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Pieces of Sky
Lucy's life was going as smoothly as any teenager's could. She was in the local swimming club, and loved it; she lived with her parents and her brother, Cam, in the small coastal town she'd known all her life. She had friends, she had goals - she had a life. Now Cam is dead, her parents might as well be - and Lucy can't bear to get back in the pool. All she has to look forward to now is a big pile of going-nowhere.
Drawn to Steffi, her wild ex-best-friend who reminds Lucy of her mysterious, unpredictable brother, and music-obsessed Evan, the new boy in town, Lucy starts asking questions. Why did Cam die? Was it an accident or suicide? But as Lucy hunts for answers she discovers much more than she expects. About Cam. About her family. About herself.
Drawn to Steffi, her wild ex-best-friend who reminds Lucy of her mysterious, unpredictable brother, and music-obsessed Evan, the new boy in town, Lucy starts asking questions. Why did Cam die? Was it an accident or suicide? But as Lucy hunts for answers she discovers much more than she expects. About Cam. About her family. About herself.
290 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2015
15 people are currently reading
2578 people want to read
About the author
Trinity Doyle
1 book140 followersTrinity grew up in the suburbs of Lake Macquarie. The kind of kid who would rather write lines than play sport she found her home in books, writing and art. She’s worked as a music photographer, graphic designer; been one half of a diy record label and played bass terribly but enthusiastically in various girl bands.
At 25 she took her vague emo poetry and wrote a novel. Then she spent five years rewriting it. The ASA called her work ‘edgy [and] convincing’ and she thinks that’s pretty neat.
Trinity lives in Newcastle NSW, with her husband, daughter and cat. Pieces of Sky is her first novel
At 25 she took her vague emo poetry and wrote a novel. Then she spent five years rewriting it. The ASA called her work ‘edgy [and] convincing’ and she thinks that’s pretty neat.
Trinity lives in Newcastle NSW, with her husband, daughter and cat. Pieces of Sky is her first novel
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews
June 3, 2015
‘Pieces of Sky’ is the debut young adult novel from blogger Trin in the Wind … now known as Australian author, Trinity Doyle!
I actually gasped when I read the first line of this book;
Mum painted my brother’s coffin.
And then I got chills as I kept reading …
It was beautiful, if such a thing can be – the waves of the ocean, gradients of green to blue mixed with the white of sea foam. Despite the grim irony that the ocean which smothered his lungs should cover him in death, it suited him.
Cam was made with more water than most.
… Yeah. Pretty gasp-worthy, goosebump-inducing – right? And it just gets better from there.
This is a story of grief, love and loss – playing out in a small coastal town that reads so real you can practically smell the briny air between the pages. This is the story of Lucy, whose older brother Cam drowned eight weeks ago in mysterious circumstances that leave his family reeling, and Lucy in particular struggling to keep her head theoretically above water.
Lucy’s mourning is compounded by the strange text poems Cam’s old mobile phone keeps receiving, from an unknown number – leading Lucy to follow one last mystery about her brother, in the hopes that whoever is sending these poems can shine more light on his drowning death.
And life goes on around Lucy and her family as they struggle to find a new normal – she reconnects with an old friend called Steffi, quits the demanding swim team she once loved, meets the beautiful music-obsessed new boy in town, and confronts the complicated feelings she’s always had for Cam’s best friend, Ryan.
The book has a slight ‘The Sky is Everywhere’ plot feel, as both Jandy Nelson and Trinity Doyle explore the sudden death of an older sibling mingled with the protagonist’s burgeoning lust for two boys. But ‘Pieces of Sky’ is infused with that indelible something that marks all realistic Aussie YA – the characters being gloriously imperfect, emotions hard-edged and young love addictively complicated.
I particularly loved the minor characters in this book, who were just as poignant as our protagonist. Lucy’s Aunt Deb has come to live with the family and help her mother in particular cope in the aftermath of Cam’s death, and I loved this character that manifested as a constant reminder of how undone Lucy’s life has become. I also loved Steffi – Lucy’s childhood friend she drifted away from as her commitment to the swim team took over her life. Steffi is a little bit wild, and doesn’t always give Lucy the right kind of shoulder to cry on – but I really responded to this girl who refused to be delicate with Lucy’s grief and actually challenged her;
‘Is this a thing you’re doing?’
‘A thing?’
‘Yeah, a thing. A stop-swimming-avoid-the-water thing.’
I concentrate on the dyed red top of Steffi’s ear, grabbing a washer and trying to get it off.
‘Look, I get it, I really do,’ she continues, ‘but you live between three beaches and a lake. Are you just planning to walk around with your eyes shut?’
‘Something like that.’
Evan is the new boy in town – a music aficionado, hang-glider who understandably catches Lucy’s eye. But her attraction to him is compounded by everything else that’s going on in her life – and I really appreciated how inconvenient her feelings for him were in the wake of Cam’s death. I did like Evan and definitely see him as swoon-worthy, but sometimes I wished we could pull away from Lucy’s romance with him, to focus more on her family life, … or the other man in her romantic life, Cam’s best friend Ryan who she’s always had a crush on.
Like Steffi and Aunt Deb, I loved Ryan as a periphery character who’s an inconvenience for Lucy, but real fascination for the reader. These three in particular for me were examples of how death and grief come charging into our lives and the ricochet is felt in every aspect - so I loved that it was only in the wake of Cam’s death that Lucy feels compelled to explore this thing with Ryan, that she’s never been brave enough to touch on before … but it comes at the worst time as she meets and falls for Evan too.
I will say that I thought Ryan’s role in the story was going to a very different place than he ended up … …. I was so wrong, and that’s okay. The poetry-text mystery provides some beautiful vignettes that highlight Trinity’s versatile voice.
I probably could have stayed in this world for another 100 pages or so – only because I thought the romance had eclipsed some of the exploration into Lucy’s home life that I would have liked resolved and explored a little bit more in the end. But also because I just loved Trinity’s voice so much, I wanted to stay reading her for a little bit longer. In any case, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I’ll be eagerly awaiting whatever Trinity Doyle writes next!
4.5/5
I actually gasped when I read the first line of this book;
Mum painted my brother’s coffin.
And then I got chills as I kept reading …
It was beautiful, if such a thing can be – the waves of the ocean, gradients of green to blue mixed with the white of sea foam. Despite the grim irony that the ocean which smothered his lungs should cover him in death, it suited him.
Cam was made with more water than most.
… Yeah. Pretty gasp-worthy, goosebump-inducing – right? And it just gets better from there.
This is a story of grief, love and loss – playing out in a small coastal town that reads so real you can practically smell the briny air between the pages. This is the story of Lucy, whose older brother Cam drowned eight weeks ago in mysterious circumstances that leave his family reeling, and Lucy in particular struggling to keep her head theoretically above water.
