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Pieces of Us [Paperback]

Margie Gelbwasser
3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)

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Book Description

March 8, 2012

Two families. Four teens. A summer full of secrets. Every summer, hidden away in a lakeside community in upstate New York, four teens leave behind their old identities . . . and escape from their turbulent lives.

But when he’s back in Philadelphia during the school year, Alex cannot suppress his anger at his father (who killed himself), his mother (whom he blames for it), and the girls who give it up too easy. His younger brother, Kyle, is angry too—at his abusive brother, and at their mother who doesn’t seem to care.

Meanwhile, in suburban New Jersey, Katie plays the role of Miss Perfect while trying to forget a horrible, life-changing event that no one knows about. But Julie, her younger sister, sees Katie only as everything she’s not. And their mother will never let Julie forget it.

Up at the lake, they can be anything, anyone. Free. But then Katie’s secret gets out, forcing each of them to face reality—before it tears them to pieces.

Praise:
“Suspenseful, disturbing, and emotionally fraught.” —KIRKUS REVIEWS


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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Margie Gelbwasser is a freelance writer who has written for various magazines, including SELF, Ladies Home Journal, Women's Health, New Jersey Monthly, Girl's Life, Instructor, and Writer's Digest. Her debut novel, Inconvenient, was a 2011 Sydney Taylor Notable Book for Teen Readers. The author received her master’s in English from William Paterson University and currently lives in New Jersey. Visit her at MargieWrites.com.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

 

Product Details

  • Age Range: 12 and up
  • Paperback: 336 pages
  • Publisher: Flux; Original edition (March 8, 2012)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 9780738721644
  • ISBN-13: 978-0738721644
  • ASIN: 0738721646
  • Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.9 x 8 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,227,201 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Margie Gelbwasser is a freelance writer who has written for a variety of magazines. Her first novel, INCONVENIENT (Flux, 2010), was named a Sydney Taylor Notable Book for Teens. It tells the story of Alyssa Bondar, a Russian-Jewish teen who is coping with an alcoholic mother, tuned-out father, hot/cold boyfriend and distant best friend. Margie's next novel, PIECES OF US (Flux, March 2012), is told in 4 POV (one of them second) and focuses on cyber-bullying, abuse, family relationships, and how one teen's actions affect the other three. When not writing, Margie loves hiking, cooking, dancing, and reading. She lives in NJ with her hubby, and four-year-old son.

Customer Reviews

You need to know, it doesn't have a happy ending. Literary Meanderings  |  4 reviewers made a similar statement
Her effortless style and ability to create believable characters are unmatched! MLH  |  3 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Margie Gelbwasser's Pieces of Us is a powerful novel that sheds light on many important issues in today's society. These include bullying, rape, betrayal, self-image, eating disorders, and more. The author holds nothing back and we get to devour every piece of the story, every piece of each character inside and out.

The story of Katie & Julie and Alex & Kyle - two pairs of siblings whose lives become intertwined when they meet at the summer cottages at the lake - is brutally honest. Their stories are ones we connect with, understand, and feel for...

Unlike the other characters, Kyle's story is written in second person ("you"). Readers will come to understand the importance of writing in this point of view as the story progresses, especially when they journey towards the end of the book.

While the story that unfolds may seem too much for some readers to digest at times, it is real and not sugar-coated like those of some others authors. The ending is not a fairy tale ending, and one readers might not expect or want to unfold, but it doesn't drain the reader. It is filled with hope and plenty to think about. And that is a great way to end the story.

Once I started reading Pieces of Us I did not want to put it down and would have devoured it in one sitting had I had the chance. I highly recommend this book. It is worth the read.
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4.0 out of 5 stars Edgy and Real August 13, 2012
By J. Duck
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book is unique in that it is written with four points-of-view, including one written in second-person. Two brothers. Two sisters. Each lives in an effed-up world where the only escape is the annual summer trip to their respective grandparents' summer homes. Here they can be who they are not in their real lives. And like real life is for so many of us, it's not very pleasant for these kids.

