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Because of You
Tiny is homeless. Nola has everything she could ask for. They meet when Nola is forced into volunteer work for the writers’ group at the homeless shelter where Tiny is staying, and at first it seems impossible that two people who are so different could ever be friends. But despite her initial prejudice, Nola quickly learns that there isn’t much separating her from the people who live on the streets. And Tiny begins to see that falling down doesn’t mean you never get back up. Because of You is a story about homelessness, prejudice and the power of words to provide a little hope.
At its heart is the friendship between Tiny and Nola, and how this relationship changes both girls at the core. Pip Harry doesn’t shy away from some heavy topics—Tiny’s story is heartbreaking and the details about life on the streets of Sydney is horrifying—but Because of You is ultimately a hopeful story about human resilience and the life-changing power of discovering your best friend. YA readers aged 14 and up who loved John Larkin’s The Shadow Girl and Cath Crowley’s Words in Deep Blue should be diving for this powerful coming-of-age story.
At its heart is the friendship between Tiny and Nola, and how this relationship changes both girls at the core. Pip Harry doesn’t shy away from some heavy topics—Tiny’s story is heartbreaking and the details about life on the streets of Sydney is horrifying—but Because of You is ultimately a hopeful story about human resilience and the life-changing power of discovering your best friend. YA readers aged 14 and up who loved John Larkin’s The Shadow Girl and Cath Crowley’s Words in Deep Blue should be diving for this powerful coming-of-age story.
252 pages, Paperback
First published July 31, 2017
15 people are currently reading
896 people want to read
About the author
Pip Harry
13 books108 followersPip Harry is an Australian children’s author and journalist. Her middle grade novel, The Little Wave, won the CBCA 2020 Book of the Year Award and the Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year. It was shortlisted for the 2020 NSW Premier's Literary Awards – Ethel Turner Prize for Young People's Literature.
Her young adult novels include I’ll Tell You Mine, Head of the River, and Because of You, shortlisted for the CBCA Book of the Year Awards, Victorian Premier's Literary Award and Queensland Literary Awards.
Are You There, Buddha? is a 2022 CBCA Notable book and was nominated for the Ethel Turner prize.
Pip’s latest middle grade novel, August & Jones is out now.
Her young adult novels include I’ll Tell You Mine, Head of the River, and Because of You, shortlisted for the CBCA Book of the Year Awards, Victorian Premier's Literary Award and Queensland Literary Awards.
Are You There, Buddha? is a 2022 CBCA Notable book and was nominated for the Ethel Turner prize.
Pip’s latest middle grade novel, August & Jones is out now.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
August 2, 2020
★★★★½
Full of compassion and understanding. You will be proud of both our two female leads by the end. That I guarantee.
“One day, I would like to be free of my monster too.”
Full of compassion and understanding. You will be proud of both our two female leads by the end. That I guarantee.
“In this city of five million people, how did I get lucky enough to bump into Nola?”
August 11, 2017
Wow ~ Pip Harry's latest novel Because of You felt real and, by the end, it took my breath away. I read because I love being transported into another time and place, into another persons shoes, and I love being pulled into and swept up into a story. But occasionally, a book will come along that ends up being more than just a good entertaining read, and it leaves me feeling moved. Because of You is one of those books that resonates long after the last page and has transformative power to challenge a readers viewpoint and empathy.
Things to love about Because of You:
the budding friendship between Tiny and Nola was so refreshing, tentatively organic and precious. I love how they both made mistakes and needed forgiveness (from others and themselves) and how, despite their different circumstances, they had more in common than they would've first thought.
awesome parents (who are brilliant characters in conjunction with complicated relationships and issues).
writing group ~ writing and books and reading and creativity and finding your voice ~ all this is celebrated and adds a fun dynamic with bursts of humour and unexpected treasure
some gorgeous, really affecting and powerful snippets of writing from the writing group. I loved the poetry and humour and was absolutely floored by the honest and captivating writing the
characters shared. Harry, through the voices of her characters, was able to capture emotion beautifully in so few words <3
hidden backstories and surprises, with tender and heartbreaking reveals. Nothing is as black and white as things may first seem.
a real mix of unique characters, both teen and adult, to care for ~ all with their own voice and story
a really inspirational and smiley climax and resolution ~ which just had me beaming from the inside out
Harry has nailed the art of letting her characters breathe life into the themes so that the message of the novel is fresh and authentic, never wandering into didactic or saccharine territory. Because of You is an absolute gem of a novel ~ hopeful and true, timely and challenging, with a genuine powerhouse message of empathy and resilience. I fell in love with the characters, and will be wholeheartedly recommending it to the teens and adults in my life.