Lucy’s mourning is compounded by the strange text poems Cam’s old mobile phone keeps receiving, from an unknown number – leading Lucy to follow one last mystery about her brother, in the hopes that whoever is sending these poems can shine more light on his drowning death.
And life goes on around Lucy and her family as they struggle to find a new normal – she reconnects with an old friend called Steffi, quits the demanding swim team she once loved, meets the beautiful music-obsessed new boy in town, and confronts the complicated feelings she’s always had for Cam’s best friend, Ryan.
The book has a slight ‘The Sky is Everywhere’ plot feel, as both Jandy Nelson and Trinity Doyle explore the sudden death of an older sibling mingled with the protagonist’s burgeoning lust for two boys. But ‘Pieces of Sky’ is infused with that indelible something that marks all realistic Aussie YA – the characters being gloriously imperfect, emotions hard-edged and young love addictively complicated.
I particularly loved the minor characters in this book, who were just as poignant as our protagonist. Lucy’s Aunt Deb has come to live with the family and help her mother in particular cope in the aftermath of Cam’s death, and I loved this character that manifested as a constant reminder of how undone Lucy’s life has become. I also loved Steffi – Lucy’s childhood friend she drifted away from as her commitment to the swim team took over her life. Steffi is a little bit wild, and doesn’t always give Lucy the right kind of shoulder to cry on – but I really responded to this girl who refused to be delicate with Lucy’s grief and actually challenged her;
‘Is this a thing you’re doing?’
‘A thing?’
‘Yeah, a thing. A stop-swimming-avoid-the-water thing.’
I concentrate on the dyed red top of Steffi’s ear, grabbing a washer and trying to get it off.
‘Look, I get it, I really do,’ she continues, ‘but you live between three beaches and a lake. Are you just planning to walk around with your eyes shut?’
‘Something like that.’
Evan is the new boy in town – a music aficionado, hang-glider who understandably catches Lucy’s eye. But her attraction to him is compounded by everything else that’s going on in her life – and I really appreciated how inconvenient her feelings for him were in the wake of Cam’s death. I did like Evan and definitely see him as swoon-worthy, but sometimes I wished we could pull away from Lucy’s romance with him, to focus more on her family life, … or the other man in her romantic life, Cam’s best friend Ryan who she’s always had a crush on.
Like Steffi and Aunt Deb, I loved Ryan as a periphery character who’s an inconvenience for Lucy, but real fascination for the reader. These three in particular for me were examples of how death and grief come charging into our lives and the ricochet is felt in every aspect - so I loved that it was only in the wake of Cam’s death that Lucy feels compelled to explore this thing with Ryan, that she’s never been brave enough to touch on before … but it comes at the worst time as she meets and falls for Evan too.
I will say that I thought Ryan’s role in the story was going to a very different place than he ended up … …. I was so wrong, and that’s okay. The poetry-text mystery provides some beautiful vignettes that highlight Trinity’s versatile voice.
I probably could have stayed in this world for another 100 pages or so – only because I thought the romance had eclipsed some of the exploration into Lucy’s home life that I would have liked resolved and explored a little bit more in the end. But also because I just loved Trinity’s voice so much, I wanted to stay reading her for a little bit longer. In any case, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I’ll be eagerly awaiting whatever Trinity Doyle writes next!
4.5/5
October 23, 2016
http://abooktopia.weebly.com
Pieces of Sky is a beautifully written debut novel about the effects of death, and the overcoming of fear. – Abooktopia
Lucy Taylor had her whole life planned out. She was the state backstroke champion, and swimming obsessed. But things have changed. Now she can’t get back into the water without hyperventilating and may suffer from a diagnosis of Aquaphobia. She can’t handle it. Not after Cam, her brother lost his life in the surf drowning. Was it a foolish accident or a suicide that took her brother’s life? And who is this mysterious girl that he went through all the trouble of hiding?
Unable to venture back into the water, and face her squad with the shame of being Aquaphobic, Lucy reconnects with her wild ex-bestfriend, Steffi. Now with a time table of free-time that had once been taken up by training, Lucy finds that she was once much too caught up in her own swimming career to notice what was truly happening around her.
Desperate to find out what exactly happened that night when her brother left her world, Lucy becomes obsessed with finding out just who this mysterious person is behind the text messages that still appear on Cam’s phone, even though he’s gone now… She may have feelings for new boy, Evan Harris, though all her emotions are muddled up and she can’t seem to disperse how she feels, with her emotions for her brother’s death getting in the way.
I truly adored this all-new debut novel, by Australian author, Trinity Doyle. Trinity tackles the aspects of heartache, friendship and love all in one journey as we explore the true meanings of life. Pieces of Sky was beautifully written packed with hurt and longing, but also filled with hope and love.
***I received a copy of this book in return for an honest and unbiased review***
July 26, 2015
A copy of this novel was provided by Allen and Unwin for review.
I thought I wouldn’t end up liking Pieces of Sky, so I am glad that I did actually end up liking it.
I liked the Australian-isms, which is something I always find myself drawn to when I read Australian fiction. I don’t really realise how isolated I feel when I read US-based books until I read a book set in a place I’ve been to, and that mentions things I know about, and have grown up with. So that is one aspect I really loved.
I also liked the simplicity and flow of Doyle’s writing. It was very easy to read, and it moved the story along effortlessly.
The overall storyline was heartbreaking, and I liked it (that makes me sound a little morbid and sadistic, but ah well). Lucy (that’s the main character’s name – you’d think it’d be Sky, but nope) is coping (sort of) with the recent death of her brother, and I really liked how the author portrayed her dealing with this massive loss. I thought it was quite realistic, and very sensitive.
There were a few things that weren’t realistic though. The first is the ending. It’s a happy ending, with everything tied up in a neat little bow. After such a realistic portrayal of the shit a family would go through after the death of a brother and a son, I was really disappointed that everyone was just recovered by the end of the book. And in such a short time. The story occurs in about a month, so yeah, I wasn’t a fan of the fact that everyone is doing so much better after only two counselling sessions. Life, unfortunately, isn’t that easy, and our feelings and emotions aren’t that pliable. It’d be great if they were, but they aren’t.
This is a little thing, but it affected me because I take in every detail about a book. Lucy mentions listening to music on her phone and swiping the screen (like an iPhone), and then later on she says that her mum and dad bought both her and her brother the same crappy phone. A few pages later she mentions an email app and a home screen button. I’m sorry but no. “Crappy phones” do not have screens that can be swiped, or email apps, or home screen buttons. That’s an iPhone. So it really annoyed me that it was supposed to be a crappy phone. It would have been easy to say “mum and dad bought us the same phone”, without the crappy part, because they were obviously not crappy phones.
