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Shattered

Kathi Baron - Author

This is a family story about Cassie’s love of violin, her father’s explosive moods and the effects of past violence. It follows her flight to a homeless shelter and her family’s struggle to repair relationships.

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Book Analysis

At a Glance

Discover

Family violenceChildhood abuseFamily relationships

Consider

Violence and harmFamily disruptionViolence

Personalised Fit

Beyond the Cover

family violencechildhood abusefamily relationshipsmusicprose

Fiction

Themes in Context

Family violence and its effects

Cassie’s father has explosive moods and destroys her violin. She later learns he was physically beaten as a child by his own father.Provisional reading

Talk about: How does the story distinguish understanding what happened to Cassie’s father from deciding what responsibility he has for his actions?

Music and lyrical prose

Cassie is a violin prodigy, and music is part of her search for inner strength.Exploratory / explanatory

How the book presents it: Music is meaningful in Cassie’s life, and the prose is lyrical.

Talk about: How does the story use music to show what matters to Cassie?

Why It May Be Worth Reading

Music gives Cassie a connection to something she values, while her painful experiences shape her response to others. The story may suit a reader interested in family relationships and how people try to move forward after harm.

What Deserves Attention

The story includes a father destroying Cassie’s violin, a history of childhood physical abuse, volatile moods, running away and refuge in a homeless shelter. These experiences may prompt questions about family safety and hardship.

A Conversation Worth Having

What does music mean to Cassie, and does it help her find strength or connect with other people?

Reading Approach

Consider checking in with your reader around the family violence and shelter material. You could invite them to pause or talk, while letting them decide how much they want to share.

Confidence & Basis

Theme indicators describe how the book presents a topic; they are not a verdict on the whole book or your family's values. Confidence reflects how much book-specific material was checked. Only part of the book information was available, so some details remain unconfirmed.

What remains unconfirmed

Family violence and its effects: The story also follows Cassie’s efforts to move forward and help others.
Music and lyrical prose: Music is one strand of a story also focused on family relationships and Cassie’s response to hardship.

Shattered - Kathi Baron - Google Books

Limited information

Checked: 2 October 2026.

Relevant to: Family violence and its effects; Music and lyrical prose

Shattered by Kathi Baron | Open Library