Things to love about Because of You:
the budding friendship between Tiny and Nola was so refreshing, tentatively organic and precious. I love how they both made mistakes and needed forgiveness (from others and themselves) and how, despite their different circumstances, they had more in common than they would've first thought.
awesome parents (who are brilliant characters in conjunction with complicated relationships and issues).
writing group ~ writing and books and reading and creativity and finding your voice ~ all this is celebrated and adds a fun dynamic with bursts of humour and unexpected treasure
some gorgeous, really affecting and powerful snippets of writing from the writing group. I loved the poetry and humour and was absolutely floored by the honest and captivating writing the
characters shared. Harry, through the voices of her characters, was able to capture emotion beautifully in so few words <3
hidden backstories and surprises, with tender and heartbreaking reveals. Nothing is as black and white as things may first seem.
a real mix of unique characters, both teen and adult, to care for ~ all with their own voice and story
a really inspirational and smiley climax and resolution ~ which just had me beaming from the inside out
Harry has nailed the art of letting her characters breathe life into the themes so that the message of the novel is fresh and authentic, never wandering into didactic or saccharine territory. Because of You is an absolute gem of a novel ~ hopeful and true, timely and challenging, with a genuine powerhouse message of empathy and resilience. I fell in love with the characters, and will be wholeheartedly recommending it to the teens and adults in my life.
August 18, 2017
The #loveOzYA book of the year.
Seventeen year old Lola Piper is an intelligent young woman, attractive, wealthy and privileged. As a curricular activity required by her prestigious Sydney college, Lola has reluctantly volunteered to assist at Hope House, a shelter for the homeless community that offers activities for residents, sharing their stories through creativity. Lola is the offspring of two wonderful parents, coparenting friends. Both Lola's mother and father are gay, her father a nurturing transgender woman who became Lola's primary caregiver while postponing her celebrated career. Lola's parents are a wonderful, guiding influence in her life, inspiring equality, compassion and tenacity.
Eighteen year old Tiny has been sleeping on the streets of Sydney since escaping her home town of Dubbo, sleep deprived and depressed. As winter begins to descend upon the city, Tiny is offered a three month residency at Hope Lane and through the compassion of others, also begins to change Lola's perceptions. Tiny is a captivating character, a wonderful young woman who is a casualty of her circumstances, homeless and not afforded the same opportunities as privileged Australians. Through creative poetry, Tiny begins to confide in Lola.
Throughout the narrative, Pip Harry illustrates the callous installation of defence architecture, metal spikes used as a deterrent to erase homelessness from public exposure. While our governments allocate funding to frivolous enterprises, councils prohibit homeless communities sleeping within the city centre, denying those seeking safety in public places. In Melbourne, the Lord Mayor has amended the legislation to allow police to remove provisional forms of accommodation, further displacing the homeless members of our community.
Pip Harry is remarkable. Because Of You is the immaculate and captivating narrative of the Hope Lane community, a homeless initiative that encourages our most vulnerable community members to communicate through creativity. Inspirational and influential.
Seventeen year old Lola Piper is an intelligent young woman, attractive, wealthy and privileged. As a curricular activity required by her prestigious Sydney college, Lola has reluctantly volunteered to assist at Hope House, a shelter for the homeless community that offers activities for residents, sharing their stories through creativity. Lola is the offspring of two wonderful parents, coparenting friends. Both Lola's mother and father are gay, her father a nurturing transgender woman who became Lola's primary caregiver while postponing her celebrated career. Lola's parents are a wonderful, guiding influence in her life, inspiring equality, compassion and tenacity.
Eighteen year old Tiny has been sleeping on the streets of Sydney since escaping her home town of Dubbo, sleep deprived and depressed. As winter begins to descend upon the city, Tiny is offered a three month residency at Hope Lane and through the compassion of others, also begins to change Lola's perceptions. Tiny is a captivating character, a wonderful young woman who is a casualty of her circumstances, homeless and not afforded the same opportunities as privileged Australians. Through creative poetry, Tiny begins to confide in Lola.
Throughout the narrative, Pip Harry illustrates the callous installation of defence architecture, metal spikes used as a deterrent to erase homelessness from public exposure. While our governments allocate funding to frivolous enterprises, councils prohibit homeless communities sleeping within the city centre, denying those seeking safety in public places. In Melbourne, the Lord Mayor has amended the legislation to allow police to remove provisional forms of accommodation, further displacing the homeless members of our community.
Pip Harry is remarkable. Because Of You is the immaculate and captivating narrative of the Hope Lane community, a homeless initiative that encourages our most vulnerable community members to communicate through creativity. Inspirational and influential.
June 20, 2019
Trigger warnings: mental health, death of a friend, addiction, homelessness, references to homophobia, references to thoughts of suicide, drug addiction, .
20/6/2019
I loved this just as much on reread. It's such a quietly powerful story and I have All the Feelings for both protagonists. And honestly? "Books can save anyone. If they're the right ones." is one hell of a quote.
24/10/2017
Holy hell, this book blew me away.
I was somewhat reluctant going in, because a) the cover is incredibly dull and b) it sounded a bit...teenage-girl-discovers-homeless-people-are-people-too. You know? And then I started reading it, and I was absolutely blown away.