(There was also mention of financial struggles and the dad has a Lexus which, again, is really incongruent because people with financial struggles don’t have cars that cost that much money.)
The fact that Lucy became friends again with her childhood best friend and found a gorgeous boyfriend who accepted her and understood her and forgave her her misdemeanours was also very fairytale-esque.
There was also a bit of dead people idolisation going on, because Lucy never thought one negative thing about her brother the entire book. I found this to be a little annoying and not very true to life. Sure, we think positive of those who have passed, but nobody’s an angel. I guess that’s a pet peeve of mine, but it was an aspect of this book that annoyed me quite a bit. It seemed like Cam was this amazingly perfect brother who had only done, like, one thing that wasn’t perfect in his entire life.
Even though it seems like a lot of things annoyed me about Pieces of Sky, I did end up enjoying it overall.
© 2015, Chiara @ Books for a Delicate Eternity . All rights reserved.
I thought I wouldn’t end up liking Pieces of Sky, so I am glad that I did actually end up liking it.
I liked the Australian-isms, which is something I always find myself drawn to when I read Australian fiction. I don’t really realise how isolated I feel when I read US-based books until I read a book set in a place I’ve been to, and that mentions things I know about, and have grown up with. So that is one aspect I really loved.
I also liked the simplicity and flow of Doyle’s writing. It was very easy to read, and it moved the story along effortlessly.
The overall storyline was heartbreaking, and I liked it (that makes me sound a little morbid and sadistic, but ah well). Lucy (that’s the main character’s name – you’d think it’d be Sky, but nope) is coping (sort of) with the recent death of her brother, and I really liked how the author portrayed her dealing with this massive loss. I thought it was quite realistic, and very sensitive.
There were a few things that weren’t realistic though. The first is the ending. It’s a happy ending, with everything tied up in a neat little bow. After such a realistic portrayal of the shit a family would go through after the death of a brother and a son, I was really disappointed that everyone was just recovered by the end of the book. And in such a short time. The story occurs in about a month, so yeah, I wasn’t a fan of the fact that everyone is doing so much better after only two counselling sessions. Life, unfortunately, isn’t that easy, and our feelings and emotions aren’t that pliable. It’d be great if they were, but they aren’t.
This is a little thing, but it affected me because I take in every detail about a book. Lucy mentions listening to music on her phone and swiping the screen (like an iPhone), and then later on she says that her mum and dad bought both her and her brother the same crappy phone. A few pages later she mentions an email app and a home screen button. I’m sorry but no. “Crappy phones” do not have screens that can be swiped, or email apps, or home screen buttons. That’s an iPhone. So it really annoyed me that it was supposed to be a crappy phone. It would have been easy to say “mum and dad bought us the same phone”, without the crappy part, because they were obviously not crappy phones.
(There was also mention of financial struggles and the dad has a Lexus which, again, is really incongruent because people with financial struggles don’t have cars that cost that much money.)
The fact that Lucy became friends again with her childhood best friend and found a gorgeous boyfriend who accepted her and understood her and forgave her her misdemeanours was also very fairytale-esque.
There was also a bit of dead people idolisation going on, because Lucy never thought one negative thing about her brother the entire book. I found this to be a little annoying and not very true to life. Sure, we think positive of those who have passed, but nobody’s an angel. I guess that’s a pet peeve of mine, but it was an aspect of this book that annoyed me quite a bit. It seemed like Cam was this amazingly perfect brother who had only done, like, one thing that wasn’t perfect in his entire life.
Even though it seems like a lot of things annoyed me about Pieces of Sky, I did end up enjoying it overall.
© 2015, Chiara @ Books for a Delicate Eternity . All rights reserved.
July 6, 2015
Such a lovely novel! Am thinking 3.5 stars for now. RTC.
August 23, 2015
Living proof of why I love Aussie YA <3 what a stunning read.
At times, especially with American YA, it’s like there’s a disconnect. Like I can’t relate to characters whose experiences are so different to mine – like with the jocks and the cheerleaders, for example, groups of people who just don’t exist where I’m from.
It’s set on a coastal town, but this is by no means a fluffy beach read.
It’s an emotional read, that’s for sure. It’s about grief in a large way. Cam, Lucy’s brother, has drowned, and that leaves her whole family adrift.
What I loved about this book was the emphasis on family – and Lucy’s parents weren’t just one-dimensional cardboard cutouts but real people with real struggles. There’s also Lucy’s aunt Deb, who was a lovely side character and I really liked her.
There’s just something ABOUT contemporary Aussie YA that is so breathtaking and wonderful.
Those books are some of the ones that have hit me really hard. They always feel so real to me – the characters are wonderful, the cliches are minimal, and they’re always so big-hearted – they tackle the important things but also the little things. They have humour and tragedy. That’s not a blanket statement, of course, but I was so pleased to add Trinity to the list of Awesome Aussie Authors that occupy a very special place on my shelves.
And then there were Steffi and Evan.
There’s this cliche in YA fiction where the main character starts acting out and makes friends with a rebellious new person. I thought that was what was going to happen here, but luckily it didn’t. I really loved Steffi as a character. She didn’t sugarcoat things, and she didn’t hold a grudge against Lucy.
Evan was lovely as well. He didn’t try and push Lucy, and he respected her limitations.
And then there was Lucy herself.
The water metaphor is particularly apt here, because Lucy is trying to hold her head above water (WHICH IS WHY THE COVER IS JUST SO GENIUS). She’s struggling in a lot of ways – she finds it really difficult to go back to swimming, and everyone keeps pushing her even though she’s not ready. I would have liked to see more glimpses of her relationship with Cam, since the sibling things is an element I love in YA fiction.
(Although maybe it’s just as well. It’d probably make me think about the same thing happening to one of my sisters, and I’d be bawling too hard to finish the book)
Overall, this is a wonderful, heartfelt and real portrayal of grief and friendship. The motto? Just keep swimming.
At times, especially with American YA, it’s like there’s a disconnect. Like I can’t relate to characters whose experiences are so different to mine – like with the jocks and the cheerleaders, for example, groups of people who just don’t exist where I’m from.
It’s set on a coastal town, but this is by no means a fluffy beach read.
It’s an emotional read, that’s for sure. It’s about grief in a large way. Cam, Lucy’s brother, has drowned, and that leaves her whole family adrift.
What I loved about this book was the emphasis on family – and Lucy’s parents weren’t just one-dimensional cardboard cutouts but real people with real struggles. There’s also Lucy’s aunt Deb, who was a lovely side character and I really liked her.
There’s just something ABOUT contemporary Aussie YA that is so breathtaking and wonderful.
