Who Are The Main Characters In The Summer Of Broken Things?

2026-03-07 14:32:25
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3 Answers

Hattie
Hattie
Favorite read: Fatal Summer 1987
Book Scout Veterinarian
The heart of 'The Summer of Broken Things' lies in its two unforgettable protagonists: Avery Armisted and Kayla Butts. Avery's this privileged, slightly spoiled rich girl whose world gets turned upside down when her dad drags her to Spain for the summer—she’s all eye rolls and resentment at first. Kayla, on the other hand, is this quieter, more introspective girl from a working-class background who’s grappling with family secrets. Their dynamic is chef’s kiss—watching them clash, then slowly bond over shared vulnerabilities is what makes the book so poignant.

What really stuck with me was how Margaret Peterson Haddix paints their growth. Avery starts off thinking she’s the center of the universe, but Spain (and Kayla) force her to confront her privilege. Kayla’s journey is more internal—she’s carrying this heavy emotional baggage, and seeing her learn to trust someone again is just… ugh, so good. The way their stories intertwine with themes of identity and forgiveness gives the book this layered depth I couldn’t shake for days.
2026-03-11 12:36:11
6
Vanessa
Vanessa
Favorite read: All the Beautiful Ruins
Bibliophile Nurse
Avery and Kayla are such a fascinating pair because they’re polar opposites thrown together by circumstance. Avery’s voice is loud and brash—she’s the kind of girl who’d complain about first-class seats being too narrow. Kayla’s more reserved, but there’s this simmering intensity beneath her silence. The book does this brilliant thing where you see Spain through both their lenses: Avery’s all 'Ugh, no air conditioning,' while Kayla notices the way the sunlight hits the cobblestones differently than back home.

Their relationship isn’t some instant friendship, either. It’s messy! They snipe at each other, misunderstand motives, then gradually realize they’re both hiding similar fears. That moment when Avery finally sees Kayla—not as some charity case, but as a real person—hit me right in the chest. Haddix doesn’t sugarcoat their flaws, which makes their growth feel earned by the last page.
2026-03-12 05:12:16
3
Marissa
Marissa
Favorite read: Shattered Hearts
Honest Reviewer Assistant
Avery’s arc is wild—she starts as this classic 'mean girl' archetype, but Spain chips away at her armor. There’s a scene where she tries paella for the first time and hates it, then begrudgingly admits it’s growing on her by week three… which kinda mirrors her whole journey. Kayla’s more enigmatic; you keep peeling back her layers alongside Avery. Their forced proximity in a foreign country creates this pressure cooker for honesty. By the end, you’re rooting for them to keep writing letters even after summer ends.
2026-03-12 15:02:50
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