The story is split between two teenage girls - 17 year old Nola, who's in her last year at an elite private school and who has to complete 20 hours of community service as part of year 12, and 18 year old Tiny, who ran away from home about six months prior to the beginning of the book and now lives on the streets. The two come into contact through a writing program at a homeless shelter, and slowly develop a friendship.
But as much as the story is about their friendship, it's about their individual lives. Nola's parents are gay, a fact she's been hiding from her friends at school for the past six years. She's struggling with boyfriend dramas and friendship dramas and school dramas, and she's not particularly keen on working with homeless people. It's through her budding friendship with Tiny and through exchanging pieces of writing with Tiny that she comes to understand how much her actions can hurt people.
Tiny is dealing with mental health problems after having a baby not long before she ran away from home. She loves books and wants to get her life back on track but isn't sure how. Her story was perhaps a little simplified compared to the reality of living on the streets, but it still deals with issues many people would never think of, including the struggles of being homeless and having your period.
I loved both of the characters individually (though I felt for Tiny much more), but together, they were wonderful. The story was compelling and heartfelt and I sped through it in a couple of hours. Definitely one I'll be shoving at any kid I can.
20/6/2019
I loved this just as much on reread. It's such a quietly powerful story and I have All the Feelings for both protagonists. And honestly? "Books can save anyone. If they're the right ones." is one hell of a quote.
24/10/2017
Holy hell, this book blew me away.
I was somewhat reluctant going in, because a) the cover is incredibly dull and b) it sounded a bit...teenage-girl-discovers-homeless-people-are-people-too. You know? And then I started reading it, and I was absolutely blown away.
The story is split between two teenage girls - 17 year old Nola, who's in her last year at an elite private school and who has to complete 20 hours of community service as part of year 12, and 18 year old Tiny, who ran away from home about six months prior to the beginning of the book and now lives on the streets. The two come into contact through a writing program at a homeless shelter, and slowly develop a friendship.
But as much as the story is about their friendship, it's about their individual lives. Nola's parents are gay, a fact she's been hiding from her friends at school for the past six years. She's struggling with boyfriend dramas and friendship dramas and school dramas, and she's not particularly keen on working with homeless people. It's through her budding friendship with Tiny and through exchanging pieces of writing with Tiny that she comes to understand how much her actions can hurt people.
Tiny is dealing with mental health problems after having a baby not long before she ran away from home. She loves books and wants to get her life back on track but isn't sure how. Her story was perhaps a little simplified compared to the reality of living on the streets, but it still deals with issues many people would never think of, including the struggles of being homeless and having your period.
I loved both of the characters individually (though I felt for Tiny much more), but together, they were wonderful. The story was compelling and heartfelt and I sped through it in a couple of hours. Definitely one I'll be shoving at any kid I can.
June 4, 2017
Beautiful, hopeful, thoughtful.
September 5, 2017
My first tears came on page 98. They weren’t the last.
Pip Harry has a gift for bringing to life vivid, believable characters I care deeply about. It’s obvious the topic of homelessness, particularly in inner-city Sydney, is very close to her heart. Her empathy for people who are homeless - and the myriad of reasons that push them to the streets - is palpable.
There’s no romanticism about living rough, though. Pip captures the anxiety that comes with not knowing where you'll sleep each night, if there’ll be food, and if you’ll be safe. She deftly shows that addiction and mental health issues are the primary reasons people end up living on the street, and that those people all have stories worth hearing.
The idea of creative writing bridging the spaces between people and giving a voice to the disenfranchised is perfect. I loved watching the friendship grow between Nola and Tiny, and how it was their willingness to ‘see' each other through their words that breaks down the barriers between them. The relationship that builds between Nola and Eddie is also sweet, although I liked that it was never the motivation for Nola for continue to return to Hope Street.
Because of You is a warm, tender and beautiful book that explores the ideas of ‘home’, acceptance, family, friendship and forgiveness. It’s not a politically driven novel, but it’s impossible not to read it and realise that we, as a society, are still not paying enough attention to how we look after our most vulnerable citizens.
Above all, though, Because of You is a touching, inspiring novel. Highly recommended.
(Oh, and my favourite line is from Nola's dad: 'I spent so much time in the closet I found Narnia').
Pip Harry has a gift for bringing to life vivid, believable characters I care deeply about. It’s obvious the topic of homelessness, particularly in inner-city Sydney, is very close to her heart. Her empathy for people who are homeless - and the myriad of reasons that push them to the streets - is palpable.
There’s no romanticism about living rough, though. Pip captures the anxiety that comes with not knowing where you'll sleep each night, if there’ll be food, and if you’ll be safe. She deftly shows that addiction and mental health issues are the primary reasons people end up living on the street, and that those people all have stories worth hearing.
The idea of creative writing bridging the spaces between people and giving a voice to the disenfranchised is perfect. I loved watching the friendship grow between Nola and Tiny, and how it was their willingness to ‘see' each other through their words that breaks down the barriers between them. The relationship that builds between Nola and Eddie is also sweet, although I liked that it was never the motivation for Nola for continue to return to Hope Street.