Those books are some of the ones that have hit me really hard. They always feel so real to me – the characters are wonderful, the cliches are minimal, and they’re always so big-hearted – they tackle the important things but also the little things. They have humour and tragedy. That’s not a blanket statement, of course, but I was so pleased to add Trinity to the list of Awesome Aussie Authors that occupy a very special place on my shelves.
And then there were Steffi and Evan.
There’s this cliche in YA fiction where the main character starts acting out and makes friends with a rebellious new person. I thought that was what was going to happen here, but luckily it didn’t. I really loved Steffi as a character. She didn’t sugarcoat things, and she didn’t hold a grudge against Lucy.
Evan was lovely as well. He didn’t try and push Lucy, and he respected her limitations.
And then there was Lucy herself.
The water metaphor is particularly apt here, because Lucy is trying to hold her head above water (WHICH IS WHY THE COVER IS JUST SO GENIUS). She’s struggling in a lot of ways – she finds it really difficult to go back to swimming, and everyone keeps pushing her even though she’s not ready. I would have liked to see more glimpses of her relationship with Cam, since the sibling things is an element I love in YA fiction.
(Although maybe it’s just as well. It’d probably make me think about the same thing happening to one of my sisters, and I’d be bawling too hard to finish the book)
Overall, this is a wonderful, heartfelt and real portrayal of grief and friendship. The motto? Just keep swimming.
September 28, 2015
Beautiful, compelling, convincing. I loved everything about this book - the story, depth, characters and pace. I highly recommend.
December 20, 2017
Grief is such a deep and resonating narrative, touching those who have lost a love one through tragic circumstances and Lucy Taylor is a character who reminds us how loss effects each individual. Her father is physically absent and chooses to spend his time immersed in their family owned hardware store, while her mother has regressed. Lucy having to remind her mother to eat and shower while mending the pieces of her own life together. Cameron Taylor left such a gaping hole in the lives of those who were touched by his light, throughout the small coastal town and the surfing community when at a drunken beach party, his love of the ocean claimed Cameron's life. Lucy, a former competitive swimmer now afraid of the water.
Lucy is experiencing Aquaphobia, allowing her to explore new and former friendships, the latter being wonderful for Lucy. Lucy desired the familiarity in Cameron's best friend Ryan and although I liked new boy Evan's character, it was her desire for Evan that coerced her to decide between the two potential love interests. Lucy's aunt was a wonderful character and despite Lucy's mistreatment, ensured Lucy wasn't responsible for caring for her mother and allowed her to regain a sense of normalcy.
The prose was lovely. At the essence of Pieces of Sky is our remarkable resilience. It explores themes of trauma, mental health and the fragments of a fractured family. Thoroughly enjoyed it, hopeful and compelling.
Lucy is experiencing Aquaphobia, allowing her to explore new and former friendships, the latter being wonderful for Lucy. Lucy desired the familiarity in Cameron's best friend Ryan and although I liked new boy Evan's character, it was her desire for Evan that coerced her to decide between the two potential love interests. Lucy's aunt was a wonderful character and despite Lucy's mistreatment, ensured Lucy wasn't responsible for caring for her mother and allowed her to regain a sense of normalcy.
The prose was lovely. At the essence of Pieces of Sky is our remarkable resilience. It explores themes of trauma, mental health and the fragments of a fractured family. Thoroughly enjoyed it, hopeful and compelling.
July 10, 2015
One of the books I bought at the airport before flying home, & it's kind of an impulse buy too. THE COVER IS GORGEOUS OMG and I finished it on the plane bc I can't put it down once I started.
Pieces of Sky has a Saving Francesca vibe to it...and it kinda feels different too, the way Australian books always do. I love love love the characters; I need more of Lucy and Evan and them doing stuff together, and Alix and Jeremy, and also Steffi. STEFFI, YOU GUYS.
Pieces of Sky has a Saving Francesca vibe to it...and it kinda feels different too, the way Australian books always do. I love love love the characters; I need more of Lucy and Evan and them doing stuff together, and Alix and Jeremy, and also Steffi. STEFFI, YOU GUYS.
May 23, 2016
This was a beautiful and realistic story about love, grief, dealing with the loss of a loved one and how this impacts a family. It was exceptionally well written and I'd recommend this to anyone. Full review can be found on my book blog: http://lebookchronicles.weebly.com
July 10, 2015
Originally posted on my blog
This feels like a precious gem, raw and unfiltered and sharp. It looks gorgeous on the outside, and it shines brightly from the inside.
Lucy has to deal with the death of her brother, and doesn't know how to deal with it--as to be expected. She feels the pressure of life pressing down onto her: the stares from people at school; looking after her depressed mother; dealing with a father who just can't accept her way of grieving; swimming finals, when she can barely stand to be near water.
When texts start being sent to her brother's phone from an unknown number, things get weird, and it draws Lucy even closer to the brink of obsession over her brother's death. Who is the mysterious girl that he drew before he died? Who is the person sending intimate messages to his phone? Since when has her mum had a history of depression?
It makes her question her brothers death: was it merely a stupid accident, or was it suicide?
The very idea that he could have killed himself is a chilling thought.
My one issue with this book is that out of nowhere, we would be in a flashback, and it was difficult to discern whether I was stuck in the present or the past. Lucy would be doing or thinking something, then she would be having a conversation with Cam that had happened before he died. It doesn't even use past tenses to denote the flashbacks, which made things very confusing.
The romance was sweet. Evan is a cute guy, and the things that happen between them is so realistic, and so so so sexy at times. It made me yearn for that first-love feeling. It's been a while since I felt that way from a book.
I read it in one sitting, within 3 hours, devouring every single word and sighing constantly at how perfectly relatable it was. It felt so distinctively Australian, and as I write this, I'm surrounded by eucalyptus trees, and kookaburras are laughing their little heads off. There's the screech of cockatoos, and I saw a kangaroo yesterday from the train. It made me smile and embrace these things.
This book is so raw and emotional, I kept crying for most of the second half. Even now, just reminiscing about it is making me tear up. How does Doyle manage to get right into my heart with those amazing words of hers?
Doyle has captured the Australian voice so well, it made me feel right at home. This was a stunning debut, and I can't wait to read more from her.
This feels like a precious gem, raw and unfiltered and sharp. It looks gorgeous on the outside, and it shines brightly from the inside.
Lucy has to deal with the death of her brother, and doesn't know how to deal with it--as to be expected. She feels the pressure of life pressing down onto her: the stares from people at school; looking after her depressed mother; dealing with a father who just can't accept her way of grieving; swimming finals, when she can barely stand to be near water.
