Chloe is an artist. Shana is a goth girl who uses white makeup to mask her inner turmoil. Micah is their adopted brother who doesn't speak and eats sugar by the bagful. Their father runs a funeral home in theory, but mostly sits on the roof drinking cheap whiskey and chain smoking cartons of cigarettes. Where is Chloe and Shana's mother? She is locked away in a mental institution after angels told her to place her son's hand on the stove.
Jars of Glass is narrated in alternating chapters by the sisters Chloe and Shana. While they each have a distinct voice, the story blends together well. Overall, the book was okay, but isn't a title that will linger with me for longer than a couple of months. The story is well written, but a bit tired. I get bored reading about how all goth kids are emotionally stunted and about abusive parents who are so worthless they don't even have a name. The plot felt a bit recycled, and while it was engaging enough for me to read in just a few days, there wasn't anything stand-out about it. I would give this book to teens who liked Barkley and Hepler's Scrambled Eggs at Midnight, or girls who like weepy sad stories that wrap up nicely at the end.