Because of You is a warm, tender and beautiful book that explores the ideas of ‘home’, acceptance, family, friendship and forgiveness. It’s not a politically driven novel, but it’s impossible not to read it and realise that we, as a society, are still not paying enough attention to how we look after our most vulnerable citizens.
Above all, though, Because of You is a touching, inspiring novel. Highly recommended.
(Oh, and my favourite line is from Nola's dad: 'I spent so much time in the closet I found Narnia').
February 7, 2021
Really enjoyed this book, 248 pages was easy to get through. Beautifully told story of friendship, homelessness, and mental health. Tiny's story was just heartbreaking, living on the streets of Sydney so comes to Hope lane with her friend Zac who takes her under his wing. She meets Nola and they form a friendship, its a coming of age story, there will be tears so bring the tissues. There is a lot in this small book - Homelessness, equality, mental health, suicidal thoughts, friendship and empathy.
Highly recommend this book and give it 4.5 stars :)
Highly recommend this book and give it 4.5 stars :)
July 31, 2017
Absolutely adored this one. Told from alternating points of view of a homeless girl, Tiny, and Nola, who volunteers at Hope Lane, it's very eye-opening. We shouldn't have to humanise people who are homeless, but Pip Harry does it in the most wonderful way possible: through the power of stories.
January 8, 2022
Overall Rating - 4.5 stars
Because Of You is a book that I think everyone should read, especially if you live Australia (as the book is based in Sydney.) This book was a simple read but still covered many issues faced by many people around the world, the most prevalent being homelessness. This story really made me realise how privileged I, and many others, are and how often we take things for granted.
I LOVED the main characters in this book. Nola and Tiny developed the most wholesome and loving friendship and I found myself being genuinely excited about small things in their friendship. Tiny's story made me emotional and shed light on how difficult it can be to grow up, especially when you are forced to do so when you aren't ready. I found it really interesting to read about Nola's family dynamic, it's something I have never read about and I enjoyed it a lot, it was quite refreshing. I really enjoyed watching the relationship form between Nola and all the homeless folk, you really got to see her character grow.
Throughout this beautiful story Nola was struggling in her final year at school, overwhelmed by relationships, HSC and after school life while a girl, just a couple months older than her, was struggling with homelessness, guilt, grief and she never knew what would happen to her next. The contrast is so eye-opening and seeing their stories intertwine was amazing to read.
In addition I really loved the inclusion of the writing group. It was a way to deeper understand and connect to the characters and it really helped spark the relationship between Tiny and Nola. It was a super creative and fun to read way to further understand the characters I was already falling in love with.
This book was an incredible read and I highly recommend. This YA contemporary has blossoming friendships, romance, LGBTQI+ representation, grief, motherhood, an Australian setting and portrays how difficult growing up can be, no matter who you are.
It is important to remember to be kind and loving. Everyone has a story to tell.
Key words - Young Adult, contemporary, friendships, romance, LGBTQI+, grief, motherhood, Australia, growing up, homelessness, writing
Because Of You is a book that I think everyone should read, especially if you live Australia (as the book is based in Sydney.) This book was a simple read but still covered many issues faced by many people around the world, the most prevalent being homelessness. This story really made me realise how privileged I, and many others, are and how often we take things for granted.
I LOVED the main characters in this book. Nola and Tiny developed the most wholesome and loving friendship and I found myself being genuinely excited about small things in their friendship. Tiny's story made me emotional and shed light on how difficult it can be to grow up, especially when you are forced to do so when you aren't ready. I found it really interesting to read about Nola's family dynamic, it's something I have never read about and I enjoyed it a lot, it was quite refreshing. I really enjoyed watching the relationship form between Nola and all the homeless folk, you really got to see her character grow.
Throughout this beautiful story Nola was struggling in her final year at school, overwhelmed by relationships, HSC and after school life while a girl, just a couple months older than her, was struggling with homelessness, guilt, grief and she never knew what would happen to her next. The contrast is so eye-opening and seeing their stories intertwine was amazing to read.
In addition I really loved the inclusion of the writing group. It was a way to deeper understand and connect to the characters and it really helped spark the relationship between Tiny and Nola. It was a super creative and fun to read way to further understand the characters I was already falling in love with.
This book was an incredible read and I highly recommend. This YA contemporary has blossoming friendships, romance, LGBTQI+ representation, grief, motherhood, an Australian setting and portrays how difficult growing up can be, no matter who you are.
It is important to remember to be kind and loving. Everyone has a story to tell.
Key words - Young Adult, contemporary, friendships, romance, LGBTQI+, grief, motherhood, Australia, growing up, homelessness, writing
August 10, 2017
Every year at the school I teach at, year 11 students are required to undertake 15 hours of Christian Service as part of their Religion Studies course. It is easier extracting blood from a stone. Not quite, but for many students, getting them engaged in an activity determined take them out of their comfort zone is a massive challenge. Even those who are compliant with the program tend to lean towards selecting activities where there is a certain predictable safety. Of course, those few students who do embrace the opportunity and take a risk get the most out of the program, something which is evident in their reflection report. Pip Harry’s latest novel, Because of You explores the challenges and life changing experience that community service programs have the potential to provide. The story follows the experience of Nola, a generally disengaged and reluctant student who is forced to undertake community service at a temporary homeless shelter. Through her involvement in a creative writing program she meets Tiny, an eighteen-year-old girl, currently homeless, she has been sleeping rough on the streets of Sydney.