When texts start being sent to her brother's phone from an unknown number, things get weird, and it draws Lucy even closer to the brink of obsession over her brother's death. Who is the mysterious girl that he drew before he died? Who is the person sending intimate messages to his phone? Since when has her mum had a history of depression?
It makes her question her brothers death: was it merely a stupid accident, or was it suicide?
The very idea that he could have killed himself is a chilling thought.
My one issue with this book is that out of nowhere, we would be in a flashback, and it was difficult to discern whether I was stuck in the present or the past. Lucy would be doing or thinking something, then she would be having a conversation with Cam that had happened before he died. It doesn't even use past tenses to denote the flashbacks, which made things very confusing.
The romance was sweet. Evan is a cute guy, and the things that happen between them is so realistic, and so so so sexy at times. It made me yearn for that first-love feeling. It's been a while since I felt that way from a book.
I read it in one sitting, within 3 hours, devouring every single word and sighing constantly at how perfectly relatable it was. It felt so distinctively Australian, and as I write this, I'm surrounded by eucalyptus trees, and kookaburras are laughing their little heads off. There's the screech of cockatoos, and I saw a kangaroo yesterday from the train. It made me smile and embrace these things.
This book is so raw and emotional, I kept crying for most of the second half. Even now, just reminiscing about it is making me tear up. How does Doyle manage to get right into my heart with those amazing words of hers?
Doyle has captured the Australian voice so well, it made me feel right at home. This was a stunning debut, and I can't wait to read more from her.
July 5, 2015
I read this novel a month ago, and the fact I still vividly remember how it felt reading it is testament to its emotional impact.
Pieces of Sky is a beautifully written, heart-felt story about grief and love. The writing is gorgeously evocative, and Lucy’s journey is moving and at times heartbreaking. Above all, it feels authentic.
Even though grief is central to this story, Pieces of Sky is not a bleak story. Rather it’s about forgiveness and family and falling in love. It’s about friendship and growing up, and ultimately delivers a message of warmth, hope and light.
The novel opens with Lucy, a champion swimmer, dealing with a newfound fear of water brought on by her brother Cam’s tragic drowning. This struggle underpins the narrative and gives tangible form to her grief and its impacts on her physically and emotionally.
The story also explores Lucy’s now strained friendships, old and new, as well as a fledgling, faltering romance with Evan who has his own issues to deal with. And then there's the darker undertone of the circumstances around her brother’s death, and whether or not there was more going with Cam than Lucy or her family understood or noticed.
All these threads are woven together with skill and purpose in a novel brimming with beautiful writing.
Pieces of Sky is a stunning debut novel by Trinity Doyle (and that cover!). It's offers everything that's wonderful about contemporary Australian YA. Like so many other readers (and writers), I look forward to what Trinity writes next.
Pieces of Sky is a beautifully written, heart-felt story about grief and love. The writing is gorgeously evocative, and Lucy’s journey is moving and at times heartbreaking. Above all, it feels authentic.
Even though grief is central to this story, Pieces of Sky is not a bleak story. Rather it’s about forgiveness and family and falling in love. It’s about friendship and growing up, and ultimately delivers a message of warmth, hope and light.
The novel opens with Lucy, a champion swimmer, dealing with a newfound fear of water brought on by her brother Cam’s tragic drowning. This struggle underpins the narrative and gives tangible form to her grief and its impacts on her physically and emotionally.
The story also explores Lucy’s now strained friendships, old and new, as well as a fledgling, faltering romance with Evan who has his own issues to deal with. And then there's the darker undertone of the circumstances around her brother’s death, and whether or not there was more going with Cam than Lucy or her family understood or noticed.
All these threads are woven together with skill and purpose in a novel brimming with beautiful writing.
Pieces of Sky is a stunning debut novel by Trinity Doyle (and that cover!). It's offers everything that's wonderful about contemporary Australian YA. Like so many other readers (and writers), I look forward to what Trinity writes next.
July 8, 2015
Written simply but beautifully, blogger-turned-author Trinity Doyle's Pieces of Sky packs a punch in the grief department. Doyle, like the heavy pull of a rip between thrashing waves, doesn't let Lucy's emotional trauma and fears get away from you so easily.
From the suspicious death of her brother Cam after a night surfing, to her depressive mother and distant father, and the fears she has herself of returning to the pool, Lucy is dealing with it all. And when Lucy finally pulls through, and the weight of the water falls from her shoulders, you'll feel it too.
Pieces of Sky is a touching but ultimately uplifting novel for fans of Kirsty Eagar's Raw Blue and Vikki Wakefield.
From the suspicious death of her brother Cam after a night surfing, to her depressive mother and distant father, and the fears she has herself of returning to the pool, Lucy is dealing with it all. And when Lucy finally pulls through, and the weight of the water falls from her shoulders, you'll feel it too.
Pieces of Sky is a touching but ultimately uplifting novel for fans of Kirsty Eagar's Raw Blue and Vikki Wakefield.
dnf
May 14, 2016I started this on Thursday. I got halfway through. Stopped on Friday night because I binge-watched the 7th season of Castle. Picked it up again today (Sunday morning) and... meh. I didn't think it was worth finishing anymore. It's really nothing I haven't read before, to be honest. And is it just me, or do most of the Australian YA books I've read all sound like they're written by the same person? Ugh.
Want to read
November 23, 2014Hooray, Trinity!!!!
July 3, 2015
This was a total pleasure to read. Lucy took me with her, made me root for her, weep with her and feel all the things. I miss these character already. Trinity, thank you for your beautiful words.
August 16, 2017
This is a great debut novel about grief, and learning to pick yourself up again after the bottom has fallen out of your world. Yeh, it's been done before (eg The Protected), but the coastal beach setting, and the frank inclusion of teenagers doing realistic things like smoking (& not just cigarettes), and drinking, give it a gritty edge.
I like MC Lucy, and although we don't really get to know Evan a lot, the bits we do learn about him show him to be thoughtful and sensitive.
But this is really about Cameron, and how his death has affected his family. So it's sad, but thankfully, also hopeful.
I like MC Lucy, and although we don't really get to know Evan a lot, the bits we do learn about him show him to be thoughtful and sensitive.
But this is really about Cameron, and how his death has affected his family. So it's sad, but thankfully, also hopeful.
December 30, 2015
Dear Trin,
Thanks for writing this book, and for giving me another favorite to add to my shelf of Awesome Aussie Authors. (Sorry I'm not sorry for going there with that alliteration.) BRB off to cry over that final line and tweet you about the new eps of Teen Wolf. (At the same time, because I am talented like that.)
xoxo,
Natalie
P.S. Where can I find an Evan to teach someone how ? Asking for a friend.