There are examples of exploitation and sexual abuse, a bit of misogynism, and the descent into depression that can be caused by losing oneself and having whatever is left utterly destroyed at the hands of manipulative, evil people. The words of Alex, Kyle, Katie, and Julie are realistic and their observations true to the kind of people they are. It is disturbing and sad, but I like that. Reality rules, and sadly many of the things portrayed in this book can and do happen to teenagers everywhere.

If you're looking for edgy, this is your book
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3.0 out of 5 stars A dirty honest look at abuse and bullying July 8, 2012
Format:Paperback
Pieces of Us is by no means a happy go lucky book, it is gritty, dirty and very heavy. I applaud Margie Gelbwasser for taking on so many tough topics all in one story. It has taken me a long time to determine just what to say in this review because it was a lot to taken in. I would not recommend this for younger teens, this is an in your face book with a lot of sexual activity and language. I do understand that teens face a lot in today's world, and that being said if a younger teen was interested in the book I would ensure that I was available to talk about the topics.

The writing style was not my favorite. The narrative changes from chapter to chapter, each written from the point of view of one of the four main characters. I will say that each character has a very distinct point of view, with one from the second person, which I found very appropriate for a book about abuse and bullying. One thing that I really did like about the style of this book is the fact that the heritage is taken into account and well represented but not over done or thrown in the face of the reader.

I think one of the biggest challenges I had with Pieces of Us was I had a lot of trouble connecting with the characters and understanding them. I know that each of these character is going through growing pain and changes, however it was difficult to pin down exact where each character was in this process. I had the hardest time with Alex, I could just not get a beat on him and I could not understand what Katie saw in him. It was just a brutal story and a hard one to get through.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars Review: Pieces of Us
This story was gritty and dirty, and everything I hope my girls never have to go through as teens. Every character in this story is so broken, that's its hard to imagine any hope... Read more
Published 10 months ago by P. Eberhardt
5.0 out of 5 stars An incredible work from a talented author!
I instantly became a fan of Margie Gelbwasser's writing after reading her debut novel, Inconvenient. Therefore, I looked forward to her follow-up with Pieces of Us. Read more
Published 11 months ago by MLH
3.0 out of 5 stars gritty, raw, and real, not for the faint of heart
I put off reviewing this book for so long because I needed some time to process it. This book is definitely not for teens under 17 its very sexual and the language is for a mature... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Laura (The Reading Nook
4.0 out of 5 stars An Emotional Journey
As with several books that I've read recently, this book wasn't something that I wouldn't normally pick up. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Bombarded With Books
5.0 out of 5 stars Realistic YA that delivers
I was interested in reading Pieces of Us because so many reviewers had such strong reactions to it. Yes this book is dark. Yes it is disturbing. Read more
Published 13 months ago by avinessa
3.0 out of 5 stars Hard to stomach, but a story that hits close to home and heart
pieces of us is not a happy book. I would dare to say it leaves readers heart-heavy as the four characters - Alex, Katie, Julie, and Kyle - watch their lives intertwine and then... Read more
Published 13 months ago by theEPICrat
4.0 out of 5 stars A Mature Book from a Maturing Author
I read Margie Gelbwasser's first YA novel more than a year ago and very much admired her handling of difficult subject matters while not sugar coating it to appeal to a larger teen... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Amanda Park
3.0 out of 5 stars Kritters Ramblings
Two sets of siblings - one set of brothers and one set of sisters are the four main characters of this novel. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Kristin Durham
5.0 out of 5 stars Tear Jerker
First off, this book is not for the faint of heart. Pieces of Us is a very raw and honest look into the minds of four very different teens that all have some type of emotional... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Turning the Pages
5.0 out of 5 stars Pieces of Us
Margie Gelbwasser is a courageous author who has breeched the norm to write a gripping story about issues that are plagueing our youth of today. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Tee
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