Stories for Growing
Cover of BrokenAges 4 to 8
HonestyResponsibilityForgiveness

Broken

X. Fang

Ages 4 to 8
About this age guidance

Kirkus: 4–8; Publishers Weekly: 3–7

The age tag follows Kirkus review. Other sources may suggest different ages. This is audience guidance, not an independent reading level.

Listed in a parent blog’s roundup of children’s books about lying and telling the truth. The blogger says the girl confesses even though she fears how Ama will react.

Mei Mei smashes her grandmother Ama’s cup while playing with the cat and runs off terrified. Ama blames the cat and offers cake, but Mei Mei’s guilt grows until she hides in the closet and finally tells the truth. Ama answers with kindness, and they patch the cup together so it has a story to tell.

Good forCaught in a lieForgiving someone

Recommended by What Do We Do All Day?

Find at Bookshop.org Find on Amazon

Choose your preferred shop and check the edition there.

What children see in the story

Mei Mei cannot enjoy getting away with it. Her guilt grows until she tells Ama what really happened. With the cat taking the blame, she chooses to own the accident anyway. Ama meets the confession with kindness and mends the cup with Mei Mei instead of punishing her.

Why it’s on these shelves

Honesty
Mei Mei breaks Ama’s cup and runs off, and when Ama blames the cat she stays quiet. Her guilt and Mimi’s steady stare spoil the cake, so she finally tells Ama what really happened.
Responsibility
Mei Mei expects Ama to be furious and imagines being sent away. She chooses to tell Ama the truth about the cup she smashed anyway.
Forgiveness
Ama is not angry when Mei Mei confesses. She says what is broken can be fixed, patches the cup together with her, and tells her every repair tells a story.

Why pick it up?

Ama forgives, mends the cup with Mei Mei, and the cup becomes more precious.

A note for parents

A strong 2025 title with Kirkus (4–8) and PW (3–7) reviews; on a parent roundup. Newer book, so little track record. The sources differ on how the cup breaks: Kirkus says Mei Mei was playing with Mimi; PW says she was trying to scare the cat. Both are recorded, with the low flag. Ama does not blame or punish. This is a story where blame passes to the cat and the child corrects it herself, which is why it suits a blaming-others situation.

Where this recommendation comes from

What Do We Do All Day?

Listed in a parent blog’s roundup of children’s books about lying and telling the truth. The blogger says the girl confesses even though she fears how Ama will react.

Read What Do We Do All Day?’s recommendation
Sources and review status

We have checked source descriptions and drafted the value mapping. We have not personally reviewed the full book. The value labels, situation assignments, and parent notes remain provisional.

Publisher or literacy resource · Original recommendation

Our explanation of the value fit is separate from the original reviewer’s judgment. Their inclusion here does not imply an endorsement of Stories for Growing.

Another good example

Browse more values