Thanks for writing this book, and for giving me another favorite to add to my shelf of Awesome Aussie Authors. (Sorry I'm not sorry for going there with that alliteration.) BRB off to cry over that final line and tweet you about the new eps of Teen Wolf. (At the same time, because I am talented like that.)
xoxo,
Natalie
P.S. Where can I find an Evan to teach someone how ? Asking for a friend.
April 27, 2021
4.5 stars
An absolutely beautiful story about an Australian teenage girl coping with the tragic loss of her older brother. Doyle has written a convincing narrative that transports readers straight to the coast of Northern(?) NSW and into the head of a mature but troubled teenage girl and leaves us there well after the story has ended. I could not stop thinking about this book, highly recommend!
An absolutely beautiful story about an Australian teenage girl coping with the tragic loss of her older brother. Doyle has written a convincing narrative that transports readers straight to the coast of Northern(?) NSW and into the head of a mature but troubled teenage girl and leaves us there well after the story has ended. I could not stop thinking about this book, highly recommend!
April 9, 2015
A terrific debut novel by an exciting new Australian author. Ii tackles issues of grief, love and family relationships with great insight. You will be drawn into sharing the life experiences of the main character, Lucy.
June 2, 2021
ok yeah deep and whateva
January 1, 2018
This review appears at Book Nerd Reviews.
Pieces of Sky is an contemporary YA novel from Aussie debut author Trinity Doyle. And while I do not claim to be an expert on Aussie YA, I must say that I think it is books like this one that are really putting Aussie authors on the map.
As Lucy tries to live her life after the death of her brother she finds that more than her heart is broken by his death. She is really struggling to cope without Cam; from the empty void her brother filled in her life, to the distance her parents have put around them, to the fear she now feels about the one thing that was her own – swimming.
Lucy’s life has been completely turned upside down and she is filled with the unanswered questions that come from the death a loved one. Lucy starts to focus on the suspicious circumstances surrounding Cam’s death, and this soon amplifies when mysterious poetic texts start appearing on her brother’s phone. Lucy is determined to find out who is sending these texts to her dead brother, and hopes that the mystery sender can also unravel some of the mystery about the night he died.
But to understand and accept Cam’s death, Lucy must face some truths: about her family, about Cam and about herself.
Lucy’s journey unravels secrets, avoidance, realities, mysteries, but also acceptance, friendship, truth and peace – and it does so in the most honest and heartfelt ways. The story itself begins with a heartbreaking scene about Lucy’s brother’s coffin, and this ache continues throughout the whole book. The desperation, devotion, grief and heartbreak is weaved throughout every page, but there are also examples of hope, courage and the realism of dealing with a broken heart and the determination in finding the strength it takes keep your head above the water.
Pieces of Sky takes a realistic look at the various ways of dealing with life and death. And this is not just about Lucy, this is about her family, her friends and quite possibly, about Cam. The heartache, denial, questions and yearning that comes along with grief is explored in many ways, and I really enjoyed, and respected, that different stages and coping mechanisms of grief were explored throughout this storyline.
I liked the fact that during Lucy’s grief, she reconnected with a childhood friend. In many stories there seems to be a new person “conveniently appear”, but I felt that reconnecting with someone that you were once close with was a realistic option, and it provided a few nice little moments. Which leads me to my next point: I especially loved the relationship dynamics within this story! The crush who also happens to be the brother’s best friend, the annoying and unwanted Aunty, the disconnected and heartbroken parents, the friend who is only a friend because it is convenient and the long lost friend – the relationships were fractured, imperfect and real.
There were a few little copy-edit issues I had with this novel, but then again, I am one of those people that pick on the most stupidest of little things, so it is quite possible that most people will read it and not notice these tiny flaws.
But this is a great Aussie YA debut! Set in a small Australian coastal town, Pieces of Sky gives a touch of everything good about Australian based stories. It doesn’t not overpower the storyline, but there are nice little touches of home. Oh, and it has to be said… that cover!!! What a beautiful cover!!! I don’t really need to say more about that, just look at it!
I really enjoyed Pieces of Sky, and the effortlessly easy and compelling writing style. And whilst I loved the journey that Lucy takes, I was left with some unanswered questions – but as Lucy well knows, such is life.
Pieces of Sky is an contemporary YA novel from Aussie debut author Trinity Doyle. And while I do not claim to be an expert on Aussie YA, I must say that I think it is books like this one that are really putting Aussie authors on the map.
As Lucy tries to live her life after the death of her brother she finds that more than her heart is broken by his death. She is really struggling to cope without Cam; from the empty void her brother filled in her life, to the distance her parents have put around them, to the fear she now feels about the one thing that was her own – swimming.
Lucy’s life has been completely turned upside down and she is filled with the unanswered questions that come from the death a loved one. Lucy starts to focus on the suspicious circumstances surrounding Cam’s death, and this soon amplifies when mysterious poetic texts start appearing on her brother’s phone. Lucy is determined to find out who is sending these texts to her dead brother, and hopes that the mystery sender can also unravel some of the mystery about the night he died.
But to understand and accept Cam’s death, Lucy must face some truths: about her family, about Cam and about herself.
Lucy’s journey unravels secrets, avoidance, realities, mysteries, but also acceptance, friendship, truth and peace – and it does so in the most honest and heartfelt ways. The story itself begins with a heartbreaking scene about Lucy’s brother’s coffin, and this ache continues throughout the whole book. The desperation, devotion, grief and heartbreak is weaved throughout every page, but there are also examples of hope, courage and the realism of dealing with a broken heart and the determination in finding the strength it takes keep your head above the water.
Pieces of Sky takes a realistic look at the various ways of dealing with life and death. And this is not just about Lucy, this is about her family, her friends and quite possibly, about Cam. The heartache, denial, questions and yearning that comes along with grief is explored in many ways, and I really enjoyed, and respected, that different stages and coping mechanisms of grief were explored throughout this storyline.
I liked the fact that during Lucy’s grief, she reconnected with a childhood friend. In many stories there seems to be a new person “conveniently appear”, but I felt that reconnecting with someone that you were once close with was a realistic option, and it provided a few nice little moments. Which leads me to my next point: I especially loved the relationship dynamics within this story! The crush who also happens to be the brother’s best friend, the annoying and unwanted Aunty, the disconnected and heartbroken parents, the friend who is only a friend because it is convenient and the long lost friend – the relationships were fractured, imperfect and real.
There were a few little copy-edit issues I had with this novel, but then again, I am one of those people that pick on the most stupidest of little things, so it is quite possible that most people will read it and not notice these tiny flaws.
But this is a great Aussie YA debut! Set in a small Australian coastal town, Pieces of Sky gives a touch of everything good about Australian based stories. It doesn’t not overpower the storyline, but there are nice little touches of home. Oh, and it has to be said… that cover!!! What a beautiful cover!!! I don’t really need to say more about that, just look at it!
