin finds himself in are humorous and heartfelt, often underscoring his own cluelessness about Abby's true feelings. With strong supporting characters and an appealing lead, this funny, feel-good tale is perfect for those beginning to think about dating.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2014
When his best friend's older brother needs help breaking up with a girlfriend, thirteen-year-old Quentin can't turn down the easy money. Quentin's reputation builds as The Heartbreak Messenger forges a full-fledged (though morally questionable) business. Run-ins with spurned teen lovers are lightheartedly humorous but never glib, and Quentin's priorities, relationships, and narrative voice are just right for a tween audience.

(Copyright 2014 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

December 1, 2015
Gr 5-8-What starts out as a casual conversation between friends about breaking up with a girl turns into an unexpected entrepreneurial venture for Quentin. All that is required is cash and a clever way to deliver the bad news. As business booms, Quentin thinks he has discovered the perfect part-time job. But he soon finds himself in some very precarious situations and calls on his friend Rob for help. When another friend, Abby, finds out the hard way what he has been up to, Quentin realizes that friendships are a serious matter of the heart. In this cleverly crafted debut, Vance delivers the perfect amount of humor and quick, witty dialogue, addressing the insecurities tweens have about friendships and dating in a realistic and positive way. Christopher Gebauer's vocal variations for each character are age- and gender-appropriate. VERDICT The combination of story and voice makes this audiobook perfect for middle grade listeners. ["This clever read will find an audience with both boys and girls": "SLJ" 8/15 starred review of the Feiwel & Friends book.]-"Alice Davidson, Indianapolis, IN"

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.