Tiny is a believable character with Harry skilfully revealing her to us, with appropriate breadcrumbing of her back story. In a manner that mimics the core message of the story (don’t judge people without knowing who they truly are), we are able to understand how she came to be on the streets slowly, so that by the time we know her as a person we are open to her in a non-judgmental way. Nola, on the other hand is portrayed realistically as a reluctant participant, apathetic about school and everything in general (short of her social life). Readers can appreciate that Nola, while deeply flawed (and a bit spoilt) undertakes an impressive character arc from a place of ambivalence to compassion (the very same arc I hope all my 11 RE students will follow during their community service experience).
Pip Harry is a skilled writer and while I really enjoyed Head of the River, I strongly feel that this novel, as a story, has so much more to offer. Harry must be commended on tackling some really challenging issues that most Australians conveniently choose to ignore. In truth, the only thing I didn’t like about this book was the cover. I recall feeling the same way about another of Pip Harry’s covers (perhaps she has been let down again). At any rate, I find the cover totally uninspiring as may many potential (and somewhat fickle) adolescent readers. This is a shame because once I started the story, I literally couldn’t put it down.
While I’d really love to read this novel with my 11 RE class, realistically time will not allow this. However, I might read excerpts to the class. I am quite keen to investigate the possibility of introducing this as a text in the year 11 English curriculum, aligning it with the community service unit that is taught in Religion Studies at the same year.
Because of You is a deeply engaging story that while honestly exploring prejudice in contemporary Australian society, remains optimistic and hopeful about the kind of reality that we must continue to strive towards.
Tiny is a believable character with Harry skilfully revealing her to us, with appropriate breadcrumbing of her back story. In a manner that mimics the core message of the story (don’t judge people without knowing who they truly are), we are able to understand how she came to be on the streets slowly, so that by the time we know her as a person we are open to her in a non-judgmental way. Nola, on the other hand is portrayed realistically as a reluctant participant, apathetic about school and everything in general (short of her social life). Readers can appreciate that Nola, while deeply flawed (and a bit spoilt) undertakes an impressive character arc from a place of ambivalence to compassion (the very same arc I hope all my 11 RE students will follow during their community service experience).
Pip Harry is a skilled writer and while I really enjoyed Head of the River, I strongly feel that this novel, as a story, has so much more to offer. Harry must be commended on tackling some really challenging issues that most Australians conveniently choose to ignore. In truth, the only thing I didn’t like about this book was the cover. I recall feeling the same way about another of Pip Harry’s covers (perhaps she has been let down again). At any rate, I find the cover totally uninspiring as may many potential (and somewhat fickle) adolescent readers. This is a shame because once I started the story, I literally couldn’t put it down.
While I’d really love to read this novel with my 11 RE class, realistically time will not allow this. However, I might read excerpts to the class. I am quite keen to investigate the possibility of introducing this as a text in the year 11 English curriculum, aligning it with the community service unit that is taught in Religion Studies at the same year.
Because of You is a deeply engaging story that while honestly exploring prejudice in contemporary Australian society, remains optimistic and hopeful about the kind of reality that we must continue to strive towards.
June 9, 2018
The sweet cover of this novel belies the seriousness of its themes. This is the first of the #CBCA2018 novel's I've read, and at 4.5 stars it's hard to imagine anything beating it to the winner's post. The characters are easy to identify with and although this is a novel about youth homelessness, drugs, teenage pregnancy, postnatal depression and LGBTQI+ issues, it is, at the heart of it, a novel about love and friendship that will appeal to both male and female young adult readers. It's a sweet novel ... and so I think it will touch the heart of teens whilst also raising their awareness.
July 28, 2019
Wow, haven't read a book that hits so hard in a long time.
Such an important read, one that also challenges your beliefs and inspires change.
Definitely a must-read.
Definitely going to pick up a copy for myself.
Such an important read, one that also challenges your beliefs and inspires change.
Definitely a must-read.
Definitely going to pick up a copy for myself.
October 19, 2020
This was a wonderful read. Great characters with such diverse voices. The plot was cleverly woven and I really did fall in love with both the girls. It was heart-breaking and moving and very thought-provoking. I loved it.
September 12, 2022
I loved this book! I loved that it took perspective of a teenage girl and enjoyed the journal entry style. Totally recommend this to other teenagers ;)
August 9, 2017
Loved this contemporary novel. Centred around a homeless shelter in Sydney. Thought provoking.
August 21, 2017
Beautiful story set in Sydney, dealing with homelessness with compassion and empathy. "Because of You" never preaches, but instead draws you into Tiny's world, and shows the reader how easy it is to slip into homelessness and helplessness. Harry never moralizes. Unlike other stories that deal with similar issues, "Because of You" is not a dark read, it is in fact an illuminating story, with a light touch that leaves the reader feeling positive and enlightened.