I really enjoyed Pieces of Sky, and the effortlessly easy and compelling writing style. And whilst I loved the journey that Lucy takes, I was left with some unanswered questions – but as Lucy well knows, such is life.
November 22, 2015
A solid four stars YA contemporary read.
The first thing that drew me to this book was its cover. And on the blurb it explains that Lucy is a swimmer which is quite important in the novel, so I could see how the cover fitted with the story. The sky is mentioned in the book, but I couldn't really see the connection between the title and the story; maybe it was some kind of metaphor and though it is pretty, I felt like this could have been more elaborated on. Nonetheless, the story is well-written and intriguing. This is also set in Australia, so a point to it. :)
This book starts out slowly but gradually picks up pace with a climax near the end. It wraps up quite well with aspects of hope shining throughout. This book is about the aftermath of Lucy's brother Cam's death for her and her family and the grief Lucy has to deal with. It also has some depression in it, not directly affecting the MC and hints of suicide.
At the beginning, I felt this novel was going to be mediocre and another average contemporary. But as I got to know the characters and Lucy's story, I became more and more invested in it. The novel had fluent, smooth writing and steady pacing throughout.
Pieces of Sky reminded me a little of The Sky is Everywhere, a YA novel by Jandy Nelson. Both have sky in its title, but both dealt with a sibling's death. The protagonists also have a romance with the new boy in town and stuff up with someone else they know who was close to their dead sibling. These similarities did have me doubting Pieces of Sky, but it turned out to be unique in its own way.
There is a very slight mystery element in this, that is not the main plotline but still made me want to read on. However, I felt the characters were portrayed well and the book was engaging because I wanted to learn more about Lucy and how she would deal with her problems and overcome her fears.
Lucy tries to uncover whether Cam died because of an accident or suicide. We never really know at the end and I liked this; in real life you wouldn't know though you would try to understand. But through this, Lucy finds herself, new friends, relevations and learns to move forward.
As the book progressed, I started to feel more and I really got a sense of what it might be like to lose someone close to you and what it can do to others around you. I could connect with Lucy and Cam's relationship and interactions.
I liked the layout of the text messages in the book and the snippets of the imaginary letter Lucy wrote to her ex-best-friend Steffi throughout, when she and Steffi are getting to know each other again.
I also enjoyed Lucy and Evan's relationship; there was bound to be a romance in this story but I felt they really suited each other and Evan was supportive and kind. Their romance was sweet and realistic.
The ending was a fitting, reflective one for the book. This novel wasn't light-hearted nor was it depressing, like some YA novels can be when dealing with these kind of themes. It had a good balance between funny scenes and darker moments. As a reader, I got to know more about Cam and who he was through Lucy's memories, which I enjoyed.
Overall, good book, better ending.
The first thing that drew me to this book was its cover. And on the blurb it explains that Lucy is a swimmer which is quite important in the novel, so I could see how the cover fitted with the story. The sky is mentioned in the book, but I couldn't really see the connection between the title and the story; maybe it was some kind of metaphor and though it is pretty, I felt like this could have been more elaborated on. Nonetheless, the story is well-written and intriguing. This is also set in Australia, so a point to it. :)
This book starts out slowly but gradually picks up pace with a climax near the end. It wraps up quite well with aspects of hope shining throughout. This book is about the aftermath of Lucy's brother Cam's death for her and her family and the grief Lucy has to deal with. It also has some depression in it, not directly affecting the MC and hints of suicide.
At the beginning, I felt this novel was going to be mediocre and another average contemporary. But as I got to know the characters and Lucy's story, I became more and more invested in it. The novel had fluent, smooth writing and steady pacing throughout.
Pieces of Sky reminded me a little of The Sky is Everywhere, a YA novel by Jandy Nelson. Both have sky in its title, but both dealt with a sibling's death. The protagonists also have a romance with the new boy in town and stuff up with someone else they know who was close to their dead sibling. These similarities did have me doubting Pieces of Sky, but it turned out to be unique in its own way.
There is a very slight mystery element in this, that is not the main plotline but still made me want to read on. However, I felt the characters were portrayed well and the book was engaging because I wanted to learn more about Lucy and how she would deal with her problems and overcome her fears.
Lucy tries to uncover whether Cam died because of an accident or suicide. We never really know at the end and I liked this; in real life you wouldn't know though you would try to understand. But through this, Lucy finds herself, new friends, relevations and learns to move forward.
As the book progressed, I started to feel more and I really got a sense of what it might be like to lose someone close to you and what it can do to others around you. I could connect with Lucy and Cam's relationship and interactions.
I liked the layout of the text messages in the book and the snippets of the imaginary letter Lucy wrote to her ex-best-friend Steffi throughout, when she and Steffi are getting to know each other again.
I also enjoyed Lucy and Evan's relationship; there was bound to be a romance in this story but I felt they really suited each other and Evan was supportive and kind. Their romance was sweet and realistic.
The ending was a fitting, reflective one for the book. This novel wasn't light-hearted nor was it depressing, like some YA novels can be when dealing with these kind of themes. It had a good balance between funny scenes and darker moments. As a reader, I got to know more about Cam and who he was through Lucy's memories, which I enjoyed.
Overall, good book, better ending.
July 13, 2016
Loved this book from the first chapter, the first page, not to mention that first line.
"Mum painted my brother’s coffin."
This is a great Aussie, teenage book. I connected with this book in some many ways.
It reminded me of growing up, high school friends, first love. It just felt like home.
I will be keeping my eye on Trinity Doyle, definitely reading her next book.
"Mum painted my brother’s coffin."
This is a great Aussie, teenage book. I connected with this book in some many ways.
It reminded me of growing up, high school friends, first love. It just felt like home.
I will be keeping my eye on Trinity Doyle, definitely reading her next book.
Want to read
March 1, 2015Oh, my goodness. *heart eyes everywhere*
Look at that breathtaking, gorgeous cover.
Pieces of Sky is an another promising debut novel I will definitely be looking forward to read! So much love for the cover and synopsis. <333
Look at that breathtaking, gorgeous cover.
Pieces of Sky is an another promising debut novel I will definitely be looking forward to read! So much love for the cover and synopsis. <333
June 6, 2015
An insightful novel that explores the nature of grief and the impact and unexpected death can have on family relationships and friendships.
An excellent example of crossover fiction that works well for both the intended YA audience as well as adult readers. The story is engaging and characters are well developed.
An excellent example of crossover fiction that works well for both the intended YA audience as well as adult readers. The story is engaging and characters are well developed.
December 26, 2016
One of the best first lines ever!
