THE BREAKS

In Barker’s novel, a woman supports a recently released prisoner as the latter transitions back into the free world after five years behind bars.

Marianne lives alone in the Kansas City house where she grew up. She returned to her old neighborhood two years ago and found her old neighborhood downtrodden and crime-ridden. Overall, it seems like she’s living a life that’s full of misfortune. She goes on a date with a nice-guy local cop, Carl, but accidentally breaks her arm when she’s inadvertently knocked off her barstool. She spends most of her time alone, or with her dog, Boris, until she meets Sister Colette. The nun convinces her to help a young woman in her early 20s named Stephanie, first by picking her up upon her release from incarceration for a crime she didn’t commit. “Just live”—that’s what Sister Colette says they should do together, and as they do, they form an unexpected bond. The novel’s pacing is a bit strange, at first; for the first few chapters, readers learn a bit about Marianne, her neighborhood, and her work, but it takes quite a bit of time for the main plot to become apparent. Soon, though, readers learn an abundance of detail about Marianne, Stephanie, and the world in which they live. Marianne, as the narrator, effectively reveals her own quirks and how she becomes skilled at interpreting Stephanie’s habits. For example, in one scene, Marianne comes home from her office job to find Stephanie with an unfamiliar person; through nonverbal communication, she’s able to keep Stephanie safe in a situation in which the young woman felt unable to advocate for herself. Marianne’s intense reflections make it easy for readers to understanding these characters’ inner lives and speculate about what exists beyond the protagonist’s point of view.

A story of growth, trust, and friendship between independent women who find strength with one another.