I highly recommend this book to readers from Year 7 +.
I highly recommend this book to readers from Year 7 +.
April 8, 2019
Got me in my feels.
January 16, 2022
Although the message in this was a little heavy-handed and simplistic - lacking the nuance of Harry’s ‘Head of the River’ - the writing and dialogue were strong. It’s well-written for its target YA audience.
June 17, 2025
i actually loved this
May 24, 2017
What an amazing story ! Written in alternating chapters we learn of the lives of Tiny and Nola. Tiny is a street kid and Nola is from a well to do family. Their paths cross when Nola is forced to do volunteer work to be able to pass her HSC and she gets pushed to help out at the Hope street Refuge. At first she can't even bear to be touched by these people but as she starts making connections, particularly with Tiny, her attitude gradually changes. We learn that everybody has a story, a right to be heard and deserve to be treated decently, as we discover the backgrounds of these street people.
The story has amazingly resilient characters, tackles preconceptions head on and has a glorious ending. I cannot recommend it highly enough. You will be left wondering how and why we tackle societies problems in such a generally inappropriate fashion. However, you are left with a feeling of hope that things can be made better, which is why this fabulous book will resonate so well with teenagers.
It certainly changed my opinions, which believe me, is no mean feat for this middle aged man. Yes, I am still middle aged! This is a great book and I cannot emphasis enough..... Read it, Read it, Read it..... and when you have, definitely recommend it to others.
The story has amazingly resilient characters, tackles preconceptions head on and has a glorious ending. I cannot recommend it highly enough. You will be left wondering how and why we tackle societies problems in such a generally inappropriate fashion. However, you are left with a feeling of hope that things can be made better, which is why this fabulous book will resonate so well with teenagers.
It certainly changed my opinions, which believe me, is no mean feat for this middle aged man. Yes, I am still middle aged! This is a great book and I cannot emphasis enough..... Read it, Read it, Read it..... and when you have, definitely recommend it to others.
September 16, 2017
I love all of Pip Harry's books but I suspect this one is my favourite... it is chock full of amazing characters and a story of humanity and hope that brought tears to my eyes many times. It also really makes you think: that saying about how you're one paycheck away from poverty is true at different times for many of us and what's on the other side? Most of us don't know that world, don't want to know it, fear it... but Pip's characters give us a glimpse into what happens when things in your life just don't go to plan. Such a great book. I can't wait to see what she writes next.
May 24, 2018
Have to be honest - only picked this up as it is one of this years CBCA shortlist titles (cover did not inspire me) - but am so glad I did. Written from two points of view - Nola, a reluctant high school student with her own selfish but typical teenage girl concerns, and Tiny, a girl living the tough life of a homeless and hopeless person. The characters feel 'real' and the subtle and empathetic portrayal of these girls navigating their personal issues, seperately and then together, completely absorbed my attention.
January 10, 2018
I wasn't feeling very well and started reading this last night. It's pretty good - a bit preachy for me. It tells the story of two young women in Sydney one is homeless and the other is 'normal' kid who volunteers at a homeless shelter.
Good diversity, gay parents, etc. But I think there was less showing and more telling about the problems of homelessness.
Good diversity, gay parents, etc. But I think there was less showing and more telling about the problems of homelessness.
June 1, 2017
Review to come upon release
May 5, 2019
3.75 stars
I think Because of You should be read by everyone purely for the message it carries, everyone has a story. Everyone has something else going one, we are all human.
It's such a powerful message and is delivered with such a punch it had me tearing up through some of the poetry parts in the book, but more on that in a moment.
Because of You follows two teenagers; Tiny who is 18 and homeless and Nola who is 17 and in her final year of school. I thought I was going into a fluffy YA contemporary about two girls who find friendship in a strange situation, which I was vaguely right about but Pip Harry goes so much further with a very dark topic and I'm glad that she did. I don't think I would have enjoyed this book nearly as much as I did if it didn't have the underlining current of "this is a real issue".
Nola, who needs to complete her community service hours to graduate is sent to Hope Lane a homeless shelter where she helps with their creative writing group. Tiny who has been on Sydney's streets for about a year is forced out of her regular sleeping spot by anti homeless spikes and with the help of her friend Zak wind up at Hope Lane.
I found that Nola and Tiny's friendship was a little too quick and easy for two very different girls from two very different worlds. However with that being said I enjoyed their friendship anyway, it was pure and sweet. They were definitely what the other needed, their poetry and other bits of writing they exchange was a fun and creative way to give the characters some insights to their past and how they felt.
Eddie, one of the supervisors and founder of the creative writing group at Hope Lane, was a strong character who gave Nola a new view on the city. I think their relationship was well developed, it wasn't as quick and easy as Nola and Tiny's but I am a little sick of characters being paired up just because.