May 5, 2024
In 2015, my sister told me that someone she knew had written a YA book and recommended that I check it out. A few days later when I went to Maclean’s Booksellers on Darby St, I was so happy to find it on the shelves. I brought it to the check out counter: “Oh this is a local author!” says the girl behind the register. “Yeah I think my sister went to school with her, a few years apart maybe? Newcastle is such a small place.” “It sure is, this one is actually mine. Would you like me to sign it for you?”
Eight years later and I devoured it. Beautiful.
Eight years later and I devoured it. Beautiful.
June 29, 2023
I remember reading this book in high school and it stuck w me. I think it hits the genre well.
January 17, 2026
If I read this when I originally intended to 10 years ago I probably would have liked it. Nothing I haven’t read before
May 9, 2016
'Mum painted my brother's coffin.
It was beautiful, if such a thing can be - the waves of the ocean, gradients of green to blue mixed with the white of sea-foam. Despite the grim irony that the ocean which smothered his lungs should cover him in death, it suited him.
Cam was made with more water than most.'
Oh, help. From the first sentence, I was hooked.
Okay, scratch that. From the moment I looked at the front cover, I was hooked. Now I know what you're thinking, 'don't judge a book by its cover' and all that, but in this case, Pieces of Sky totally deserves to be judged and appreciated for its cover.
Sigh. It's so pretty. And I love how it links in so well with the story; throughout the novel the main character Lucy is literally struggling to keep her head above water.
The book begins eight weeks after Lucy's brother Cam dies. The Taylor family is falling apart. Lucy's mum is struggling with depression and can hardly get out of bed. Lucy's dad is dealing with his grief by focusing on his work; he doesn't seem to care about anything else and hardly notices what Lucy is doing.
Meanwhile, Lucy's dreams of becoming a professional swimmer are shattered. She has a panic attack at her first training session after Cam's death, and can't bring herself to get back in the pool. She decides to try to avoid the water, which proves difficult as she lives in a small coastal town.
One of my favourite things about this book is the simplicity of the prose. Trinity writes with such a gorgeous style; the words flow across the page. I found myself immediately immersed with the characters and their story. There's such a sense of honesty within the book, nothing about Lucy's situation is sugar-coated, yet there's also a certain tenderness. I came close to tears several times whilst reading, and my mum came up to give me a big hug when I finished the book - I must have looked sad!
I love the variety of characters - and the way Trinity portrays their relationships with each other. Some of the characters, particularly Lucy, Steffi, and Evan, became like real people to me, growing and changing over time.
After hearing Trinity speak at the 2016 Newcastle Writer's Festival, I thought the way that Lucy is drawn back to Steffi - her wild ex-bestfriend, as she grows apart from her swim-squad friends, is a really interesting and realistic portrayal of the way that some friendships can lack any depth beyond the surface. Without their shared interest of swimming, her swim-squad buddies fall short of being best friends. Although they do their best to help her, Lucy has to deal with her grief on her own terms. Meanwhile, her blossoming relationship with Evan and her renewed friendship with Steffi cause tension and intrigue.
All the while, a mysterious girl is sending messages to Cam's old phone, and the question arises of whether his death was a tragic accident or a suicide. As Lucy goes through the dramas of teenage life, whilst dealing with the loss of her brother and the mystery surrounding his death, she begins to find herself again.
Quite simply put; this book is as beautiful, if not more beautiful, than it's front-cover implies. It's an amazing debut novel, one which I could hardly put down and finished reading in two days.
As I mentioned before, I met Trinity at the Newcastle Writer's Festival before I had read this book, and I am super-glad I grabbed a copy while I was there! It's a great story about love, loss, grief, and friendship, and I'd highly recommend it.
Trinity; thanks for the amazing read!
See the full review here: https://theworldaroundme17.wordpress....
It was beautiful, if such a thing can be - the waves of the ocean, gradients of green to blue mixed with the white of sea-foam. Despite the grim irony that the ocean which smothered his lungs should cover him in death, it suited him.
Cam was made with more water than most.'
Oh, help. From the first sentence, I was hooked.
Okay, scratch that. From the moment I looked at the front cover, I was hooked. Now I know what you're thinking, 'don't judge a book by its cover' and all that, but in this case, Pieces of Sky totally deserves to be judged and appreciated for its cover.
Sigh. It's so pretty. And I love how it links in so well with the story; throughout the novel the main character Lucy is literally struggling to keep her head above water.
The book begins eight weeks after Lucy's brother Cam dies. The Taylor family is falling apart. Lucy's mum is struggling with depression and can hardly get out of bed. Lucy's dad is dealing with his grief by focusing on his work; he doesn't seem to care about anything else and hardly notices what Lucy is doing.
Meanwhile, Lucy's dreams of becoming a professional swimmer are shattered. She has a panic attack at her first training session after Cam's death, and can't bring herself to get back in the pool. She decides to try to avoid the water, which proves difficult as she lives in a small coastal town.
One of my favourite things about this book is the simplicity of the prose. Trinity writes with such a gorgeous style; the words flow across the page. I found myself immediately immersed with the characters and their story. There's such a sense of honesty within the book, nothing about Lucy's situation is sugar-coated, yet there's also a certain tenderness. I came close to tears several times whilst reading, and my mum came up to give me a big hug when I finished the book - I must have looked sad!
I love the variety of characters - and the way Trinity portrays their relationships with each other. Some of the characters, particularly Lucy, Steffi, and Evan, became like real people to me, growing and changing over time.
After hearing Trinity speak at the 2016 Newcastle Writer's Festival, I thought the way that Lucy is drawn back to Steffi - her wild ex-bestfriend, as she grows apart from her swim-squad friends, is a really interesting and realistic portrayal of the way that some friendships can lack any depth beyond the surface. Without their shared interest of swimming, her swim-squad buddies fall short of being best friends. Although they do their best to help her, Lucy has to deal with her grief on her own terms. Meanwhile, her blossoming relationship with Evan and her renewed friendship with Steffi cause tension and intrigue.
All the while, a mysterious girl is sending messages to Cam's old phone, and the question arises of whether his death was a tragic accident or a suicide. As Lucy goes through the dramas of teenage life, whilst dealing with the loss of her brother and the mystery surrounding his death, she begins to find herself again.
Quite simply put; this book is as beautiful, if not more beautiful, than it's front-cover implies. It's an amazing debut novel, one which I could hardly put down and finished reading in two days.
As I mentioned before, I met Trinity at the Newcastle Writer's Festival before I had read this book, and I am super-glad I grabbed a copy while I was there! It's a great story about love, loss, grief, and friendship, and I'd highly recommend it.
Trinity; thanks for the amazing read!
See the full review here: https://theworldaroundme17.wordpress....
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