You can read the books synopsis and some user reviews of the book over at Goodreads HERE
You might recall my PIECES OF US review . I remember feeling so many emotions after finishing it. It was a little tough to stomach at times, but at the same time it was so thought -provoking that I couldn't get it out of my head. It stayed with me. One thing I knew was that I wanted to know MORE after finishing it. So what can be more perfect than a interview with the author herself?
Thank you for joining me today! :)
What do you think about some readers mentioning that Pieces Of Us is not YA? Do you consider it Adult or you don't pay attention to labels?
Flux describes YA like this: “Where young adult is a point of view, not a reading level.” I completely agree with this. However, I do think PIECES OF US is best suited for teens 15 or 16 and up due to the mature content and subject matter. I also think it's a great crossover book, meaning it can be read by both adults and teens. In fact, I recommend parents read it with their teens because I think it could be a great tool for the discussion of the important issues concerning teens today. As for the comments, that it is not a YA book, I find them disturbing because the events occurring are happening to teens today. So it's ok for these horrors to occur, but not ok for people to read about them? Until rape, cyberbullying, dating violence, and abuse stop affecting teens, I'll keep writing about them.
I understand that Kyle's narrative being in second person had to do with him not being to accept all that was happening, or distancing himself from it all. He also seemed the most innocent out of them all. Him being a favourite of mine, I have to ask, does Kyle remind you of anyone in particular?
Kyle was my favorite too because I found him to be the greatest victim. I felt he had the least control of what happened to him. But, no, Kyle wasn't based on anyone I know.
Although Kyle is a spectator to what Katie is going through, he never actually intervenes and tries to stop what is happening. Why is this?
I think he wants to, but he is as scared of Alex as Katie is. Both Katie and Kyle are his victims, and Kyle is shamed by the fact he doesn't intervene.
All four have troubled childhoods in some way or the other. But do you personally feel that it justifies any of their actions?
No, I do not feel the actions are justified, but their difficult childhoods could explain why they behave the way they do. However, just because a childhood may be traumatic due to poor parenting, etc., it does not give anyone the excuse to hurt another human being.
Why did you choose to make this book so bleak, without any sense of hope until the very end? (because their lives seemed to be so full of bad times, with so little of the good. but surely, there are the happy times in between, too, right?)
I appreciate you seeing that there is hope in the end. :-) It wasn't a conscious decision to make it bleak or not. I wanted to write about the issues these four teens faced and how one person's actions can affect others, how bullying and abuse do not just affect the victim. So that is what this book is about. These parts of the character's lives and what happens. In your review you say, “They said it was too dark, graphic, disturbing and edgy. I just say it's real.” I LOVED that. And that's how I see it too.
Can you shed a little more light on how you feel Alex abusing Kyle throughout the novel has shaped Kyle as an individual.
When someone is victimized throughout his life by someone he trusts, I believe it makes him question his own judgement, who he is, his strength or lack thereof. It makes the victim doubt who he is and what he stands for. It makes him think this is the life he must have and that there is no way to break free. I think all this applies to Kyle.
Could you tell me a little about why Alex feels the way he does about women? And what his thought process is when it comes to women as a whole? (I have my thoughts but would love to hear your personal thoughts on him)
Since Alex blames his mother for all the horrors in his life, he takes this anger out on other women. He puts “virtuous” women on pedestals and others he looks down on. I do say it's because of his mother, but I bet it goes deeper than that. I have known guys like Alex and I had wondered the same thing—why they behave how they do, what I could have done differently to change them. Writing this book I learned it's not about the woman at all. It's about whatever demons these types of men possess, and it's best to recognize this kind of guy from the beginning, rather than fall into an abusive trap. Now, please tell me your thoughts. :-)
What four words come to mind when I name the following:
Alex: Controlling
Kyle: Damaged
Julie: Beaten-down
Katie: Scarred
Katie & Julie's mother: Selfish
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