All the minor characters felt fairly well done and at least had some layers to them, none of them were there just to have page fillers.
There was some issues I have with the writing itself where the pacing felt a little off or I thought there would be more, either more consequences or more conflict.
My main take away from Because of You is not everyone has had the same privileges as me, no one has the same experiences and who am I to judge how someone might have ended up where they are now.
I think Because of You should be read by everyone purely for the message it carries, everyone has a story. Everyone has something else going one, we are all human.
It's such a powerful message and is delivered with such a punch it had me tearing up through some of the poetry parts in the book, but more on that in a moment.
Because of You follows two teenagers; Tiny who is 18 and homeless and Nola who is 17 and in her final year of school. I thought I was going into a fluffy YA contemporary about two girls who find friendship in a strange situation, which I was vaguely right about but Pip Harry goes so much further with a very dark topic and I'm glad that she did. I don't think I would have enjoyed this book nearly as much as I did if it didn't have the underlining current of "this is a real issue".
Nola, who needs to complete her community service hours to graduate is sent to Hope Lane a homeless shelter where she helps with their creative writing group. Tiny who has been on Sydney's streets for about a year is forced out of her regular sleeping spot by anti homeless spikes and with the help of her friend Zak wind up at Hope Lane.
I found that Nola and Tiny's friendship was a little too quick and easy for two very different girls from two very different worlds. However with that being said I enjoyed their friendship anyway, it was pure and sweet. They were definitely what the other needed, their poetry and other bits of writing they exchange was a fun and creative way to give the characters some insights to their past and how they felt.
Eddie, one of the supervisors and founder of the creative writing group at Hope Lane, was a strong character who gave Nola a new view on the city. I think their relationship was well developed, it wasn't as quick and easy as Nola and Tiny's but I am a little sick of characters being paired up just because.
All the minor characters felt fairly well done and at least had some layers to them, none of them were there just to have page fillers.
There was some issues I have with the writing itself where the pacing felt a little off or I thought there would be more, either more consequences or more conflict.
My main take away from Because of You is not everyone has had the same privileges as me, no one has the same experiences and who am I to judge how someone might have ended up where they are now.
November 5, 2018
"Books can save anyone. If they're the right ones."
.
Pip Harry has kicked all the goals with this realist YA novel that expertly balances the serious themes of homelessness, mental illness and addiction with the still real struggles of adolescents growing up in a world that demands academic success and expects conformity and perfection. Through the twin female protagonists of Nola and Tiny, Harry evokes a world that is real and relatable, in a way that I think many teenage girls would seriously appreciate. Private school girl Nola is struggling with the pressure of her upcoming HSC which is enhanced by the spectacular collapse of her personal relationships. When she volunteers to help out at a writers grouo run by the Hope Lane Homeless Shelter, she meets Tiny who is homeless at 18 after running from the all consuming post natal depression she experienced after she was unexpectedly plunged into the life of a single mum. I loved the way Harry evoked the lives and struggles of the characters in this novel with insight and sensitivity. We are not supposed to pity these people, but see them as humans who are struggling to cope with a set of circumstances that had robbed them of hope and dignity. Nola and Tiny's friendship is based on mutual respect and stays clear of cliche or angst. If you have a teenager who needs their academic pressures to be put into perspective, this is the book for them. Bonus feature - it's set in Sydney and I always love to read novels set in my home town!
.
Pip Harry has kicked all the goals with this realist YA novel that expertly balances the serious themes of homelessness, mental illness and addiction with the still real struggles of adolescents growing up in a world that demands academic success and expects conformity and perfection. Through the twin female protagonists of Nola and Tiny, Harry evokes a world that is real and relatable, in a way that I think many teenage girls would seriously appreciate. Private school girl Nola is struggling with the pressure of her upcoming HSC which is enhanced by the spectacular collapse of her personal relationships. When she volunteers to help out at a writers grouo run by the Hope Lane Homeless Shelter, she meets Tiny who is homeless at 18 after running from the all consuming post natal depression she experienced after she was unexpectedly plunged into the life of a single mum. I loved the way Harry evoked the lives and struggles of the characters in this novel with insight and sensitivity. We are not supposed to pity these people, but see them as humans who are struggling to cope with a set of circumstances that had robbed them of hope and dignity. Nola and Tiny's friendship is based on mutual respect and stays clear of cliche or angst. If you have a teenager who needs their academic pressures to be put into perspective, this is the book for them. Bonus feature - it's set in Sydney and I always love to read novels set in my home town!
April 21, 2025
I loved this story. I empathised with the main characters a lot and loved the meeting of the two worlds.
Tiny’s world has fallen apart, and she is living rough. Protected by her friend and street-life mentor, Zak, who is well educated but a drink and drugs user living rough. Nola’s more comfortable life is also not running smoothly. She’s been dumped by her boyfriend for not disclosing about her gay parents, and had seriously disappointed them.
Tiny and Zak seek shelter at Hope Lane, a short-term accommodation for people living rough. Noal is behind in her school assignments and has not completed her social service volunteering and is offered Hope Lane.
