Pieces of Us

Pieces of Us by Stewart Foster is a powerful novel about secrets hidden, secrets shared, loss and the incredible power of friendship. 17-year-old Jonus has a secret he is hiding; he suffers with bulimia which even his best friends don't know about and he feels very alone. When he meets drama-loving and confident Louis in his English Literature class, the two immediately click and and form a powerful friendship bond as Jonas begins to realise that perhaps he's not alone anymore.

A love of music and song writing drives them on in a year that will change both their lives. While Jonas wonders if he really could share his secret with Louis, Louis has some of his own he's trying to deal with. And when tragedy strikes, Jonus will have to face things along but perhaps advice from Louis will help - to write down the things they have done and things they dream of doing.

I have not read such an intense, heartbreaking and yet beautiful novelin a long time. Foster has crafted a novel that carefully and insightfully explores friendship, grief and bulimia from a teenager's point of view, drawn from his own experiences.

Through Jonas, I felt I had a window into the life of someone suffering with bulimia, who finds solace in his writing and such love in his friendship with Jonas. Watching this develop and them becoming the closest of friends and being there for each other was a joy.

Louis comes across as such a thoughtful and confident person, though as the novel progresses you realise he needs Jonas as much as Jonas needs him. "Louis … I’ll be there when the waves come", says Jonas at one point. The novel really catches the essence of those intense new teenage friendships - and how important they are. Jonas's other friends, Freddie, Liam and Chloe, are a brilliant mix of characters who all love and care about Jonas and willingly accept Louis in their group, which also leads to a brilliant and revelatory road trip to the Reading Music Festival - a pivotal moment for them all.

Jonas and Louis write songs and throughout the book are interspersed song lyrics that Jonus writes which add another angle to the novel that I appreciated. Bereavement is part of this story from the start, and I really felt the power of this in Foster's writing, demonstrating to young people what you may feel with bereavement and grief but also that, like Jonas, you will get through this. One of the most memorable chapters for me is related to this called 'A Day With You' where Jonas takes the memory of Louis deliberately around town with him for the day ending with "You are everywhere. You are in everything. Goodnight, Louis". Heartbreaking.

This novel will break your heart, but will put the pieces back together stronger. You'll cry, you'll laugh, you'll love. The author called this story "… a love letter to the the friendship of a lifetime" - and it truly is. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

288 pages / Reviewed by Stephen Leitch, school librarian

Suggested Reading Age 14+

Introvert Jonas is more at home with his notebook of stories and lyrics than hanging out with schoolfriends. With his home life dominated by a domineering father and an over-attentive mother, he seeks solace and a reason not to go home by joining an after-school writing club.

Here, a friendship with the enigmatic Louis develops and Jonas begins to see a way past his troubles as the two embark on a magical music-making summer. But both boys harbour secrets and tragedy is looming. As Jonas's old insecurities resurface, he attempts to sift through his memories and write an honest and fitting tribute to his friend.

I remember reading (and loving) Stewart Foster's other books - particularly All The Things That Could Go Wrong - and Pieces of Us, like that book, is an emotional, heartfelt and tender read. There's no skirting away from challenging, awkward and often upsetting subjects but this is always balanced by the warmth of the wonderful friendship that develops and descriptions of those joyous, youthful summer days.

Written in a very accessible, easy-to-read, diary-style format, difficult topics are dealt with sensitively and realistically and there is always the sense that whatever happens, the experience of a life-changing friendship is worth it. A poignant and deeply affecting read.

288 pages / Reviewed by Clare Wilkins, school librarian

Suggested Reading Age 14+