Blog Tour: Split by Swati Avasthi

Split by Swati Avasthi 5 of 5 stars.

Sixteen-year-old Jace Witherspoon arrives at the doorstep of his estranged brother, Christian, with a re-landscaped face (courtesy of his father), $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 is still trapped with his dad. And his ex-girlfriend is keeping his secret--for now.

Turns out there are some things you can't just walk away from. (Book blurb)

A lost temper and a split second decision leave Jace Witherspoon with a busted up face and a one way ticket out of town. Jace knew what was coming as soon as he decided to throw a punch at dear old dad, but that doesn't stop him from worrying about the consequences his decision will have on both his mother and himself.

Now Jace is living with his estranged and paranoid brother, walking on eggshells in an attempt to not open any old wounds and to get his life back on track. The problem is, he doesn't even know what that means. With secrets in his heart and his mother left behind, Jace has to come to terms with what it means to be out of the house he grew up in, the house were so much blood was spilled.

Split is a beautiful and gripping tale of domestic abuse and the strength it takes to break away from it. Swati Avasthi has shed new light on something many people can't even fathom. She's walked us through what it means to be afraid for your family's life, and to look at violence as a trivial, every day fact of life.

When I read the synopsis and signed up for this blog tour, I thought I new what to expect. I was expecting a tear-jerker sort of story that would leave me surrounded in balled up tissues, but that's not what I got. Jace's voice drew me in and lulled me into a state where I saw through his eyes. I felt his anger and his grief. Something about the way he told his story left me dry eyed and constantly flipping the pages. The tone of his character rang in my mind long after I put the book down.

Swati Avasthi definitely has a gift for story telling. Her characters were well written and easy to relate to, while her writing was nuanced and compelling. Nothing was what it seemed as I continued to read. The plot was fairly predictable, but not in the kind of way that just annoys you as you read. There was simply enough foreshadowing to give me a pretty clear picture of what was coming.

Overall, Split was a wonderful read with character I will remember for quite a while. If you enjoy realistic fiction, there is no way you wouldn't like this book. You may even enjoy it if you don't.

To order a copy of Split by Swati Avasthi from Amazon.com, please click here.


To honor National Domestic Violence Awareness month, author Swati Avasthi has combined a blog tour for her debut novel, Split, with a charity auction. Over 40 authors, agents and editors have donated manuscript critiques, personalized books, and more to an online auction that anyone –reader, writer, booklover -- can bid on and buy. All proceeds go to the Family Violence Prevention Fund. In addition to the auction, Avasthi is donating $1/comment on her 26-stop, month-long blog tour, coordinated by Kari Olson at Teen Book Scene. If she reaches her goal and cap of $250, she will double the donation. Follow the tour, get stuff you want, and make a difference.

General Store

Featured Lots:

A 20 page critique by author Heidi Ayarbe here.



A personalized, signed copy ofFreeze Frame by Heidi Ayarbe here.


A toy rocking sheep here.


Toy soldiers here.


A readable miniature book here.


A miniature version of The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis here.

A miniature version of Split by Swati Avasthi here

All of the minis above are handcrafted!

Now... Start commenting! You'll be helping people like Jace who need your support!