Tiny and Nola met at the first Hope Lane writing group meeting. Noal is shocked by the smells and the state of the people and is hugely confronted. She escapes and finds Tiny on the front steps of the accommodation, too – she grabbed the food and ran.
The unlikely pair strike up a conversation. This is the beginning of their two worlds colliding and shaking up both. How do the girls find a way forward?
Recommended for readers aged 12 years and older. It is an easy read, and younger readers may enjoy it as a shared read with the opportunity to discuss the themes addressed.
Tiny’s world has fallen apart, and she is living rough. Protected by her friend and street-life mentor, Zak, who is well educated but a drink and drugs user living rough. Nola’s more comfortable life is also not running smoothly. She’s been dumped by her boyfriend for not disclosing about her gay parents, and had seriously disappointed them.
Tiny and Zak seek shelter at Hope Lane, a short-term accommodation for people living rough. Noal is behind in her school assignments and has not completed her social service volunteering and is offered Hope Lane.
Tiny and Nola met at the first Hope Lane writing group meeting. Noal is shocked by the smells and the state of the people and is hugely confronted. She escapes and finds Tiny on the front steps of the accommodation, too – she grabbed the food and ran.
The unlikely pair strike up a conversation. This is the beginning of their two worlds colliding and shaking up both. How do the girls find a way forward?
Recommended for readers aged 12 years and older. It is an easy read, and younger readers may enjoy it as a shared read with the opportunity to discuss the themes addressed.
July 25, 2020
Tiny and Nola should never have met. Tiny scrounges for food on the streets of Sydney and is driven to steal sanitary supplies from a pharmacy. Meantime Nola and her friends are picking out $1000+ dresses from a trendy Harbourside boutique for their Year 12 formal .
But Tiny hears the writing group at homeless shelter Hope Lane has a free supper, and Nola needs a mandatory volunteer gig to pass Year 12.
On the surface, they couldn't have anything in common, but out of fear Tiny and Nola have both made bad choices that hurt their families deeply. Neither will read out their creative writing to the group, but as they shyly exchange their poems to be read later, friendship and courage grow.
This is a tough book, peeling back the reality of life on the streets. There are drug and alcohol references, though Tiny avoids both.
One of the most striking qualities of this book is the cast of "secondary" characters. Nola's Dad deserves a book of his own. The unforgettable members of Hope Lane Writers Group combine to produce a stunning finale that deserves a standing ovation.
But Tiny hears the writing group at homeless shelter Hope Lane has a free supper, and Nola needs a mandatory volunteer gig to pass Year 12.
On the surface, they couldn't have anything in common, but out of fear Tiny and Nola have both made bad choices that hurt their families deeply. Neither will read out their creative writing to the group, but as they shyly exchange their poems to be read later, friendship and courage grow.
This is a tough book, peeling back the reality of life on the streets. There are drug and alcohol references, though Tiny avoids both.
One of the most striking qualities of this book is the cast of "secondary" characters. Nola's Dad deserves a book of his own. The unforgettable members of Hope Lane Writers Group combine to produce a stunning finale that deserves a standing ovation.
November 9, 2017
I think that 'caring about the homeless' is something that many people feel like they should do, but it's hard to actually summon up the empathy sometime when it's such an ongoing problem and there are so many other horrible things happening in the world.
This book is super necessary because it does a fantastic job of showing what life is really like living on the streets, and about the services that are around for those people. I think the book does a good job of showing that some of these people are just a step away from people we know. Some of them do still have supportive friends and family, and that things just got a little rough and they couldn't cope, but I like that it also empahasizes that 'just bc someone is on drugs doesn't mean they don't deserve empathy and care too'
This book is ultimately hopeful and optomostic and i hope it encourages people to be more empathic to others.
This book is super necessary because it does a fantastic job of showing what life is really like living on the streets, and about the services that are around for those people. I think the book does a good job of showing that some of these people are just a step away from people we know. Some of them do still have supportive friends and family, and that things just got a little rough and they couldn't cope, but I like that it also empahasizes that 'just bc someone is on drugs doesn't mean they don't deserve empathy and care too'
This book is ultimately hopeful and optomostic and i hope it encourages people to be more empathic to others.
August 20, 2025
though i think the plot and interactions between the characters were written well, and consistently kept me engage, i did find the tone to be quite "preachy" and biased at times. also (spoiler alert) the scene where Zac dies, I felt lacked so much build up, and felt like a cheap way to get him back in the story , especially since he promptly vanished from nowhere. eddie's lack of emotion, despite his qords, was also quite ironic, and so funny, which im pretty sure wasn't the purpose of this story. tiny and nola have quite 1 dimension characters too, seemingly only representing one aspect of teenage girlhood each (nola's drama and empathy, vs tiny's vulnerability then growth). though their character growth is to be commended, nola's tension with her friends was incredibly unrealistic; i doubt most people would drop their friends for not matching their dresses, then saying the right thing, albeit rudely, but still correct. sorry, pip harry, but this book just wasn't for me
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